The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-07
The Whole City Is Alive to the POssi-
of the Veterans Next Week.
DETAILS OF ENTERTAINMENT
Giving FLAG" TO DO HONOR TO
THE MARCHING HEROES.
Beautiful Street Decorations and
Electrical Displays-Places of Meet
ing-Plenty of Room for All.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.


the meeting of the twenty-fourth annual
encampment, Indiana Department G. A.
r.. in this city is yet nearly week OFF,
but the city is ready for the veterans and
the visitors. There has been no prospective
event in recent years that has evoked such
enthusiasm or interest. Everybody. SEEM
ingly, is intent upon lending assistance In
making the encampment one long to be re-
membered by the visitors The question OF
entertainment, which was a serious one.
has beensmet, and lodging for more than
5000 persons has been secured in private
homes by the committee on entertainment.
The best homes in Anderson have been
thrown open and hundreds more are at the
disposal of Captain F. M. Van Pelt, who
has been assigned to this important duty.
The uptown hotels and boarding houses can
accommodate from 800 to 1900 more and
no one need fear that accommodations will
not be fully adequate to the demand. De-
partment posts, the w. r. c., circles of L.
G. A. r. and veterans from all parts Of
the State are now engaging rooms and
headquarters. The numerous applications
so far, in advance indicate to the persons
having in charge the arrangements for the
encampment a much larger attendance than
usual.
Major May Post, directly interested In the
matter of entertaining the encampment, has
been ably assisted by the citizens commit
tee in all it's efforts. Ex-mayor M. M.
Dunlap is In charge of committee Of one
hundred citizens, constituting the reception
committee, and these men will be on hand
at the trains and at the assignment head
quarters to welcome the visitors. The as
signment headquarters has been located in
a large storeroom on the north side of the
courthouse square, and the members OF
the G. A. r., delegates of the w. r. c. and
Ladies of the G. A. R., and all strangers
and visitors who desire to be located will
report there. 1t is probable that no city
in the State heretofore has gone to such
length in securing entertainment or had
so much money raised for the purpose Of
taking care of the encampment In a proper
manner.
To-day the business houses and principal
streets as we'll as many of the cross streets
are decorated with bunting and national
colors The spirit of welcome has pervaded
the entire community and when the first
visiting veterans begin their march up
town from the railway stations their jour-
ney will be one continuous welcome. There
will be an elaborate electrical display along
the streets and on public buildings and
courthouse, as well as at the department
headquarters-the Grand Opera House,
where the business sessions will be held.
LIVING FLAG AND PARADE.
The most novel feature Of the entertain
ment will be witnessed during the parade Of
the veterans Wednesday afternoon and
again at night. during the passing of the
civic parade in the form of living flag"
of immense proportions. On the northeast
corner of the courthouse square a monster
terraced platform, reaching to the third
story of the courthouse, has been erected,
with a seating capacity of over 1,S00 On
this stand will be seated almost 1900 school
children in rows Of three abreast dressed
in white and red to represent the stripes of
the flag and a monster field of blue, the
stars being represented by boys, repre-
senting each State. More than $1,000 has
been expended on this feature alone, and it
Is expected to be the most successful repro
duction of a living flag ever attempted by
any encampment, State or national While
the veterans are passing each division will
handkerchiefs and the singing of ma
tional song under the direction of Miss
Anna Burchard, Of the public schools.
The parade Of the veterans Wednesday is
looked forward to as one Of the inspiring
incidents of the encampment. The column
will be formed four abreast and will move
promptly at l:So p m. In charge of the
grand marshal and his staff and will move
in the following order:
Platoon of police.
Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home
Band
Captain A. 1. Makepeace, grand marshal.
Captain B. b. Campbell chief of staff.
James B. Roach, chief of staff to de-
partment commander.
Albert A. Jones, department chief
trumpeter.
Assistant marshals. James t. Knowland.
Jesse Foraker, Charles Stewart, Henry
Durbin and Hiram H Palmer.
COMMUNICATIVE chief Thomas ]. Stewart
and staff in carriages.
Department Commander Benjamin Starr
and staff in carriages.
Past department commanders in car
| riages.
Governor w. T. Durbin and staff.
jasper Packard Post. No. $50. from State
Soldiers Home at Lafayette.
All posts appearing as post organizations
will fall in line according to number of
post beginning with No. 1, the senior
number present.
Major Brewers drum corps.
Major May Post. No. 2A on left of
The head of the column, which will form
at the corner OF Fourteenth and Meridian
streets, will move north the west side
of Meridian street to Eighth street and
thence west on the south side of Eighth
street to Morton street, and countermarch
on north side OF Eighth street to Meridian
street passing the living flag thence north
on east side of Meridian street, passing
reviewing officers stand, on balcony OF
| Anderson Hotel, thence north to sixth
street thence east to Main street. thence
south on Main to Twelfth street, where
| the column will dsband.
| Souvenir badges will be presented by
| the executive committee to all Grand Army
| comrades i'm line on Sixth street.
THE CAMP FIRES.
Wednesday night, at the conclusion of the
civic parade, the camp fires will attract
the attention of the veterans and visitors
1t is the intention Of the local committees
to give more prominence to this feature
| than ever before Elaborate preparations
are now on foot for camp fires at three
places. The G. A r. section will be at
the opera house. and special scenery has
been designed for this purpose. force Of
scenic artists being at work. There
will be an orchestra Of 100 pieces and prob
| ably a boys chorus The stories of the
| veterans and officers will be enlivened by
] different stage settings and tableaux. Gov
ernor W. T. Durbin and STAFF In full uni
stage at one time. The second camp fire
will convene In the First Methodist Church
| auditorium. which has a seating capacity
| of over two thousand, and third will be
| held In the Auditorium, where fully three
| thousand can be accommodated. II Is the
intention to have the principal speakers
and officers visit each OF the camp fires dur
| Ing the evening.
The sessions OF the branches OF the en-
! camumeut will he held In fha Cra M Orora