The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-22
REUNION UNDER WAY
OLD VETS DID NOT WAIT FOR
OPENING DAY.
DALLAS IN GALA ATTIRE.
VETERANS AND VISITORS POUR IN
BY THOUSANDS.

nv AhOustAhUS OA
Found work of Preparation In
complete, but the Big Camp at Fair
Grounds WAS Opened to Them i'm
AfternOOn-About $4,000 Will he
Fed There Each Day-COnventiOn
Will BE Called to Order This Morn
ing-AuditOrium Opened with Re-
union Benefit by PaderewsISi.
Dallas, Tex, April 21.-The twelfth
annual reunion of the United Confed
crate Veterans, despite the repeated
announcement that it does not begin
until to- morrow, is under way. 1t be-
gan early to-day and has gained
strength and enthusiasm as the day
passed, though it was not officially rec
ognized as the twelfth annual reunion,
which begins tomorrow morning
Tonight it is estimated that there
are $4,000 visitors in the city. Sons of
sons, wives and daughters, each with
some badge showing pride of Confed-
crate deeds, made up the total mem
toned.
The unofficial opening of the reunion
came about through stress of numbers.
Delegation after delegation of veterans
marched from the depots to the fair
grounds, which have been converted
into a magnificent camp, only to be met
with the announcement that the
grounds were not to be opened until to-
morrow. A small army of workmen
was still busy pitching tents and clear
ing the grounds, and it was said that
matters could not be put in shape until
tomorrow.
| Col. Slaughter, president of the
Texas Reunion Association, announced
to-day that the veterans had been
ordered to report April % and not be-
| fore. I'VE are making exhaustive
preparations to care for them in
way them will remember with pleas
ure," said he, but we are not now
in the proper shape to entertain
| them"
Later in the day, however, it was
| found necessary to admit the veterans.
| The greatest good nature prevailed ev
| erywhere. There was not a single sign
! of conflict. The veterans freely adj
nitted that the state of unprepared
ness was to be expected under the
| circumstances and the local commit
| tee abandoned the authorized pro-
gramme. BY early afternoon the Fair
grounds had become a tented city suffi-
Gent to accommodate 10000 men, and
tonight the veterans are once again
afield enjoying all camp necessities,
and by tomorrow will be in posses
sion of camp luxuries. Workmen
were still at work on the ground this
evening, but this was no hindrance to
the old soldiers.
SO nearly incessant was the arrival
of the delegations during the day that
the different railway officials found it
necessary to clear the yards of all
freight trains. Many trains were late,
but immense traffic is being handled
with a promptness remarkable under
the circumstances.
The City Fully Decorated.
The entire city has been decorated
in honor of the old soldiers. Not a
building in the down town district is
without it's bunting or flags. Electric
lights and portraits of the Southern
generals appear everywhere. The dec
orationS have been so perfected that
the bunting on individual structures
has blended into a harmonious sea of
futtering color. Among the flags of
ItdlJ IlOuSCS appears d WIlllc OHe, SiS-
nifying that lodgings can be obtained.
Tonight figurative standing room
only" sign is out in many homes where
this emblem of hospitality showed. The
streets are a network of crowding, but
good-natured humanity. All have Sc
cured accommodations, and it is be-
lieved that the great crowd which is
expected tomorrow will be aqually
we'll cared for. A huge shed at the
,4.1., l. i
$4,000 people will be served with meals
Tomorrow. 1t was found impossible to
finish the work of preparation by to-
day and the visitors were forced to
purchase their meals at restaurants.
VIII Formally Begin To-day.
The convention of the United Confed-
crate Veterans will be called to order
in the auditorium at 10 o'clock Tues
day morning by Maj. Gen. K. M. Van
Zandt, commanding the Texas division
of the association. The Sons of Vet
Grams convention will begin Wednes-
day. 1t is said the Daughters of the
Confederacy, although members are
present in large force, will hold no
formal session, confirming themselves
chiefly to entertaining the Veterans and
Sons of Veterans at receptions and
other functions. Many attended the
opening of the auditorium, Paderewski
being the attraction with a benefit for
the reunion fund.
Gen. Norman, adjutant general of
the United Confederate Veterans, to-
day received a telegram from Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee, who is at San Antonio,
stating that he would not be able to
attend the reunion, owing to the fact
that his son has been ordered to leave
within three days for a distant post
To- morrow's sessions will be taken
up almost entirely with ceremonies
welcoming the veterans to the city.
Among the speakers named on the pro-
gramme are Gov. Sayers, Mayor CD
bell, Private" John Allen, the orator
of the day, and Gen. John B. Gordon,
commander int chief of the association.