Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-07

Lewiston. Me-, Sept. 6.-(SpeciaD.-
Today is the one set apart for the vet
Grams Of the Civil war. It is estimated
that between $4,000 and 10000 people
visited the grounds during the day.
The veterans have been arriving ev-
cry day during the last week and they
were all on the grounds bright and
early this morning. Without doubt it is
the largest gathering of veterans that
has been held for many years. Flags
are flying from nearly every house in
the city as we'll as all the buildings on
the grounds. A pretty tribute to the Wis
itors was shown by the fireworks COM
rany Wednesday night when a gigan-
tic G. A. Il. badge in red fire was pre-
sented. The big grand stand was liber-
ally sprinkled with people, despite the
cold night and the open ground around
the track was literally filled with au-
tomobiles and carriages. The people
rose en- masSe and cheered when the
badge was shown and the footing OF
hundreds of auto horns voiced the en-
thusiasm Of the occupants of the vehi-
cles.
At noon the turnstiles recorded the
largest crowd of people that ever had
entered the grounds up to noon of
what is known as the big" day. The
blue coat and Grand Army button is
everywhere. Many of the fakirs and eX-
hibitors are spreading themselves to at
tract their attention.
The army dinner was q grand sue
cess in every way. The great dining
tent was filled twice and at a third sit
ting it was half filled. Every veteran
was given his fill of beans baked in the
ground. bread and butter and coffee. 1t
was a gigantic undertaking, but it was
handled without trouble. Charles Hor-
bury WAS stationed at the entrance and
sorted out the veterans from the 9TH
erS.
The races were held until the veter-
ans had formed for the parade. They
were organized by regiments with the
1st Maine Cavalry having the right of
the line. The "a Regiment Band led.
AS the veterans swung onto the track
a mighty cheer rose from the specta
tors gathered about the gate. The time
was slow to accommodate the more
feeble marChers. AS they came into the
stretch the 5000 people on the grand
stand stood and cheered. The enthusi-
asm was redoubled when Ex-Governor
AlOnZo Garcc!on, General O. o. How
ard and Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain
took their seats in the stand. The en-
thusiasnl knew no bounds as the veter
ans passed the stand. The stand
cheered and they cheered in return I'M
til their threats were sore.
The 18th Maine colors, carried
through the war and bearing the scars
of bIttle. were carried by the surviv
ors IF that famous regiment by w. II.
MsCann of Lewiston. They were dipped
az they passed the stand and the guests
barred their heads and bowed low in
thei,. toncr. The colors of the ed were
also carried in the line. A cannon on a
nearby hill doomed salutes during the
timn that the veterans were on the
track.
The 18th. a3d, 24th, 2S,h. 1st Cavalry
and MANY other regiments were repre-
scented. 1t is estimated that there were
1860 men in line About 1000 sat down
to dinner.
The rest Of the afternoon was passed
In wandering dulOho eA'> 'oA'S0
hibits or listening to the speecnmah-
ing in the big dining tent.
Two balloon ascensions were MADE,
the first by a man and a woman. the
second by two women. Both were en-
tirely successful. The fire dive and
yo,dev,lle also came off according to
schedule.
For the first time for several years
every seat in the grand stand was oc-
cupied. Three times as many people
were scattered about the grounds.
Ten regimental associations and the
1st Maine Cavalry Associations held
reunions at the fair grounds in connec-
ton with the army dinner and camp
Sra which followed. Among the speak
ers were General Joshua L. Chamber
land OF Lewiston and Col. A. w. Brad
bury of Buckfeld. The dinner was fur
nished by subscription of local citizens
and admission to the grounds was free
| to the veterans.