Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-15
CAMP FIRE.
Grand Close of a Most Sue
cessful Encampment.
Fine Music, Splendid Speeches and
- Enthusiastic Audience.
Commander-in-Chief Torrance Given
a Rousing Welcome. IT'LL.

/ The camp fire at City hall last even
| ing, was a fitting close to one of the
most successful Grand Army encamp-
ments ever held lin Maine. AT least
that is the verdict generally expressed
by members of the order who. have
| been regular attendants at encamp-
| ments for years.
I From the opening of the delightful
| cOAcert given by the Home Band, I'M
| der the superb leadership of Il. W.
| Theme, until the last speech was de-
| iivered, the interest did not abate a
| jOt or little. The audience was very
| large, severely taxing the seating ca
| pacity of the hall and at times they
were enthusiastic in extreme measure.
The reception accorded Commander
| in-Chief Torrance was spontaneous
and warm hearted, and demonstrated
the respect with which he is held by
his brethren of the G. A. R. The other
speakers, too, were cordially received
and their remarks highly appreciated.
Shortly after 8 O'Clock, the distin-
guished guests of the evening entered
the hall and marched up the aisle and
onto the stage. Capt Lane escorted
COMMUNICATIVE Chief Torrance and
MoyoI lteoiilb, Sol bldheIIldIi, Stu
Farnham, Gen. Common, Col. Allen,
Commander Merrick and all the oilers
followed.
In opening the exercises Capt. Sam
uel w. Lane of this city, said:
Comrades, value more than I can
tell the privilege of presiding over this
gathering of my distinguished COM
rades of the Grand Army of the Re-
public. l shall not attempt to speak
at any length, this evening. 1t is
with regret that l have to announce
that the Governor of our State is I'M
able to be here, but he has sent sent
his official representative, Major Cen
eral Augustus B. Farnham of Bangor,
Past Department Commander of
Maine. I take pleasure in presenting
to you, General Farnham.
General Farnham said:
1.-THE business interests of the Gov
ernor of the State of Maine demand his
p1 essence outside the limits of the State
at this time and he desires me to ex-
press to you his deep regret at his in
ability to be present on this occasion.
mo words of mine are necessary to
convince you comrades that he has a
warm spot in his heart for every man
who wore the blue and Loyalty served
his country.
IF it had been his privilege to have
met with you, this evening, know he
would have spoke to you words of cheer
and bid you Godspeed on your journey
OF life, but. Mr.. Commander, the fates
willed otherwise and it has devolved
upon me, sir, to welcome you to the
inequalities of our grand old State.
You see before you the representa-
tives of more than $4,000 men who went
forth from this State to do battle that
the nation might live. In the name of
our, respected Chief Magistrate and
these, comrades. take great pleasure,
Mr., Commander, in extending to you a
most cordial greeting and would inform
you that though the SHOWS of winter
are upon us, nowhere will you find
warmer hearts or more kindly greet
ingS than those we now extend to you.
The door of every home is open to you
and every hand extended to grasp yours
in fraternity. charity and loyalty.
1.-THE echoes of the guns fired at
Manila and Santiago by our naval
commanders have not yet ceased to re-
Vertebrate around the world and have
served to remind the great powers that
we hold proud position among the ma
tiOT1S of the earth. .e~
1.-THE American soldier stands, today, 1
had almost said, without peer. Ger
tainly when placed side by side with
the soldiers of the great powers in the
war with China he had no superior. His
courage is unchallenged. He has proven
his yalor on, many a well-fought field.
From the days of the Revolution,
through that greatest of all wars the
war of the Rebellion, and our later war
with Spain. the march of the Ameri-
can soldier has been onward and up
ward. They are of superior intelligence
and seem possessed of every quality re-
quired to place them in the front rank
If the armies of the world. May the
equation of the, soldiers of the Unit
"a States continue to occupy the proud
position in which you, Mr. Comman-
Ter. and these comrades have helped
to place it.
'.Over such men you have been called
to preside, and l believe it to be one of
the greatest honors and proudst posi-
tiOns that any man can be called upon
to fill. I thank God that. today, we
have united country and that men
from the North and South, the East
and the West, are found marching
shoulder to shoulder and fighting I'M
der the folds of the old flag we all love
so we'll. ~ . 81. s. .-,tf
1T will afford me great pleasure to
inform that clean and polished. gentle
man who presides over this grand old
Commonwealth of ours as it's Chief
Magistrate of the kindness and con-
|sideration which you have extended to
me on this occasion as his accredited
representative" sf1
Mayor Titcomb was then introduced
and extended the cordial greeting and
welcome of the citizens of Augusta to
the members of the Grand Army.
1T is fitting" said Mayor Titcomb,
that your meetings should occasion
ally be held in this city, for it was here
that you mustered into the service of
your country and from here you de-
parted for the battle line. Many in
this audience remember the camps in
front of the State House and upon the
hill. To you all, therefore, l extend a
hearty welcome to our city,"
Then, in graceful words the chairman