The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-02
Imposing Parade Precedes Ex-
ercises at SibIey Park.
Mastery Address Delivered by
General H. w. Childs.
Excellent Singing and Other
Incidents of the Day.
From Tuesdays Daily.

death for their country's sake were hit
tingly honored over the length and
breadth of the United States today and
Mankato and the rest of Blue Earth
county were by no means slow in taking
part. Wilkin Post of the Grand Army
of the Republic, with headquarters at
Mankato, has been busy for some time
in making arrangements in conjunction
Ladies of the G. A. R., for the proper
ceremonies i'm remembrance of the dead
heroes. Ten cemeteries in the city and
vicinity, where repose the ashes of
American military men enough to make
two fair sized battalions, if all could
be called back to earthly life, are UNI
der the care of Wilkin Post in the mat
ter of adjoining the graves of the sol
diers, and the duty was beautifully per-
formed this morning, with flags and
flowers, in every one of these sleeping
places of the departed, under the man
agement of committeeman appointed by
the post. These committeeman were as
signed as follows: GIenwood, L. c.
Peart; Lutheran, H. Oshman; Catholic,
P. H. Whalen; NIinneopa, r. Pritchard;
Beauford, Charles Morse; Nicollet, Tom
Hodson; Rapidan, George PARROT; Yer
non Center, +. Hemingway; Good Thun-
der, J. g. Graham; and Garden City,
A. ID. Crane
In the city the day was observed by
many with large flags, which bedecked
. many buildings, public and private. The
city hall presented a very pretty appear
ance with thirteen large emblems with
the stars and stripes placed before the
front windows.
Early in the afternoon the procession
began to form at Second and Jackson
streets and moved out to Sibley park 1t
was under the direction of Col. C. Z.
Johnson, who made an ideal marshal
The mounted police moved along with
an almost martial bearing. Company HI
of the Second Regiment, arrayed in full
uniform, and carrying the guns, seemed
in itself rather formidable arm of
the law, though but small part of the
vast military reserve that stands
ready at the call of the authorities
With even ranks and steady pace the
boys glided by, the objects of innumer-
able admiring eyes. Impressive indeed
was the appearance of the grizzled vet
Grams, members of Alexander Wilkin
Post, No. 10, G. A. R., men who could
not forget each other for they had been
comrades in terrible times. The Wom-
ems Relief Corps and the ladies of the
G. A. R. occupied carriages. They car
ried with them some exquisite wreaths,
which matched beautifully the flags that
were to be seen on all Sides Judge
Cray appeared in his own carriage,
wherein were also the speakers of the
day, General Childs and Ben Howard of
the high school, the latter chosen to de-
liver the famous Gettysburg Adj
dress" About thirty-fve young ladies
of the normal school, in a carry-all, to-
gether with few young men, all com
prising the Normal Glee club, together
with their preceptor, Miss Paulsen, pre-
sented charming sight, as normal stu
dents always do on such occasions. The
mayor and members of the city council
also composed a part of the parade in
carriages, and these were followed by a
long retinue of citizens in vehicles.
South and West Front street were
alive with people during and immedi-
ately after the passage of the parade to
Sibley park. Throngs of pedestrians, all
bound for the same place, occupied the
sidewalks, and the streets were noisy
with vehicles, carriages, automobiles and
bicycles.
By and by the grand stand of the
park at the foot of the mound was
reached and the people clustered in and
about this structure, eager to see and
hear what was to take place. The
by Kings Drum corps. Orders were
read by the post adjutant, Calvin Smith.
Next followed beautiful selection of
vocal music by the Normal Glee club,
and then Ben Howard delivered the ad-
dress of the universally honored Lin
coin. General Childs made the address
of the day, scholarly masterpiece,
worthy in every way of the reputation
of the man. wreath was placed on
the cross for the unknown dead by Mrs.
M. ID. Fritz of the Relief corps. An
other wreath was placed by Mrs. Clara
Thompson on behalf of the Ladies of the
G.. A. r. in honor of the sailors and ma
rines. Still third wreath was devoted
in the same manner by Mrs. Nettie
Bartholomew on the behalf of the w. r.