The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-13

"oS lhSllHOIldl LAY. Ile
day on which thousands paid tribute to
the memory of those who wore the gray
and there was perhaps no city in the
south where the day was more general
ly recognized than Wilmington. As the
years go by the number Of gray haired
veterans who march forth on this day
to help pay tribute to the INC of
their deceased comrades, grows less. 4
few more years and the veteran of
the silvery locks and the gray coat
will be only a memory,
The county and city offices, the At
lantic Coast Line offices, the wholesale
houses and many of the retail stores,
gave half holiday yesterday and there
were many stores that were closed all
day What a beautiful day il was,
just cool enough to be pleasant. From
early in the forenoon until the sun was
low in the west did hundreds visit
beautiful Oakdale cemetery and place
flowers upon the graves of the Confed-
crate dead. Although the afternoon
was a beautiful one few people could
be seen on the streets, except those
going to and from the cemetery. Every
thing was pervaded with a solemn
Stiffness.
The Daughters Of the ~Confederacy
met at the lodge at the cemetery yes
terday morning and many beautiful
Wreaths were prepared and placed upon
the graves of the Confederate dead.
The exercises were held at the Confed-
crate monument on the hill in the GEN.
ter of the cemetery.
What a beautiful place is that city
of the dead, Oakdale cemetery. How
1N ! +Io f~I,a-A IL
green. How beautiful the roses, and
the various other kinds Of flowers that
can be seen on every side. From the
beautiful oaks hangs that which is
typical of the south gray moss. The
decorations around the were
beautiful.
The Wilmington Light Infantry, the
Naval Reserves and the Boys Brigade
all took part in the exercises. These
companies met at their respective arm
cries at 2 o'clock and got in readiness
ana were at the cemetery at 4:30
Promptly at 4:30 the procession moved
from the lodge to the Confederate
monument. The companies were lined
up, single file, on both sides of tbs
main walk leading from the entrance
to the Confederate monument, and they
stood at present arms as the speaker
OF the occasion, Captain Samuel A,
Ashe, escorted by Chief Marshal G.. ].
Boney, the Confederate veterans
Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons
of Confederate veterans marched by.
AS soon as these different bodies had
passed through the lines, the companies
formed ranks and brought up the rear.
a stand had been erected in the en-
closure at the monument and from this
the speaker delivered his address. The
exercises at the were open
ed by prayer offered by Rev. a. Nc
Cullen. several selections were sung
by a double mixed quartette compos-
ed of Mrs. Penney, Mrs. A. NJ. Wad-
dell, Mrs. Cameron MacRae, Miss Mat
tie Horne and Messrs. Brooke French,
L. NJ. Robinson, H. *. Holden ana
Charles McMillen.
The speaker was introduced by Chief
Marshal G. j. Boney. Mr.. Boney said
that Captain Ashe vas too well known
in Wilmington to need an Introduction
and instead Of introducing him he
would present him.
The address OF Captain Ashe was lis
tened to attentively by the large throng
of people. The address can be found
on another page of this paper.
After the delivery Of the address
Chief Marshal Boney read the honor
roll. Each of the three companies then
TreO a SaIute OF tnree VoiIeyS, the
bugler sounded taps, and the exercises
Of the day were over.
Before leaving the cemetery the Will
mington Light Infantry marched to the
grave of their late comrade Eugene
Virgins, and fired three volleys over his
grave. The Naval Reserves fired three
volleys over the grave of the late Colo
mel F. w. Foster.
Yesterday afternoon just before the
Wilmington Light Infantry left the
arTnory, beautiful and extremely touch
| ing letter from Mrs. E. B.. Virgins was
read by Captain W. F. Robertson to the
| company. The letter brought a tear tC
| the eye of many members of the com
| pany as they thought of their late com
| rade, Eugene Virgins.
The exercises yesterday were conduct
| ed under the auspices OF the Daughter!
of the Confederacy.