Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-28
Visiting Veterans Sail on
Ransom Fuller
After Three Days Sighting in
Gardiner and Vicinity.
lmprompm Parade and Visit to the 0akIands
the Concluding Features.

Saturday was the closing day of the
q. A. r. encampment celebration and
1t was one of the most enjoyable days
of the whole week-the most enjoyable,
many of the veterans affirmed. The
day opened early, in fact, long before
the suns cffulgent rays had peeped
above the dark horizon. 1t was not a
great ways from A. NJ. when the ball
started-with a parade. 1t was made
up Of the band boys-a majority Of
the members of the Woburn Band fur
nishing some fire music. There was a
chief marshal and several dozen aides.
This feature of the day-the opening
who are fortunate enough to live in
the central portion of the city, al
though the sweet strains of the martial
music were waited up over the hills
and doubtless many a weary one was
lulled to sleep to the soft cadence. At
ter an hours jubilee on Water street.
the parade broke up and the members
of the band returned to the Opera
house for an hours sleep.
The regularly recognized program of
the day began at o'clock. when the
visitors and the local organizations as
sembled in front of the Johnson House.
which, by the way, was very attrac-
lively decorated with flags, bunting
etc, and with the invincible and never
firing band at its head. procession
moved UP Water street and marched
out to the Oaklands at the kind invi-
tation of Robert II. Gardiner Right
royal entertainment was furnished the
army of visitors at the Oaklands. Mr.
and Mrs. Gardiner personally received
the guests and refreshments were
served. The visitors were escorted
throughout the beautiful old mansion
and later were given an opportunity
to inspect the grounds.
After looking over the "farm," Mr..
Gardiner presented every man and
woman present, and there were over
300 of them, with a bouquet Of beauti-
full flowers from the Gardiner gardens.
and to the Lowell Post he gave two
small evergreen fir trees, which were
borne away by the standard bearers.
and which doubtless were a feature of
the homecoming parade in Boston.
Sunday morning. After the band had
played several selections, the visitors
took their leave of Mr.. and Mrs. Gardi-
ner, after extending hearty thanks for
their cordial reception.
The parade returned down town. and
stand was taken at the Johnson
House again, where the band again
obliged. Some time was then given over
to fluctuations, and just before the
dinner horn blew (Which should be ac-
copied as figurative SPECIFY much
cheering was in order. The familiar
"three cheers and a tiger" were given
with a vim and a heartiness that could
not be doubted. Those who received
this kindly attention were the citizens,
Mayor knight, Marshal Andrews.
Heath Post, Mr.. Johnson of the john
son House and the Relief Corps men,
bers. The band then marched up wa
ter street and favored the Reporter
Journal Office with serenade. which
was very hecomingly acknowledge by
E. W. Morrell, the editor. and Frank
c. Emery, one of the staff.
The remainder of the day was given
up to the preparations for departure
and at 2.30 the paraders passed through
Water street for the last time and were
busy acknowledging the salutes from
the people along the line of march.
The steamer Ransom B. Fuller sailed
at 335 with the visitors on board-and
there was more cheering.
The G. a. II. encampment has GER
tainly been an unqualified success and
the success of the affair reflects much
credit, fully as much upon the visitors
as upon the Gardiner Post and the
citizens who helped to entertain the
Rostonians. During Saturday forenoon,
many of the visitors called at the Car
diner office of the Journal and spoke
in the highest terms of the manner In
which they had been entertained In
our city Excellent hotel accommoda-
lions far SURPRISING expectations, for
It seems that erroneous reports OF
Maine hostelries has gone abroad, and
for the marked cordially displayed by
the merchants and citizens.
The boys" as the veterans delight to
be called, even by the children. came
to Gardiner for no other purpose than
a good time and recreative pursuits. In
following out their idea, the Bostoni-
ans devoted all of their time while in
this city in a fruitful endeavor to en-
tertain the citizens of the city, and
the members of the organizations
whose guests they were. Gardiner
found the visitors ladies and gentle
men of the highest calibre, congenial
and pleasant-and whose conduct has
won for the visitors the respect and
friendship of the whole city.