The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-10-01
REUNION is IN
FULL BLAST TODAY
Yesterday Was the Real Open
ing Day.
PROGRAM WAS EXCELLENT
Auditorium Tent Was Crowd
ed Yesterday.

When the skies cleared off yesterday
morning and the bright sun dried up the
pools Of water in Riverside Park the old
soldiers and their wives who are gathered
there took heart and concluded to make
it the real opening day of the reunion.
With the coming of the sun also came
great numbers of soldiers both of the blue
and gray from out of the city and at
noon yesterday when the first real pro-
gram commenced the reunion gave prom
Use of being the best Of its kind ever
+ held in the city.
( AT ten O'Clock yesterday morning a
+ great camp fire was held in which all the
| old soldiers took part. This fire served
/ two purposes. 1t drove the moisture out
OF the clothing worn the day before and
warmed the boys Of the blue and gray
up to a stc telling mood.
The meeting was called TO order yes
terday morning by Captain Burgess, who
declared emphatically that no formality
would be tolerated and that all who We're
called on for speeches woul be expected
to respond with the following results:
Invocation-Rev. J. B. Moore.
Address-W. L. Appling.
song-"The G. A R. Badge" G. w
Bailey of Wellington.
Talks-H. Dillon. 3. F. Haven. -Tuttle
of Dodge City. Rev. ]. B. Moore, and DR..
Henry Snees of Garden City.
The music of the forenoon consisted Of
that made by the drum corps and de-
ightful piano solo by Miss Ethel Spencer.
The program of the afternoon in charge
of the ladies of the G. A r. was initiated
by a flag salute by the ladies. The prin-
cipal speakers on the program were Fred
Dumont Smith and Congressman Victor
Murdoch. Mr. Smiths address was not
only the feature Of the program yesterday
afternoon, but was the finest address ever
delivered before a body of old soldiers in
this city. 1t was along historical lines
bearing on the history OF the large armies
of the wcrl5. from ancient times down to
the present time. He spoke Of the gen
eralship in the different armies, of the
bravery of the soldiers and the results
of their efforts. and paid a glowing trib-
ute TO the boys of the civil war in saying
that in all/ the armies mentioned none
surpassed in generalship of bravery the
boys of the blue and gray
Mr.. Murdock made a very interesting
talk upon the civil war and the men who
risked their lives for the cause. He paid
many compliments TO the veterans and
their wives and entertained a well pleas
ed audience for some time.
One of the most touching scenes ever
witnessed at any of the reunions was the
presentation of a gift to Mrs NJ L.
Strobe, the Wichita Barbara Fritche."
by the Women's Relief Corps, represented
by Mrs. Stalker. In making the presenta-
ton speech Mrs. Stalker told of the daring
heroism of Mrs. Strode who defended the
flag of her country and kept it at half
mast on the day Of Lincolns death when
ordered by the confederate soldiers 20 pull
it down, how when her life was threaten
ed she stood with her little children hang
ing to her skirts and prevented the sol
diers from tearing down the fag. After
telling these facts and calling Mrs. Strobe
to the platform Mrs Stalker with few
well chosen words presented her with n
tenherg silk flag and the stand on which
they had been placed Mrs. Strobe was
truly surprised and in her attempt to
thank those present she said more that
went straight to the hearts of the people
than could have been said in set speech I
The remainder of the program was very
interesting and lasted until after O'Clock
1t was as follows:
Address-Captain Fishback.
Piano duet-Misses Frazier.
Recitation, The Boys in Blue"-Clara
Appling.
Piano duet-Misses Frazier.
Recitation. Sample Romance"-Evelyne
Frazier.
Piano duet-Misses Frazier.
Recitation. "Pauiotisrn Mrs. Callahan
'Eulogy to the Men and Women OF the
Civil War''-Mrs. Stalker.
No regular program was given last night
but that fact did not detract from the
enjoyment Of the evening. 1mpromptu
speeches were called for and the evening
was spent telling stories Of the adventures
Of bysone days.
An excellent program has been prepared
for today and with the coming Of many
old soldiers from out of the city The man
agement expects 10 have as many visitors
as it can accommodate today.