Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-04-24
THE DALLAS REUNION
Forty-Ffve Thousand Visitors, Five
Thousand of Whom are "vets"
stress of Namber Forced the Csmmittss
To Put Up Tents . Day In Advance Of
tn. Pregr.m-ren rhoasand
Veteran. Expected

Dallas. Tex April s1.-Tne twelfth
annual reunion Of the United Confed-
crate Veterans. despite the repeated
announcement that il does not begin
until tomorrow. is under way. Il be-
gan early today and gained strength
and enthusiasm as the day passed. II
twelfth annual reunion chat com
mences tomorrow at 10 A. M: il was
twenty hours in advance OF the pro
gramme. aud Il a attended by many
Inconvenience. but II was n reunion
in fun swing. nevertheless
Tonight Il is estimated that there
are 5000 visitors in the city. and. 10
quote Mayer Cabell. 1T fairly makes
the city limits bulge" OF these IL Is
said 1000 are the keen-eyed. strong
lnbed men who. forty years ago. car
ried the Stars and Bars in splendid
herOism en- many a glorious battle
field. Sons Of veterans. sponsors.
maids OF honor. sons. wives and daugh-
ters. each with some badge showing
pride OF Confederate deeds. make UP
the total mentioned.
The unofficial opening OF the reunion
came about through stress Of num-
bers. Delegation after delegation Of
veterans marched from the various
depots to the Fair Grounds. which
have been converted into a magnif-
cent camp. only to be met with the
announcement that the grounds were
o to be opened till tomorrow. A
small army OF workmen was still busy
putting up tents and clearing the
grounds. and Il was said that matters
could not be put in shape until to-
morrow.
Col. Slaughter. president OF the
Texas Reunion Association. told the
veterans that the nrst duty Of 4 sol
der Is to obey. and that they had
been ordered to report April %. and
o before. We are making exhaust
i've preparations TO care for you in q
way you will remember with pleas
NV @L4A ~. Jul We " uON IL
the right shape to entertain company
Later in the day it vas found neces-
sary 10 admit the veterans. and thus
the reunion got under way in spite Of
all efforts to keep It within the bounds
laid down by those in charge. The
greatest good nature prevailed every
where. There was not a sign OF con-
flet. The veterans admitted without
reservation that the unpreparedness
was to Be expected under the circum-
stances. and the local committee aban-
doned red tape when the size Of the
army Of ~sooners' became apparent.
Tents went up Is il by magic. and by
early afternoon the Fair Grounds had
become a tented city sufficient to ac-
commOdate 1900 men. Load after
load OF cots and blankets passed
through the streets { o the cantonment.
and tonight it was said that the vet
Grams who were once again afsld
were enjoying all camp neesssaries.
and that tomorrow they would be in
possession Of camp Injuries. Work
men tonight we're still at work on the
grounds and putting the finishing
touches on the buildings which are to
be used, but this vas no hindrance 10
the singing OF the old soldiers. nor Of
the exchanging OF "reminiscences.
The railway depots and hotels were
the busiest places in Dallas. excepting
: caltonment. At the stations the
platforms were crowded all day and
far into the night with incoming
guests and the people there to meet
them. So nearly incsssant was the
arrival OF the loads OF human freight
that the railway officials found il
necessary to clear the yards OF all
freight cars. Consequently freight
destined for Dallas and other Texas
points IS scattered about the limits Of
the city. with a prospect OF staying
there az least till Wednesday. Many
trains were late. but on the whole IL IS
said that the immense traffic is being
handled with 4 pronptness remarkable
under the circumstances.
As 70 decorations. visitors declare
that a. no reunion has this feature
been given more attention Not a
building IN the downtown district IS
without its bunting or flags. and the
great majority have both in profusion.
Electric lights and portraits OF the
Southern generals whose hrilliance
has given them a place in the worlds
history appear everywhere.
white Flag Fiutters-
The Xhnla srhara % Sacc-a.- 80.