Evening journal., 1904-05-31
RANKS OF OLD SOLDIERS
Trimmed BY DEATH
Liveryman's Failure to Send
Teams Kept Mayor and
Officials From Parading

Because of the fact that the ranks OF
the old soldiers have been greatly thinned
by death the Memorial Day parade yester-
day was smaller than ever before. Il was
also noticoabie that those who did take
part were becoming more feeble and all
though the route was shorter than in past
years. the veterans were a tired looking
body Of men as they wended their way
home after the exercises Of the day.
While the procession was not as long as
heretofore. Il made an excellent appear
ance and the men who went through the
four years campaign for their country
were app'auded all along the route. n was
"a pathetic sight to watch the little pro-
ccssion march up Market strsot. some oi
the soldiers SO feeble they could hardly
keep np. but yet determined to continue
An line although ii was a severe strain.
Those who took part were the Whining
ton Battalion Of the National Guard OF
Delaware. the Boys from the Peoples
Settlement. members OF the different local
G.. A. Il posts and the Sons OF Veterans.
They were headed by chief OF Police Back
and a SOUND of policemen. Music was fur
nshed by thc First Infantry Band, the
First Regiment Band and the Brunswick
Fife and Drum Corps. The members OF
the Board OF Public Education rode In
carriages at the end OF the line, but
through an unfortunate circumstance tho
mayor and members of city Council were
no9 In line.
The mayor and members Of council had
ordered carriages TO be at the city Hall.
By1.30 O'Clock Mayor Charles ID. Bird.
the members of Council and some of the
other city officials were present az the
council chamber awaiting the arrival of
the carriages. 4 few minutes before the
time for the parade 10 START the COM
mittee in charge teIephoned the livery
man who had been engaged to furnish the
carriages and received the Information
that they were on their way to the City
HALL Thinking that this was true. tho
mayor and members Of council waited, but
the carriages never arrived. The march
ers passed the city hall while the mem
bers of council were waiting. Ten min
utes after the procession had passed one
queer-looking carriage drove N TO ths
City Hal for the members.
The city officials feel much hurt over
the matter and viii make personal expla-
nations 10 the Old soldiers.
on Thursday evening next suitable
resolution viii be passed expressing re.
gret at the failure of council 20 take parl
IN the event.
General Daniel Ross was the chief mar
shal of the parade and had the distinction
Of being the first chief marshal in thi.
city who ever started a procession precise
~ on the minute announced.
The veterans were satisfied with th'
manner IN which the day had been OBJ
served and they were particularly wei
pleased that SO many people displaye,
flags On their houses. They were ais,
cratlhed that large numbers Of schoo
children both girls and boys. accompanie,
them to the different cemeteries and as
sisted in placing flags and flowers on The
graves of the departed soldiers.
The parks were opened yesterday and
thousands OF people went to both Shelipo
and Brandywine Springs during tho da,
and listened to excellent band concerts
The amusements were all well patron
lied There We're SO many people al
Brndywlne Springs that It took unit
early this morning to set them all in OF
the lrolleys.