La Junta tribune., 1909-08-28

Grand Army Of the Republic, and de.
sire to lay before the readers OF
the Tribune some OF the events
that impressed me the most. Salt
Lake City did splendidly-did her
best to outdo all previous encamp-I
ments. and In some respects she
succeeded. The city was gaily and
brilliantly decorated. Flags and more
flags were everywhere. Electric lights
tred. white and blue) crossed the
streets in every direction. so that
night was almost equal to the day
The third day of the encampment
Is usually given 10 the parade OF
the old veterans. and this is the
most interesting 10 the general pub
lie. because then they can see the
grlzzled veterans march to the mu.
sic OF fife and drum as they did for /
ty-eight years ago under Grant and
Sherman. In 1861. 1000, 900 sons OF
the north responded to the call Of
patriotism, but only about 5000 OF
the survivors of that great army
marched through the streets OF Salt
Lake City. but with the same patriot.
ism as II again they were responding
TO reveille instead OF waiting for
taps. The parade was a most i'm.
pressive scene. for II carried the II
mind and thought OF the beholder to
the stirring events OF ls6l-ls65. Side.
walks. windows, roofs, streets and
alleys were jammed with humanity. /.
conservative estimate placed the
number of spectators at lOO. 900.
Taken all in all. 1t was the mos,
remarkable historic pageant ever
witnessed In utah's capital. and its
like will probably never be seen
there again.
the streets OF Salt Lake City are
very wide. and the vista OF Main
street. sweeping away to the south.
fianked by the great business blocks,
brilliant with sunshine and the null
ttcolored decorations, looked like
some great canyon down whose cen.
ter. for hours. poured river of pa.
triotism running between two banks
OF massed humanity. II was all
cheers and smiles and love and admi
ration for the men who destroyed hu.
man slavery and restored the union
nearly half century ago.
AT the turning point on Main
street there was q living flag. com.
posed OF more than thousand lii.
tie tots from five to ten years OF
age. dressed In red. white and blue,
representing all the states OF the
union. and symbolizing the truth
that every star In that starry banner
vas still There. the whole making a
picture never to be forgotten.
Al one point in the parade a
wagon load OF leautiful flowers were
scattered upon the street for the
veterans to walk over, and a beyy OF
young girls stood at one side throw.
ing bouquets at the veterans as they
passed. II any OF the veterans 20,
gay or felt funny and told the
girls they looked pretty and sweet.
the girls. with one accord. peited him
with flowers and then roared with
laughter. Every one seemed to be
cheerful and happy.
From sidewalks TO roof. on balloon.
les and stairs and lodges. the boom
OF the chatter and cheer and laugh.
ter roared like the rapids OF n great
waterfall Some old battle flags. tat
tered and torn. that had passed
through some OF the battles OF the
ciyll war. were carried aloft by the
men who had fought under their
folds. and these elected much ap.
plause from the multitude.
Every state In the union Was rep.
war. Tor at the close OF the war
many veterans settled and have since
lived In the south. One lone vet.
eran marched all by himself In the
parade carrying a flag inscribed Al.
ALBANIA. and At first he was hailed
with pcals Of laughter. and Then fol.
lowed by cheer after cheer. and
shouts OF bravo. The drummer boys
OF the civil var we're represented by
about two dozen grissled veterans
with fife and drum. and n was sur.
prisInx how well they could play.
They played old war tunes and II
seemed to me ~ u they could now
play ~ well. II not better than when
they were boys. They wcre very
much applaudrd. The union prison.
crs Of war were represented BY
about score who marched together