New-York tribune., 1907-09-12
e. A. R. PARADE ~ RAIN
INSPIRING. SAYS HUGHES.
corernor Rerie5cs the 10000 March,
ers at Saratoga.

s the once grand. buoyant victorious army
,.bose scores of thousands passed in review al
-. national capital when the war was over.
t-ox,a6 a driving storm TO march once more be-
,eatb their battle flags. AS unnindful OF 'he
&c of storm as in the days of 81, when youth
i,r md love of the flag knew physical
,r7s these dvyindling thousands passed once
- in review But il not along the ur1-
-,.as,ned and unregardful course they were
,roe wont to march. but over carefully meas
-ad mile through village streets. a distance
sri-ad 70 their gathering years
- so ter thousand of these veterans OF the
.+;,,7,s 5avs Of trial stepped out to the lnsplr-
,,r -I,nes the old battle songs. in a storm Iha1
-.,,st have brought to their memories the days
:, .c+ive soldering. To the thousands who'
-, uncovered heads and tear dimmed eyes,
.,,,.5 the faltering lines bearing the old ban
- --,-4, unsteady hands, the thought came;
,,7. .,,e ,Grs they were young and vigorous ana
.ra-e7 for all the chances war might hrlhs'
5s,- they are burdened with near a half cen
- more Of years. hut withal sustained by the
knowledge Of duty done.
.ra yet while scores dropped out wheh uie
-sin began 10 fall. the ranks held 1hen Ille any
t-aved the driving storm as If again. as OF oi''
- N their places in the forefront OF battle
:. ,onre45 with steadily increasing force as Ihey
-.o-ched. but through the drenchng torrents
- ,,.+ on Few there were who held. shelter
,np umbrellas but II mattered not
VETERANS PLoD ON FOR AN HOUR
For an hour and more the brave old fellows
,1od6ed On between lines Of cheering people as
-1ncl-v as themselves. keeping brave step 10 'fe
music. which again and again and right cheer-
nv rlazed. How Dry Am" and Wait TIL the
crn shines Nellie" and we Won't Go Home
TIL Morning" And while the veterans marched
through
streets Governor Hughes, his military staff. the
national officers Of the Grand Army and dis
-,,c7,isbed visitors stood on the reviewing stand
III shielded from the driving storm beneath a
Air,sv covering Of cloth. through which the rain
swept unchecked
When the last faltering rank had passed in
review the rain ceased, the skies cleared ana
the sun broke forth The dripping but undaunt-
ed old soldiers found their way to lodging
places. satisfied that such a trife as driving
rainstorrn had no more arrested their onward
march than it had in the days OF war
It was not a cheerful day nor good one for
men burdened with ills Of the flesh and the
weight Of years. but it day 10 lend force
70 the arguments of those who seek 10 have
these annual parades done away with
Governor Hughes was deeply impressed by the
spirit OF the veterans. who insisted on marching
through the pouring rain with a dash and dis
play Of grit marvellous for men Of their years
Expressing his feelings after the parade the
Governor said:
at was one of the most inspiring and in some
ways most pathetic things ever witnessed, To
see those men marching on through that driving
rain with the pluck and enthusiasm of forty
years ago was to realize the sort of stuff
people are made of. It thrilled every that
witnessed it,
GRTFRNOP2
The Governor left here for Syracuse by way
Of Albany at $50 o'clock tonight On account
Of the crowd Of homegoers at the station he
was taken to the Church street crossing. where
he boarded the car. a score or more Of vet
erans found him there and insisted shaking
hands with him After the Governor had
boarded the car and the train was about 10 pull
out two veterans from Illinois rushed up.
Why, We came all the way from Chicago to
shake his hand cried one in disappointment.
when the conductor 1old him he too late
One Of the features Of the parade was the
presence of big flag which covered the body Of
General Grant on its way from Mount Nc
Gregor TO the tomb. In custody Of the Grena-
der Guard. commanded by A 6 Fowler. of Lit
lie Rock. Ark, Of which every man was over
six feet tall and represented one Of the forty-five
Departments Of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie. this old flag brought up the extreme rear.
escorted py the Whole parade and being carried
al last along the whole line of review AS
planned. the national officers in carriages. with
Governor Charles E. Hughes Of this state. led
the line, the chief of staff in command being ]
Cary Winans. Of Toledo The department of
New York State although entitled by seniority
TO fifth place. selected as hosts the left Of the
line, which included representation Of every
department, including Alaska. and Of every
branch Of the service-infantry. cavalry. artiI-
lery and naval veterans. Starting at woodIawn
Park. the parade marched down Broadway To |
Circular street, and there passed in review be-
fore Governor Hughes. attended by several
members OF his military staff including Adju-
tant General Nelson H. Henry, and before the
national officers Of the Grand Army of the Re-
public
One incident showing the splendid spirit OF
the veterans. typical OF all in the parade
occurred In Broadway. An old. feeble cornrade
from Kansas Post was returning from the
grandstand. where they had disbanded. He was
soaked TO the skin. but his indomitable pluck
had not been Quenched and he forsetful
OF self In his hand he carried a pole at the |
end OF which Of corn Stepping up
70 some young who had sought shelter in
doorway. he said with jolly laugh: 1T will
be long time before this corn will be dry
enough to pop again"
VETERANS IN THE HOSPITAL
Thirty-six veterans are in the local hospital
though the condition Of none, 1t was stated to-
night is serious. They are nearly all old men
who did not take part in the parade but could not
endure the exertion Of walking about the streets
Richard Williams, Of Post No a. stoughton
Mass. is at the hospital suffering with several
Fall Ifc -