Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-13
MEMORIAL DAY.

AS already stated, the exercises in
connection with Memorial Day and the
laying Of the corner stone Of the mon
ument to the Confederate soldiers, Of
York county, were still in progress
when the last issue Of THE ENQUIRER
went to press; but the subsequent
events of the day, the entertainment
Of the veterans, the presentation Of
crosses of honor, the address of Col.
A. Coward, the Masonic ceremonies.
and the decoration Of the graves OF
Confederate veterans are matters Of
too much interest and Importance to
escape a more complete record.
On their arrival at Bratton's Hall
from the reviewing grounds, the mill
tary and Confederate veterans found
a bountiful dinner, prepared and
ready. 1t seems that the ladies Of the
Winnie Davis chapter U. D. c. had
all along been fearful that the dinner
would not come up to requirements as
to quantity. This was because they
had no way of estimating the probable
number of their guests, and their pre-
parations were made accordingly. There
were hundreds of pounds Of fresh beef,
a score Of hams. innumerable loaves,
bushels Of biscuits, great cauldrons OF
soup, coffee enough to float batteau,
every imaginable kind Of condiment,
and side dishes beyond the limits Of
description.
Members of the Winnie Davis Chap.
ter u. D. C. took especial charge Of
the veterans, and the members of the
Jasper Light Infantry devoted them
selves to the visiting military. These
preferred guests were seated at the ta-
bles three hundred at time and
served like princes. All ate until they
were satisfied, and after they had fin
ished, tn, ) no apparent diminu-
ton in the stock of commissary sup
plies in sight. BY the time these ta-
bles had been twice cleared and re-
plenished, the ladies realized their COM
plete command of the situation and
extended an invitation to the multitude
without to come in and partake Of the
good things that were still left. 1t Is
estimated that in all more than thou
sand people were fed, and 1t seemed as
If there was still enough to feed half
that many more.
The next event on the programme
was the presentation Of crosses Of hon.
or to the veterans who had been duly
qualified to receive them. Some little
confusion had resulted here on ac-
count Of a misunderstanding; but the
young ladies in charge Of the crosses,
as we'll as most of the veterans being
on hand, the crosses were duly pre-
sented-all but about half a dozen.
Some of the veterans it developed
were unable to be present on account
Of illness and other reasons, and still
others failed to be on hand at the ap-
pointed time.
After the presentation Of the crosses,
Capt. w. B. Moore addressed the as
sembling audience in a short speech
in which he took occasion to review
the story Of the monument undertake
ing from its.inception. He referred to
the fact that an impression had gotten
abroad that the enterprise was purely
a local affair; but this impression he
desired to correct. From the very be-
ginning there had been no other idea
than that this monument should be in
honor Of all the Confederate soldiers
who went to the war from York coun-
ty and who have made York county
their homes since the war. He men,
toned also the fact than an effort had
been made to interest the public schools
in the undertaking and although only
three schools as such had given practi-
cal assistance-Forest Hall, Beersheba
and McConnellsville, he hoped that in
the big undertaking still ahead, that of
putting a shaft on the base just COM
pleted, all the schools Of the county
would take a hand and do their full
share.
BY the time Capt. Moore concluded,
the crowd had gathered, and the ex-
ercises of the afternoon were opened
with prayer by Rev. ]. H. Thornwell
of Fort Mill. Then came the address
OF Col. A Coward. Col Coward was
appropriately introduced by Major
James f. Hart and was received with
a tremendous ovation. He spoke as
follows: