Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-07
SOLDIERS At BANQUET
Wilson Post, G. A. r., cele-
brates Anniversary.
PATHETIC INCIDENT OCCURS
Aged Warrior Attacked by Heart
Trouble While Speaking.
NUMBER OF PATRIOTIC SPEECHES
Regular Army, Spanish War Veterans,
Woman's Relief Corps and the
Volunteers Represented.
NUMBER OF PATRIOTIC SPEECHES

and present was lauded and brave and I'M
f1inching battle work was described in song.
verse and oratory last evening at the SOL
d.ers' Home out on Brightwood avenue, in
celebration Of the fifteenth anniversary Of
the formation of Henry Wilson Post, No.
IL. G. A. R.. which Is unique because 1t is
the only post in the Grand Army composed
entirely Of ex-soldiers Of the regular army
The venerable first commander of the. post,
Patrick Ford. occupied a seat on the plat
form beside, the deputy governor of the
home, Gen. p. w. Rogers, U. 8. A.. retired
, and other guests of note.
A pathetic incident occurred during the
exercises, when the chairman Of the meet
Ing called upon Matt Ryan to address the
assemblage. Mr.. Ryan stepped to the fore
and In rather forceful manner began to
describe hds experience in the days of fire
and smoke and carnage in the sixties.
Comrades, he was saying. ''It hardly
seems that forty-two years have passed
since those dark days Of At this point
! he threw up his hands and fell unconscious
| and heavily into great easy chair on the
stage.
The ladies and others on the platform
rushed to his assistance. He was finally re-
vived and was assisted to the auditorium by
Mr.. William A. OMeara. and later con-
veyed to the hospital for treatment 1t was
said Mr.. Ryan suffered an attack of heart
failure as his memory reverted to the stir
ring scenes Of battle he had participated in
from 1861 to 1865.
Opening Proceedings.
The program was opened with music by
the Soldiers Home Band. Prof. John s. M
Zimmerman. leader. Then Rev. Father
SOufhRaf6 cha IN Of ho
prayer, and Gen. Rogers. deputy governor
Of the institution. addressed words Of cheer
and encouragement to the old soldiers, and
welcomed their guests. A mandolin and
guitar duet. by Messrs Perkins and Spind-
ler followed.
ing officer. Mr.. Thomas Day, chairman of
the amusement committee. who introduced
Col. Samuel Stratton. The speaker COM
plimented the ladies of the patriotic So
bowling gracefully to Mrs. Isabel Worrell
Ball. president of the Woman's Relief
Corps OF the Department of the Potomac.
G. A. R., Mrs. Christine Dunlap. and the
other ladies on the platform. he told of
"the great work they are accomplishing for
the veteran soldiers of the vanishing
army
Had 1t not been for the prowess and
bravery of these old boys" continued Col.
Stratton, "the stars and bars. and not Old
Glory would be floating over the capital
at Richmond"
In conclusion he said all sentiment for
the veteran soldier has not died out, as
Congress appropriates $685. 600 for pen
! sions. ia7
Spoke for Spanish War Soldiers.
Captain J. Walter Mitchell, commander
| of the Department Of the District Of CO.
lumbia, United Spanish War Veterans, was
next called upon. He began by speaking
Of the splendid service rendered by the
regular soldiers in the civil war and in the
| war with Spain, and said the charge made
by Sykes. regulars against the men in
gray under the intrepid Stonewall Jackson
at the second battle of Bull Run, while
Longstreet's troops enfiladed their charg
Ing columns with musketry and cannon
fire, exemplified the saying of General
Sherman, that war is -" At Santiago
the regulars moved forward. ION and on
without any retrograde movement until
victory perched upon the tri-colored stand
ard of the republic This prompted
| Spanish officer to say he had never seen
| such troops as the Americans. "They keep
coming and never go back, he said, while
| IN European wars the soldiers advance
| fall back, advance again and fall back,
| and so the battle surges. Not so with the
| Americans. They keep coming
Captain Mitchell deplored the disrespect
that Is shown the uniform of the American
soldier by certain un-American persons
who seek to bar Uncle Sans fighting men
from places Of amusement because they
wear the suits of blue or khaki that are
prescribed by the government
I'm time Of war; he said, these fighters
are heroes and are lauded on all sides and
everywhere; In times of piping peace they
are tnsu1ted' by certain persons who care
not for patriotism nor the welfare of their
country. but are moved by the selfish mo-
tives Of adding to their boards of gold.
such persons can be found far back in the
rear when the storm clouds of war arise.
ana 1t would require an OK team and file
OF armed soldiers to get them anywhere
near the front when the hurting missiles
OF war are flying through the air.
Woman's Relief Corps Represented.
Miss Mary Ford. who is known as the
daughter Of Wilson Post, recited .'The
Regular Soldier Man" and a poem descrih-
ing the insults that are offered to Uncle
Sans fighting men who wear the uniform
In time of peace. and was heartily an
piauded. and then Mrs. Isabel worrell Rail
president of the Woman's Relief Corps Of
this department, delivered a patriotic ad
dress. Mrs. Ball said she was always ready
to give a word of cheer to members of the
G. A. R.. and especially to the brave regu
lars Of Wilson Post. Mrs. Ball described
scene In a little village in the south when
a squadron of regular cavalry entered the
place after having fought successfully the
old veteran troopers was covered with blood
as a result of his fight with the Spaniards.
and the girls Of the town clustered about
him. wiped off the blood of battle and adj