The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-14
FL0RlDA'S GRAND ARMY.
Twentieth Annual Encampment a
Most Enthusiastic Gathering.

Most enthusiastic Gathering.
St. Augustine, Fla, March 12.-Yes-
terday was a great day for the An
cient City" which has also come to
be called the Convention City" Only
recently the Florida United Confeder-
ate Veterans were most generously en-
tertained here; then came the knights
Of Pythias, who closed their labors
last night; yesterday morning the G.
A. r. Veterans came in on every
train to hold their twentieth annual
encampment. l have been a visitor
to st. Augustine for thirty years past
and never have seen the city looking
SO attractive, or the streets so full
Of winter tourists. The main tide of
travel seems to take in this old city
of so many ancient attractions. A
trip to Florida would be incomplete
without visit TO ST. Augustine And
this has made it of late years a city
Of hotels and boarding houses and re-
tail curiosity stores. Yet there can
be seen here public buildings and pri-
vate residences in keeping with the
grandeur Of the famous Ponce De
Leon Hotel. The floral attractions of
St. Augustine are numerous and va
ried.
The Grand Army Encampment rep
resenting eighteen Posts located be-
! tween Pensacola, and Key West, as
sembled at the hall of H. w. Chatfield
Post, No. II, in famous old Fort Mar
ion, with Commander John F. Chase
presiding. The attendance was IN
usually large, many visiting comrades
being present, from other states. The
various reports of department officers
showed some losses-tWo feeble posts
having surrendered their charters-but
gains in other posts were quite en-
couraging. Col. r. H. Pratt, L. S.
A., noted for his work among the In
dians especially a the Carlisle. Pa.
school, was present at the morning
session and made an appropriate talk
to the boys" He was quite at home
in old Fort Marion, as he brought
there the first Indians, (some twenty
years ago. held as prisoners within its
walls. The morning session ended in
recess of twenty minutes during
which the Ladies Auxiliary brought
in from an adjoining casemate, coffee.
sandwiches, cake, ETC., and served to
the delegates. 1t is needless to state
that this innovation was one that fully
met the approval of the veterans, who
We're profuse in their thanks.
Inc afternoon session was given up
to the election of officers and other
routine business, during. which the ut
most harmony prevailed. Capt. Henry
Narcotic (U. S. A., retired) of this CITY
was elected commander Thomas ]
owens of Ocala, senior vice command
err; William Emerson of Tampa, junior
vice commander; Rev S. F. Gale of
Jacksonville, reelected chaplain: DR..
H. M. Bruce of Tampa, medical direc-
tor; George w. Lewton of Jackson
vile, delegate to national encampment
with H. F. Flanders of Pomona. as al
ternate. Council of administratio Jo-
seph Bumby of Ocala, David A. Nor
rison of Maitland, I. r. Chapman of
st. Petersburg, and two comrades
whose names | cannot now recall. st.
Petersburg was chosen as the place for
holding the next encampment. let
ter of regret was read from Com
mander-in- Chief Black who expected
to be present, and his patriotic senti-
ments were heartily applauded. A
rising vote of thanks to the Ladies
Auxiliary and Chatfield Post for their
hearty and generous hospitality. was
followed by a vote of thanks to retir-
ing Commander Chase. The balance
of the afternoon was given up to a
public installation of the newly elected
officers by Past Department Com
mander Edwin Kirby of Palatka, and
to social pleasures.
committee escorted Lieut. Gen
John NJ Schofied. Z. S. A., retired, and
his charming wife and little daughter
to the hall. and he was given a most
hearty greeting by the old soldiers.
some of whom served under him in the
Civil War. One of them. Capt H. C.
Clark of Palatka who was the efficient
Officer of the Day. greeted his old COM