The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-22

New Orleans. Nay 19.-The thirteenth
annual reunion Of he United Confed-
craze Veterans WIS opened in the- great
auditorium al the fair grounds today al
0
The weather Vss-s perfect and all the
arrangements Nv the local entertain
ment committee was successful.
There vere thousands of veteran sol
diers. hundreds OF beautiful women
and above and around on every HAND
4 p~rofusion u huttering flags and
waving strean12rs. There was martial
music without limit and enthusiasm
unbounded-
over the he;-atifuI and sue, ssfuI day
there vas but a single shadow, and
that promises 20 disappear before the
morning This was the Illness of Cen
eral Gordon, the commandments
OF the organization. He Wa not well
when ne left his hotel for the auditO-
RUM and has rot been in his usual
health for several days. His strength
was "a in reality sufficient for the or
deal to which ne subjected himself and
before the close of the opeing session he
was q greatly Wearied mar. Nothing
but mis- grim lighting spirit carried him
through the day without something
akin te collapse. lie was not able to
attend the afternODa session at the au-
0LtOTIurn, and remained quietly in his
room a the hote receiving no visitors.
his condition is n no manner serious.
but 1t IS posi- = hat he may moi be
able TO preside L all the sessions at the
auditorium IL .ween now and Friday
noon He ex- cts. however 20 be pres-
ent tomorrOJ
4 the aour for opening the con-
Eentton &.-Ived the platform was
crowded With fair women and men
whose Da-les are household words
througho-t the south. Genera Cor
don was ieIayed somewhat in reaching
The grCulds and his entrance into the
nall US an ovation Cheer after cheer
rang rough The building as he came
rapidly down the aisle, IeanirE on the
Of Adjutant General MickIe. He
surrounded instantly By Il group Of
friends as he reached the rostrum. ana
for 4 time was unable 20 reach his
No sooner was he seated than a fair
young woman, Miss TarltOn. OF Waco.
approached and bending down, |
kissed the general. He spraug quickly
10 his feet 10 acknowledge the honor
repeated bows.
General J. =. Levert. commander Of
he Louisiana division Of the Confeder-
lte Veterans. called the assembly to
order an introduced the Chaplain-Gen-
aTaI Re J William Jones. who deliv-
Erred an eloquent Invocation. Then in
came speeches Of welcome to
the veterans from Paul C~apedeviIIe,
mayor of New Orleans. Logs C~harbour-
net, who spoke tor the local ~Organiza-
lion OF the Sons of Veterans. Mrs. Will
J. Beahau representing the Con-
sederate Southern MemiriaI Association.
and Governor ". W. Heard. who spoke
Tor the people Of the state of Louisiana.
After a few opening words of welcome
governor said:
"EeterauS. the outcome % the struc-
lie that you carried on tor four long
against the nos powerful forces
nd ornaments that the world has vet
in no manner or sense can OBJ
Cure the glory and fame that you won
o. DiXie's Land. With = total en-
zstment Of six hundred thousand You
confronted two millions eight hundred
OF these. in rOund numbers,
.Te hundred thousand were of frOeign
me had Europe been in formal
-Ili1nce with the north il could scarcely
been expected 10 send more than
as number of its organized soldiery Fog
= LuotI III such a coalition. COnSid-
The TWO hundred thousand negro
o.GLers. the five hundred thousand for-
.sI born soldiers and the two millions
~ hundred thousand native Amerf-
ms. Il is not e~XJravaEant TO say thar
lie <iN hundred thousand Confederate
-eteE@Es confronted , coalition Of
America. Europe and Africa. When We
ousiLer c5ese indisputabIe facls. we
anaot but have commiseration for the
'e.Son who would seek TO detract from
he unparalleled resistance made by
armies - crap by 1mpugniug the
nO,-EeS by which they were inpeIIeG 10
this truly legendary defence OF
neiT homes and constitutional rights
; j-ey construed these rights to be
HUud."
The governor concluded his address
- r liz "tlCtLiIt DI me lGO-
u OI Louisiana.
= p N~Utcschritt. of New Orleans
Hartman oft ne local COM
liItee in charge OF all the ARRANGEMENTS
Or the reunion, then made a most ham, :
> address. I
IS general Gordon rose 10 reply he {
as enthusiastically cheered. His ad- /
ress IN part was as follows:
$685. - 4
ITO my thought il is most fitting thar
his proud and patriotic organization /
hOUId again meet in this historic city
hitch gave it birth. The meeting of !
UGH man as You welcome today. whose :
= Gf 6cp1S --Sl1 49, Fo-ar-1r - L