Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-08-22
I! Aemoers Of G. A. R. at San Fran
cisco Receive Hearty Wei
=. come on All Sides.
GREAT CROWDS WITNESS The
PARADE OF The old SOLDIERS
They Are Cheered All Alonr Line NJ
March-Thtnned Ranks of Veterans
becoming More Apparent Every
f. 1ear-UniOn Ex-Prisoners of War
Elect Onicers.

- San Francisco, Aug. 20.-What with
receptions and entertainments of all
Kinds the visiting members of the G.
A. H. are having most enjoyable time
IN this city. The old veterans have been
extended a hearty welcome on all sides,
and everywhere they have hospitality
extended to them. The California posts
provide fruits and flowers in lavish
abundance and open house is the order
OF the day in all the local headquarters.
Train after train still adds it's compile
ment to the army of veterans already
marshaled here and the encampment
now begins to assume the proportions
of the largest ever held in the history of
the organization.
The arrivals now are computed at 81
600 people from eastern points, with
fully $4,000 persons in addition from
California points. For the next few
days excursions have been arranged to
carry the visiting veterans to different
points of interest in the interior, and all
the leading cities have made arrange
ments to give them an appropriate re-
ception.
Old Soldiers Parade.
The parade of the veterans of the
Grand Army Of the Republic Wednesday
will be long remembered by the thou
sands of people who packed the streets
along the line of march to witness it.
Not few of them recognized that for
them this meant the passing of the
heroes of many bloody struggle in
defense of the union for all time in
collective body so far as this city is con-
cerned. Devoid of all the pomp and
panoply of the warlike host which
marched in all the pride Of strength and
youth in Tuesdays parade, there was
something pathetic in the thinned out
ranks of the veterans which touched the
hearts of all who saw them. Bowed
with the weight of years, worn out and
unquenchable spirit, this remnant of
mighty host which had carved out VIC
tory for the republic on the hardest
fought battleields the world has ever
known marched proudly along, the last
OF an uncOnquered band of heroes. They
looked the part they had played as
makers of history in this country of
their birth or adoption, as the case might
be. Proudly they marched with the bat
tlefags waving above the swaying ranks
flags which bore the marks of shot and
shell in many fierce fray, comrades to-
gether now as they we're then. With
military precision these old soldiers of
Antietam. Vicksburg, the Wilderness,
Gettysburg and Appomattox swung into
line at the appointed hour ready for the
command to march.
Cheers for the Veterans.
A hearty greeting was extended to the
old boys along the entire line of march.
each of the departments being cheered
to the echo as it filed past
The scene was one of wild enthusiasm
all along the streets, old and young turn
ing out en- masse to greet the fast fading
ranks of the veteran American soldiers,
who in compact organization will never
march here again.
The reviewing stand was on Van Ness
avenue, and there the departments
marched past in perfect alignment after
d lOuS duu III CSOuO udi I'll III mduS
of the older veterans. showing up in
brave style until dismissed by the grand
marshal
Officers Elected.
The National Association of Union
Ex-Prisoners of War has elected Off
GERS for the ensuing year as follows:
National commander, James D. Walker
(reelected); national senior vice COM
mander, Clinton T. Hull, of San Fran
cisco: national junior vice commander,
John T. Kissane, of Ohio; national chap
lain, John S. Ferguson, of Keokuk, a.;
historian. Gen. Harry White, of Penn
sylvania; quartermaster, Stephen M.
Long, of East Orange, N. J.
Executive committee, Gov. A. T. Bliss,
of Michigan; o. A. Parsons, of Pennsyl-
vania; Charles G. Davis, of Boston, and
Charles S. Fisher, of Minnesota.
Berdan's sharpshooters have elected
the following officers: S. c. James. of
Centerville, a., president, to succeed r.
w. Tyler, who is i'll at his home in
Washington; F. D. Sweeter, of Brent
wood, CAL, vice president; A. R. Bar
rett, of Philadelphia, was reelected Sec
relary and treasurer.