Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-07-04
Soldiers and Sailors Annual Reunion.


That the veteran soldiers and sailors
of South Dakota are taking advantage of
the opportunities still left them to gat-
her in their annual reunions was evil
dent from the fact that at the encampA
ment just concluded at Hot Springs,
there we're GAO registered from all sec
tions of the state.
There ceremonies of the week opened
Monday afternoon with the Black Hills
encampment. The first session was de-
voted principally to the business of the
association, the hearing of reports and
the delivery of the presidents address
which was a scholarly and patriotic
effort on the part of Judge G. &. Ben.
nett. The camp fire was to have been
held on Monday evening, but heavy
rain came on and it was postponed to
Tuesday morning. 1t was an informal
but impressive affair held at the SOL
diers' Home and afforded a pleasant
meeting for the old soldiers of this sec
tlOu Va Iuc Stdto' 4uo ouCSio clcCteu ny
the Black Hills Encampment for the en-
suing year are George Wells of Lead,
president, and Fl. E. Dewey of Lead,
secretary.
The state encampment opened Tues
day afternoon and that session was al
most entirely taken up with the reading
of reports and the general business of
the association. Tuesday evening the
big camp fire came off at the town hall
which was crowded to the doors with an
enthusiastic throng. The principal
speaker of the evening was Ex-Governor
Van SAINT of Minnesota, who is candi-
date for national commander of the G.
A. r. to be elected at the national en-
campment held in Toledo next month.
Col. George of Deadwood, the only con.
federate soldier present, also addressed
the meeting and scored decided hit.
Vocal musical numbers were furnished
by Mrs. Calkins of Custer and Mrs.
Osgood. A string band from the natiol-
al sanitarium supplied the instrumental
music.
The Wednesday morning session was
given over to business and the election
of state officers. Walter Osborn of
Yankton was selected as commander
and DR.. A. S. Stewart of Hot Springs
and MIR. South of Canton as vice COM
manders. In the afternoon of Wednes-
day reports were again received from
committees, the most important of
which was that on resolutions with
Judge Bennett of Deadwood at its
head.
Wednesday evening was devoted to a
camp fire conducted by the ladies Of the
w. r. G. and again the town hall was
filled to its limit. Among the features
of this session was the presentation of a
magnificent gold watch to the retiring
DeJean of Plankington. A
flag was also presented to the board of
education of Hot Springs for use of the
public school. This custom is now in
vogue throughout the country at all
state g. A. r. encampments. The re-
ception speech was made by Attorney
Wilson, president of the Hot Springs
board of education. musical program
was also given and Mrs. DR.. Clarke de-
livered a recitation.
The state encampment for next year
will be held at Sioux Falls on date to
be fixed later by the council of admins
tration of which Judge Bennett is
member.
Among the state officers elected, the
Black Hills secured three places: DR..
Stewart of Hot Springs, vice command
err; H. E. Dewey of Lead, delegate to
the national encanpment and Judge g.
G. Bennett of Deadwood, member of the
council of administration. The name of
Judge H. E. Dewey was presented for
commander and received thirty-two
votes as against ninety for the candidate
elected. He will be urged again next
year for the Office and the Black Hills
members expect to be able to land him
in the Office on that occasion. Lead
Call, Goth.