The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-14
Parade the Largest In the History Of
Indiana Encampments and Sue
csssful I'm Every Way.
BUSINESS SESSIONS ARE HELD
FINE ADDRESSES AT THE CAMP
FIRES CLOSE THE DAY.
Election Of Omcers and Selection Of
Next Meeting Place Come To-day
Indianapolis VIII Get 1t.

Staf Correspondence Of the Journal.
ANDERSON, Ind. May 13.-The twenty
fourth annual encampment OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic, Department Of In
diana, will go down in history as one of
the largest and most memorable since the
department. was organized. 1t is conceded
that the attendance of old soldiers Is larger
than at any encampment within the last
fifteen years, and there have been so many
unusual features, while the arrangements
for the entire affair have been so admirably
carried out that the memory Of the An
derson gathering will be cherished long
by all who participated in or witnessed the
demonstrations.
This was the big day of the encampment.
with the opening Of the formal business
sessions. the parades and the camp fires,
and Il has been big In every sense Of
the word The crowd of strangers in the
city is estimated all the way from 10000
to $4,000. end the first figures are certain
ly conservative. The fnterurban cars and
special and regular trains on three rail-
roads began bringing in the visitors by
the Thousand at daybreak, while hundreds
drove to the city in all kinds OF horse and
horseless vehicles. and by noon the streets
In the business section were congested with
the crowd to such an extent that the street
car and fnterurban traffic was seriously
impeded. To add to the throngs the day
was made a general holiday in Anderson,
the schools, factories and business houses
were closed. and the citizens swelled the
crowds on the streets 20 proportions never
before witnessed here.
And in handling this vast gathering the
city Of Anderson did itself proud. The
adr
vehicles were kept OF the public square
and the main streets in the downtown dis
trict, and while 1t would have been utterly
impossible to rope the crowds OF pedes-
trians back to the curbs. yet when the pa
rade came the streets were cleared sue
cessfulIy and there were no serious de-
lays and no unpleasant features to mar the
day. The crowds were a severe tax on the
capacity o. tire hotels and restaurants, but
special arrangements had been made to
serve lunch and meals by churches and va
rious organizations, and all the hungry
were fed at prices that were by no means
extortionste-
The G.. a. r. parade and living flag this
afternoon wero the great spectacular fea-
lures Of the day. and their magnitude and
success exceeded the hopes OF the citizens
the programme. The parade was the
largest In the history of the department.
this is unanimously conceded by veterans
who have attended practically all the pre-
vious encampments. There were over 5000
veterans IN line. representing thirty diff
ferent posts. and In addition there were If
teen brass bands. twenty drum corps, the
Governor and thirty members Of his
staff. mounted, and over one hun
dred carriages containing the depart
ment officers, national officers, officers
Of the w. r. C. and Ladies Of the G. A. r.,
members of Congress and other distin-
guished guests. The parade required an
hour and a half to pass a given point, and
the column was compact at all times, the
veterans marching four abreast at inter-
vals OF from six to eight feet.
NEvERMORE.
Never again, perhaps, will the veterans of
Indiana make such showing. for their
ranks are thinning rapidly, and few Of
them. withal they made such a brave ap-
pearance to-day, are physically able to en-
dure the fatigue OF such a march. Their
lines were irregular. their steps halting,
and even under the inspiration Of the occa-
sion and the martial airs of the bands and
drum corps they could not keep time with
the music. So IL was that the pathos of
the appearance OF the battle-scer.ed. time
worn heroes appealed most strongly TO the
spectators. and the crowds along the line
OF march were more demonstrative by their
silence than by their cheers. 1t was hard
to realize that the array Of grizzled yeter-
ans. whose average age is in excess of sixty
years, comprised the remnant OF a great
army that averaged under twenty years in
age when II defended the life OF the Nation
on a thousand sanguinary fields but even
more impressive was the fact that after
forty .org years the same spirit that brought
them together to fight for the flag brought
them together again to give the younger
generations an object lesson in unselfish
devotion To country.
1t Is not an esprit de corps, nor a mere
social instinct. nor yet desire to recall the
old days and fight the old battles over again.
that brings the old veterans together wear
after year This was most strikingly shown
this afternoon as the line marched and
countermarched before the living flag With
barred heads and with cheers that broke
into husky sobs. but with loving eyes. the
exalted light Of which tears could dim
the boys in blue saluted the living embodi-
ment OF the stars and stripes. their coun-
try's emblem, the altar upon which they
had offered up their all. HungriIy they fed
their eyes upon the beautiful spectacle
two Thousand school children garbed and
grouped into perfect reproduction OF a
great flag oxso feet In dimension-hungrily
they listened to the sweet young voices
swelling the chorus OF the national hymn
and reluctantly they turned away and
marched on The old flag does live, and