The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-25
OLD VETERANS
THE ANNUAL REUNION OF THE
C0NFEDERATES
IMMENSE CROWD PRESENT

ihOusaroa o1 NeteranS-The Car
nfvaI of the KaIiph EnIfvens the
Scene-A Remarkable Reunion of
family Of Confederate Veterans.
Dallas, Texs, April 22.-With the con-
federate reunion officially twelve hours
old and unofficially considerably older
it is estimated tonight that there are
$4,000 visitors III Dallas. From early
this morning until late tonight the
streets were thronged and it is said by
tions that there were $4,000 visitors al
the camp in the fair grounds alone.
THE crowd is too large to command"
said Colonel Slaughter to an Associated
Press representative today. Thousands
who have no right to dc so are sleeping
at the camp and eating at the mess
tables. Some of the Ole warrors had to
fight for their places. out they seemed
to be as capable of Il tussle as they
were years ago. We will have affairs
better in hand tomorrow"
An additional influx of visitors is ex-
pected tomorrow, the attraction being
the Kaliph's parade.
Tonight the younger clement and
many of the veterans rounded out the
days pleasures with d ball at the camp.
The function was given by The Sons OF
Veterans and an immense Crowd-too
great for comfort-were present.
While thousands of visitors did not
leave the business section OF the city,
Camp Johnson, two miles distant,
where the opening exercises were held,
was crowded to the limit. Delegation
after delegation from the 1our corners
Of the country reported and was assign
ed to divisions in the vast city of tents.
The great mess shed. seating l2,ooO,
was open at 10 o'clock. An army or
cooks and walters worked like beavers
while the veterans, with a hunger born
of a night in the open, did their best to
keep the cooks busy.
The convention was compelled TO
open with General Gordon. the COM
mander-in-chief, absent.
Hon. John M. Allen, the orator OF the
day. was not present when the conVen-
ton began. Governor SayerS and Hon.
G.. B. Gerald, however, appeared at the
last moment and were Voclterousiy
cheered.
Among those on the stage were Judge
John nj Reagan, the only surviving
member Of the Davis cabinet; w. L.
Caben, General stephen D. Lee OF
New Orleans; Colonel Lee Crandal
Who was OH ''Stcnewalr' JacksUn's
staff: Miss Lucy Lee Hill, of Chicago,
the sponsor in chief, and Miss Virginia
Paddock of Fort Worth, Texas, the
chief maid of honor.
When the convention opened the Fet-
terans, many OF them comparing the
bounteous plenty of their breakfasts
with the starvation they were ofteh
called upon to endure during the war
were in high good humer. The build
ing, seating 5000 people, was filled to
the topmost row soon after the convel-
ton was called to order by General K.
NJ. Vanzandt, president OF the Texas
Reunion Association From pillar ana
post hung bunting and flags and PIC
lures of old confederate chieftains. The
crowds were composed not alone o.
veterans, but of their sons and wives
and daughters. Maids Of honor and
sponsors. some, notably those from
Louisiana in brass buttons and con-
,federate gray, but the majority in cool
white, lent an air of ornamentation to
the scene.
Following the opening Of the meeting
by General Vanzandt, Chaplain Young,
of Texas. delivered a touching 1nVoca-
ton.
General JOSEPH: d. Sayers, on behalf
of the state o. Texas, then welcomed
the visitors to the state. He was fol-
lowed by Ben E. Cabell, mayor OF
Dallas. who gave the veterans the fres
dom of the city.
G. b. Gerald. # Waco. welcomed tho
veterans to TeNas.
General Gordon's Arrival.
At lis o'clock D. m. Commander-in-
chief Gordon arrived. The manner OF
his entrance into the vast auditorium
was dramatic General Vanzandt had
announced that all hope of the
presence of General Gordon had
been abandoned, and the meeting had
been turned over to General S. ID. Lee,
commander of the army Of the Tenne5
see. General Lee was in the middle of
lis speech when a number of voices
and stamping of feet we're heard from
the middle of the hall. The roar grew
to thundrous proportions, and above ii
all could be heard the magic word
Gordon At that name the veterans
rose to their feet.
II will speak no more" said General
Lee, when the commander had ascend
ed to the platform. Our beloved COM
mander can say to you words that will
please you more than those OF any
other man.
at was no fault of mine," said Gen.
eral Gordon, when the applause had
subsided, that / was twenty hours
late. Maybe you boys can remember
a time when 1 was not late"
General Gordon then delivered his
address
Thousands Of people lined the streets
during the afternoon and were apprecia-
tive witnesses of the arrival of Mus,a-
pha Ben Selim. the Kaliph. direct from
Bagdad.
The Kaliph is king Of an organize ton
which annually regales Dallas with a
sort of Mardi Gras.
His unutterable exaltedness," with
his subjects garbed with all the splen-
dor that tinsel can give. was brought
into the reunion to lend a streak of ORR
entail splendor on the occasion Of the
delivering Of the key OF the city to Com
mander-in-Chief Gordon. The Kaiiph
and his gorgeous subjects, followed by
carriages containing General Gordon
and DISTINGUISHED members Of the UHit-