East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-04
A PATHETIC PARADE
Feeble Veterans Cause Of Much SYM
pathy from Bystanders-Gamely
Struggle TO Keep in Line. :.

pathy from Bystanders-Gamely
Struggle TO Keep in Line.
Toledo, o., Sept. 4.-The Grand
Army parade today was remarkable
for the absence OF accidents and cases
of exhaustion and for the good order
which prevailed, not only among the
dense crowds along the line of march
but throughout the city. Mayor
Whltlock tonight stated that despite
the crowd of 100000 visitors there
had been fewer accidents, fewer mis-
demeanors and less work for the po-
lice than on any average days of the
year. The weather was Of the made
to-order variety. bright sunlight and
a temperature comfortably below the
summer average. To this fact was
due the lack Of activity at the two
emergency hospitals. Aside from a
veteran who was slightly bruised by
being hit by an ambulance, there
were no accidents and not more than
a dozen visited the hospitals as the
result of fatigue. All were able to
leave after resting.
Thousands I'm Line.
Estimates OF the number Of veter-
ans in line varied from 5000 to $4,000.
The various posts marched with half
a block between them and the de-
partments were even further apart
There was a good 10 feet separating
each row of marchers. and 1t was this
liberality of space which made 1t re-
quire four hours to pass the review
ing stand. Fully half the veterans
wore the badges of either Michigan
or Ohio.
Carried Stools.
Some veterans carried camp stools
over their arms and whenever there
was halt they promptly sat down,
to the envy of their comrades. The
first amusing incident Of the march
came with the marching past of the
Rhode Island detachment. The vet
eran tars i'm sailor suits, and each
carrying a broom bearing the pla-
card, "Who won the battles of'61 and
65? We did," danced along the way
and were the targets of many flow
ers. The Bordan sharpshooters car
ried their name on a twelve foot cloth
sustained by poles at each end and
borne by men.
Georgia, with 80 in line ELECTED
applause by displaying a bundle of
cornstalks from IL to Is feet in
length. South Dakota's veteran sons
paraded with cobs of corn stuck on
the end OF canes carried over their
shoulders, while North Dakota hint
ed of its staple crop with heads of
wheat tackled in their hats. This de-
partment also had full rugged Uncle
Sam. one of the two in evidence dur
Ing the day. Oklahoma, proud of her
new statehood, to make sure that the
fact was understood. bore a banner
with "State of Oklahoma" in ample
lettering. The popularity of the res
freshments served at the rendezvous
points was attested by the appearance
OF souvenir tin cups at the belt of
nearly every man. The Fourth Michi-
gan carried a pole on top of which
was an imprisoned rooster. On the
side of the coop was the boast, 1--WE
Captured Jeff Davis" We swept the
ocean; you keep 1t clean." was an ad-
monition which called for cheers.
Step Is Firm.
While there were details of the pic
ture which appealed strongly to SYM
pathy for the veterans declining
years, it was on the whole cheerful
sight. For the most part the step OF
the men was firm, their faces betray'
led eager interest and they seemed tc
be enjoying the applause and the ia
mailer fife and drum music without
a thought of the years. Many anC
many veteran, vowing himself goot
for another war, pranced and danced
along, to the vast approval of hi
comrades