The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-19
CHILDREN HAUL THE
STATUE OF DAVIS
Thousands of Little Ones
Enthusiastically Pull a
Two Ton Burden.
RAN AWAY WITH
PONDEROUS LOAD
Three Thousand Children, Headed
by Veterans, Made Quick
Work of Drawing the
Wagon Through Two
Miles Of Spec
tators.

"A brilliant April afternoon looked
down on many thousands Of children
in parade formation yesterday after
noon when the bronze figure OF the
President of the Confederacy was
drawn through the streets to its pedes-
tai at the head of Monument Avenue.
An enormous crowd of people OF all
ages lined the streets. and tho cheers
OF the schoolchidren rang out In high
treble again and again. No one could
witness the brilliant sight without
being impressed that the women and
childrenS of ta,s Commonwealth still
love and reverence the name OF Jef-
fcrson Davis and tho cause which his
name represents to the Southern heart.
The parade formed at the corner OF
Fifth and Franklin Streets. and before
o'clock 1t was evident that there
would be a great outpourlng of tho
children OF the city, as they were
closely packed in for more than q
block waiting to get a hand on the
ropes which drew the wagon.
The Covenanter Fife and Drum
Corps. In their blue and white suits,
led the way. the scarlet lining of their
capes, which were thrown open, adding
brilliant dash OF color at the head
of the parade. r. E. Lee Camp and
George r. Pickett Camp OF Confed-
crate Veterans. In full gray uniforms.
and with erect and military bearing,
followed the band with steady step.
Then came the long lines OF children
drawing the car on which the bronze
figure ~ President Davis rested. The
ropes were over 700 feet long and were
in double formation. Every available
inch on which hand could be laid
was taken by rosy-faced boys and
girls. and 1t would be conservative to
say that at least 5000 children were
i@in line. Many of the girls were in
white, and small Confederate flags
We're everywhere. The boys came from
their games with bs. l-glove and roller
skates over their shoulders. and ali
pulled away with a will. In fact some-l
times the children were almost too
willing. being unaccust0med to the
llalts and delays incident to parade
formation. and more than once after
the movement was started they re-
fused to stop. However, the utmost
good humor prevailed throughout the
evening and no accident OF any kind
was reported.
The car on which the statue was
loaded was handsomely decorated by
c. b. Norvell & Co.. who volunteered
their services for this work without
cost to the committee.
Makeup of the Parade.
The veteran section Of the parade
was under the command OF Commands
er W. B. Freeman, of Leo Camp, the
neatly y-uniformed veterans carrying
canes, and presenting most martial
and business-like appearance. When
no Io chad "a r 40 Mnn,yn1ert
y squad of about fifty from the Sol
dlers' Home, under command of Colo
mel Charles Euker fell INTO line with
the other veterans and continued with
the parade up Monument Avenue to
the Davis site. -,
A pathetic feature of the parade was
little group of manned and infirIl
men from the Home. unable to march
even from the Lee Monument, but who
gathered on the old battery on upper
Monument Avenue to watch the parade
pass, and raised their canes in salute
as the bronze figure OF the eX-Presl-
dent went by.
Mr.. Peter ]. Whito was invited by
Commander Freeman to take charge
Of the children's part OF the parade.
and was assisted by dozen or more
young men in the formation OF the
lines OF the children.
A force OF burly negroes, In their
Sunday clothes. were Immediately
around, the wagon to guide and assist
or the upgrades. The enormous num-
Der of children in line rendered their
services in pulling unnecessary, buc
they were effective In stopping the
wagon from time to time when tho
human team disregarded orders and
PULLED ahead
Too Few Policemen.
The absence OF police was much
commented upon With the exception
of a. bicycle squad. none ware to be
seen until the parade moved and much
difficulty was experienced IN forming
the lines on account of the dense
crowd Tho officials had evidently not
expected any such turnout Of people,
and no provision had been made for
clearing the street OF wagons and BIZ
cycles which were In tho way repeat
cdly, and which added to the danger
for the children, After the parade
moved Major Werner and some assist
ants on horseback arrived, and this
way was kept much more open.
The work OF the Covenanter FlAo
and Drum Corps was greatly admired
hy the crowds that lined the way, tho +
boys of this organization keeping up
a succession of fife and bugle music
with the roll OF the drums. which was y
quite the feature Of tina parade.
When tho monument was reached
the ropes were quickly dstached and
promptly cut into small sections For
souvenirs OF the occasion, The parade
was here dismissed without any formal
exercises, only tha Fife and Drum
Corps marching back to thescity, There
was a great scramble for pieces OF thu
rope. and many an old soldier was
seen making his way back to the city.
carrying small piece which ha IL
treasuring as a memento of the occa-
sion.
Car Service Was Poor.