The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-30
Crowds Exceed all Expec-
tations and Capacity
Of City is Taxed.
BIG PARADE AND
UNWILLING TODAY
Conventions Will Begin Work in
Morning-Holly lywood Memorial
Exercises in Afternoon and
Presentation Of Sponsors
in Auditorium at
Night.

Far exceeding the widest hope OF
tho local committees the army OF
veterans which has reach
ed Richmond now numbers close to
10000 men, and with the thousands
OF others who will arrive this morn
ing the seventeenth reunion will open
to-day wit a promise Of exceeding all
others in the history OF the organiza-
zion.
Writers OF fact and fiction delight /.
to say and sing '.of the thin gray llne
which Is fading slowly away" but to ii
those privileged to watch the many
commands Of old soldiers which are
invading this city. the gray line seems
anything but thin, and the evldences
Of fading away are entirely lacking.
IT Is a sight to stir the blood and
warm the heart-these bands of vet-a8
Grams marching once more along the
streets Of the city which was long
are the capital of the Confederncy. Fl
4 The old soldiers, gay as lads and
full of fire and enthusiasm. march
aloud the rebel yell,'' greeting old
friends and quickly making new ones. II
gclng over again the stirring times oj AZ
war recounting deeds Of valor. and h
recalling memories of campfire and -
battlefield. Each has his own peculiar
hero&to eXtol. each has an incident to-
tell, each thinks his own command !
the greatest and bravest OF the war.
but al llSunite in devotion to the cause {
and In loyalty to the Southland.
Thousands On streets.
All through 1.-THE day special trains ii
.emptied their loads of veterans, and
along the streets. brilliant with flags
and bunting, marched from dawn to
midnightScompante OF the old soldiers.
ltpilgrims once more to the heart OF
the Confederacy." Some carried ancient
,battleflags. torn ns#amost to rags by
lishot and she'll. others proved the truth
| Of a united country by marching under
tho Stars and Stripes. some wore the
gray, some only civilians clothes, some
| bore the marks or prosperity. while
others gave evidence OF poverty and
want. but all We're once more soldiers
III the army of the Confederacy, proud
insthe memory OF great deeds accom-
plished and OF glory that can never
die. &
Some of these men have not visited
Richmond since the war ended, and
their disappointment at not finding
orce Observation-Disclosures is pathetic. One
seeks Ii vain for the house in which
he was nursed when wounded; another
tries to find residences long since
pulled down. and not n few inquire for
| the potswood House. the fashion
allie hotel Of war time. which was
burned in 1871, Last night an aged
soldier called at headquarters and de-
clared that he must find the Spots
wood House." for his wife, he said,
would Write to him there.
City Covered with Flags.
Never has Richmond extended well
come which exceeds in enthusiasm and
lWholehear tedness the one which has
ply covered with flags. business is at
a standstill. for the people have only
time to greet the men in gray whom
they delight to honor.
At4"Camp John w. Gordon" the scene
| is realistic, for q great forest of tents
has sprung UP. accompanied by mess
| halls and Kitchens. Here the rank and
file Of the veterans will live, enjoying
the pleasures of camp life. with none
4 of It's evils. a
This is like wartime, with plenty
Ito eat!" exclaimed n veterans last
night after having enjoyed good
supper In tho mess-hall, and he added:
"If we could have gotten such food
during the way, we would have been
lighting yet
All the old soldiers declared they
We're never SO we'll cared for at any
Ireunon as they have been here. and
| they say they do not care how long
| the reunion lasts.
One Of the pitful sights OF the camp
was an old fiddler, who, with one arm
gone, played with tho bow between his
knees, picking out old wartime airs,
such as "The Bonnie Blue Flag" and
"Dixie." A great crowd stood around,
and the old mans cap was full Of SILL
yer before the evening Wore away for
the familiar tunes brought aims as
we'll as memories Of the past. The i'd
| dler was not the only pittful example
OF the war. for many sleeves We're
| armless, and many old men moved
| about on crutches and wooden legs. not
! without certain pride In having given
more than their fellows for their coun-
4 try. e
. At the hotels tho crowds were dens-
est, for young and old gathered to pay
their respects ty distinguished officers
who had not Visited Richmond for
y years.
I Among those who attracted thae
\ greatest attention were General Steph-
on D. Lee. General Eppa Hunton, Cap
i tain Robert r., Lee, son of General
Robert y. Lee; Colonel Robert u. Acc,
grandson of General r. r. Lee, and
n son of General w. Fl. +, Lee. and Sem
4 ator Daniel.
& There were also present Miss Mary
! Custis Lee. daughter OF General r. Il,
. Lee: Mrs. w. II. F, Lee. Miss Mary
\ Harrison, of Mississippi. and Mrs, John
I. Lee, Of Alabama.
Governor Swanson and Mrs. Swanson
held an informal reception at the Jef-
ferson last night, when the sponsors
g and maids of honor We're introduced
/. Opening To-day.
y This morning the convention opeHs
!, lat :aO o'clock, when Major-General9
! Stith Boiling will call tho veterans 20
Iorder. After a prayer BIZ Rev, Y. ,SYn+