The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-08
LARGE CROWDS AT STATION YESTERDAY Every incoming Train Carried
 Extra Coaches MANY HAPPY GREETINGS Most of the Arrivals Had Relatives Awaiting Them, Who Were Eager
 To Watch Out For
 Their Comfort.
MANY HAPPY GREETINGS

Every passenger train coming into
 Birmingham yesterday carried from one to three extra coaches and every coach
 was filled with carry visitors to the re-
 union. The Terminal station was one
 long scene of hustle, while the Louisville
 and Nashville station presented a lively scene. Strangers to the town, fearing
 anxiously that they would not be able to
 secure hotel accommodations, were rush
 ing for hotel busses inquiring directions
 and otherwise making things lively.
 Most of the crowd however, was conl-
 posed of Birmingham residents who were awaiting the arrival of some gray -halred grandfather, uncle or some other dear
 relative or friend. With the arrival of the train on which this visitor was ex-
 pected to arrive they would crowd to ths gates and with watchful eyes wait for the gray-haired hero to make his appearance
 There he is! There he isl' would sud- denly burst from one of the many small groups, and then all was excitement. As
 soon as he reached the gate he would he seized and gwen welcome that would
 invariably bring tears of joy to hisSeyes. His grips and bundles would be seized by willing hands and then he would be al-
 most carried outside the station and tn sn
 to the home, which had been turned in- side out during the past week in the prep aration for his coming.
 This was the scene that was not enacted
 q few times, but a hundred times. Tears
 of joy and happiness flowed like water. ", II, l., years. In a number of instances it was
 the vlsit of father to the son who had left
 home in the country years before to make his way in the city.
 The visitors were not all veterans by a large per cent. It looked for a while as if every person in the country with relatives
 in Birmingham had decided to pay them a
 visit. Whole families arrived and there was always another large family in the cepot. waiting to greet them Their bag
 gage consisted of everything from hand
 bag to a wooden box. One woman had
 three hat boxes clutched in each hand, while a large handbag dangled from one
 arm. One old hero, clad in gray and to
 all appearance far beyond the three score and ten mark, stumped along on a wooden leg with the aid of stick and his only baggage, small bundle tied up m a red banadana handkerchief.
 l In contrast to the scenes of happy greet 1 ings was one white-haired veterans who 1 had never soul to greet him. He was
 very feeble, but wasn't asking anything l of anybody. He showed very plainly however that he was a stranger in a l strange land. The fact that he was a l stranger, however, soon disappeared for after passing through the gates his ap- parent loneliness won the sympathy of | others in the station.
 He was immediately given a welcome by them, and in conversation it developed
 that he was one of the remnants of a North Carolina regiment; that he had been living in Alabama since the recon struction days, and that this was the first reunion he had attended in a numb er of years He was immediately taken In charge by one of E.rmingham's promi. nent business men and piloted to a corl- fortable boarding house.
 The day was filled with unique incl dents, but there regned a good-hearted fellowship, everybody appearing anxious to help somebody else. Ask Me. l live in Birmingham red buttons were very much in evidence, and the wearers were questioned almost constantly.