The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-21

During all the twenty-three years
that the Seven County Veterans asso-
citation has been in existence 1t Is safe
to say that not one of the annual re-
unions has approached that of yester-
day in point of attendance and success.
Fully fifteen hundred of the old soldier
boys were there, with their families.
and this number was augmented by
probably 5000 or more people from
Scranton and adjacent towns.
The attendance was SO unexpectedly
large, that the committee in charge
were completely overwhelmed, and 1t
was with difficulty the visitors were
provided with edibles and drinkables.
Hundreds of them, however, brought
along their own lunches. and this help
ed to relieve the crush about the mess
tent, where the Woman's Relief Corps
and Ladies of the G.. A. r. served
dinner.
The soldiers orphans, who were in
attendance, were provided with lunch
con free of charge, but owing to the
fact that they were not marshalled by
any one, it was "a hard matter to dis
tinguish them from the others, who
were willing and anxious to pose as
orphans as long as any free lunch was
in sight
Groups of one regiment or another
were gathered here and there. relating
tales of army life, and renewing old
acquaintances.
The visitors began arriving on the
early morning trains, and were met
at the stations by members of Ezra
Griffin Post, No. 139. and Col. Monies
Post, No. 319 under command of Captain
er>l,o ron nfai d
j. McAndrew. About 10 o'clock the. as
semblage formed near the Lackawanna
Railroad station. and marched to the
court house square, where they viewed
the Soldiers and Sailors monument,
and afterwards went to Nay Aug park,
where the exercises of the day were
held. Dinner was served under a large
tent, and the beauties of the park were
enjoyed by the visitors, who scattered
in every direction to view the natural
scenery.
EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.
The annual meeting of the Union ex-
Prisoners of War was held before lunch
con, and Comrade Halsey Lathrope
presided. He delivered a short address
of welcome, after which Major E. w.
Pearce was introduced and spoke to
the boys in a familiar way.
Comrade Bowman, of Wilkes-Barre.
also delivered a short address, and Mrs.
Powell, of Wilkes Barre, read a poem,
which she wrote for reunion held in
Tennessee.
1.-THE Song of the Old Canteen" was
rendered by Comrade II. H. Tyler, of
Binghamton. N. Y, who was a men,
ber of the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania
regiment. Another song, "The Old Cof-
fee Kettle was sung by Conrade Ben
Evans, of Pittston, after which the ex-
ercises We're closed with the singing Of
the doXology.
1t was after o'clock when the as
sembly was sounded by Corneter Miles,
of Bauer's band, after which q lively
air was played, and the multitude as
sembled about the pavilion to enjoy
the exercises arranged. The annual
business meeting of the association !
preceded the speech making and other |
features.
The Seven County Veterans associa- |
tion includes Bradford, Broome, IN. W |
Wayne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, ,Luzerne,
and Susquehanna counties, and among |
the members are veterans of the various |
regiments who served in the army and |
navy during the civil war. Col. +. l..
Hitchcock, who has been president dur
ing past year, called the meeting to
order, and Major Pearce, the secretary,
read the minutes of the last two re-
unions, held at Lake Lodore and Lake
Ariel.
BINGHAMTON NEXT.
The first business was the selection
of place of meeting in 19O3 and the
only invitation came from Comrade n.
Fl. Taylor. of Binghamton, N. Y. who
represented Broome county. He spoke
of the advantages of the Parlor city for
the reunion, and the invitation was un-
animously accepted.
John IT, Howe made speech, in
which he expressed the belief that.
owing to the Lackawanna county men,
bers having kept up the association
they should remain at home next year,
and registered kick against going to
but afterwards stated he
would go where the association went.
The election of officers being in order
Comrade II. H. Taylor, of Bingham