The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-23
ThundeTOus Welcome Greets
General Gordon as lie Ap-
pears in Reunion Hall
CITY OF DALLAS CROWDED
TO ITS UTMOST CAPACITY
Many Persons Encamped With Veter.
ans Without Invitation, But Every.
thing Is Taken Good-Natur-
edly-Food for All.

Dallas, Tex. April 22.-With the Con-
federate reunion officially twelve hours
oid' and unoffeially considerably older. II
Is estimated tonight that there are 125.oeo
visitors in Dallas. From morning tn
late at night the streets were tbronqed
and 1t is said by men In a position to
base close calculation that there were
$4,000 visitors at the camp in the Fair
Grounds at 10 a. m. THE crowd is too
large to command" said Colonel Slaueh-
ter TO an Associated Press representative
today Thousands who have no right to
DO So are sleeping at the camp and eat
ing at the mess table. Some of the old
veterans had to fight for their places.
out they seemed to be as capable of a
tussie as they were years ago We will
nave affairs better in hand tomorrow"
An additional influx of visitors is ex
pected tomorrow, the attraction being
the Kaliphs parade. Tonight the vounp-
er element and many of the Veterans
rounded out the days pleasures with a
ball at the camp. The function was given
by the Sons of Veterans and an immense
crowd-too great for comfort was pres
| ent.
Reunion Begins.
win the music of many bands and
cheers from thousands of throats the
| tweitth annual reunion of the United
confederate Veterans began at the Au
Utorium at the Fair Grounds, now called
camp Albert Sydney Johnston
u ne veterans of many an heroic cam
paign We're made thrice welcome hv
he 80,
and various organizations of Veterans.
fheir deeds for ''the cause that was lost
but lives eternal" were touched upon in
words OF eloquence and In voices now
ringing over some martial deed, now soft
with teart-laden memories of comrades
fallen.
The crush of visitors was the largest
IN the history of Dallas. 1t was estimated
IN the morning that 5000 visitors were
In the city. while information from the
railroads was that by night this number
would be swelled to 125.OO0 at least
Crowded to Limit.
While thousands of visitors did not
leave the business section of the city,
camp Johnston, two miles distant, was
crowded to the limit. Delegation after
| delegation from the four corners of the
country reported and were assigned to
| their division In the vast city of tents.
! me great mess tents seating IL O00 were
opened at 10 o'clock. An army of cooks
! and walters worked like beavers while
| the veterans, with a hunger born OF a
night in the open. did their best in an
able manner to keep the cooks busy. Tea
coffee and milk by the barrels; beans.
meat, hard tack and accessories by the
wagon loads disappeared In marvellous
fashion. The boys is eaten as IL they'd
been separated from the wagon train for.
about three days. is the way one Louis
ianian put It,
When the convention opened the VET
Grams were in high good humor Tbs
| building, seating $500 people, was filled
to the utmost when the convention was
called to order by Gen. r. M VsnZan6t.
president of the Texas Reunion So. ,oaa
ton. From pillar and post hung 5unting
and nags and pictures of old Confeder-
ate cheftans.
Beautiful Lights.
| Electric /ghts in profusion gave a per-
| fect light and added materially to the
ornamentation of the interior The
crowds were composed not alone of vet
Grams. but. of their sons and wives and
daughters Maids of honor and sponsors
some-notably those from Louisiana-in
| brass buttons and Confederate grew hut
the majority In cool white, lent an air OF
animation to the scene No applause was
more enthusiastic than theirs and no
| syinPatny more apparent as they were
familiar with the heroic sufferings of
the old men they had come to honor,
Governor Sayers Speaks.
Governor Sayers said in part:
To-day this mighty gathering of so
many years from every part of the South
land attests with convincing emphasis
the enduring affection for them among
| the living OF our dead 1t may in ali
truth be said
How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
BY all their countrys wishes blest
When spring, with dewy fingers cold
Returns to deck their hallowed mould.
She there shall dress a sweeter sod
Than fancys feet have ever trod
By fairy hands their knell is rurg;
BY forms unseen their dirge is sung;
There honor comes pilgrim gray
To bless the turf that wraps their CLAW.
And freedom shall a while repair
To dwell a weeping hermit there
But magnificent beyond all description,
as was the exhibition of American genius
courage and steadfastneSs to duty i'm this
great conflict of arms. the reconciliation
that has taken place between the states
that had warred so fiercely and SO long
will give to history a theme with which
TO adorn its brightest and fairest pages
To Its accomplishment II Is gratifying to
recall the ex-president of the Contederacy
In no small degree. In one Of his latest
public utterances to the people of the
South he said:
Men In whose hands the destiny OF
our Southland lies, for love Of her
break my sii nee and speak now a few
words of respectful admonition. The past
Is dead. Let 1t bury its dead with its
hopes AMI aspirations. Let me beseech
you. to lay aside all rancor. all bitter sec
tional feeling and take your place In the
ranks of those who will bring consum-
nation devoutly to be wished-a re-
united people
G.. 3. Gerald Speaks.
Governor Sayers was followed by Hon.