The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-29
PARADE
 MOBILES STREETS Reunion in Gulf City Comes to
 a Close GEN. EVANS IS VERY ILL 
 The Late Commander of Veterans Is Unable to Review Parade--Repeti- tion of Mardi Gras Parade
 Last Night
GEN. EVANS IS VERY ILL

Mobile, April 2S.-With halting steps and trembling limbs, gray bearded and feeble. with eyes in which the fire of youth has been dimmed by the none too gentle passing years, but with hearts full of pride and joy 15,OO0 veteran sol diers of the Confederacy marched today beneath the battle scared flags which they followed in the COS. Shoulder to shoulder with comrades who endured to- gether the hardships of war. to the soft strains of Dixie" played by two score bands, encouraged by the cheers of the biggest crowd Mobile has ever enter tained, the annual parade of the veter- ans passed into history.
 The weather was perfect; the sun was bright and warm, but breeze from the gulf tempered it's rays and made ideal marching conditions. The line of march was elaborately decorated with bunting and streamers. Huge arches carried words of welcome to the veterans and from every building the stars and bars and the stars and stripes swung to- gether, Tapping lazily in the breeze. Maj.-Gen. George Harrison, commander of the Alabama division, was the grand marshal of the parade To simplify the parade formation, map of the line of march had been printed, showing the exact spot at which each of the 26 divis- ions was to form. Although the parade was not scheduled to move until 10 o'clock, some divisions reached the line as early as o'clock. Bands were on l,a, or,I +o3x {;..rr d.. with music.
 One of the pretty features of the pa- rade was the march of the sponsors and maids of honor of the Sons of Veterans Mobile has a total of 36 public carriages mot enough to carry all the maids and sponsors. So the sponsors and maids of tho veterans were given the carriages and the pretty young women, who came with the sons, marched at the head of the various camps to which they were attached.
 There were some curious features in ths parade. number of old negro sol diers were fin line. Among them Jeffer- son Shields, who claims to have been Stonewall Jackson's cook. Jeff was cov- cred with reunion badges and carried live chicken under his arm. When asked what he was doing with the chicken he replied that he was 'Jes' carrying his lunch" Tn the Virginia division were group of old soldiers carrying wasp nests on the end of canes.
 The preliminary arrangements for the parade were so perfect that the head of the column was set in motion three minutes before the time for starting, 10 o clock.
 Gen. Clement A. Evans. who was to have commanded the parade, was too weak and i'll even to review 1t. and the new commander-in-chie Gen. George W. Gordon. surrounded by his staff, re- placed him.
 General Gordon expressed deep regret that the white haired old commander could not round out his office by direct ing the closing movement of the troops of the reunion.
 The parade followed the line of march assigned to 1t and counter-marched through historic Bienville square. where General LaFayette once reviewed the continental troops. In a huge reviewing stand, the general officers and guests of honor watched the parade pass in re- view.
 The exodus from Mobile began imme- dlately after the parade, but great many of the guests will remain here for the balance of the week. There was a repetition of the mardi gras parade to- night and many side trips have been arranged for Friday and Saturday.