The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-06-26
Encampment This Year Promises to Be the Most Largely
Attended and Most Enthusiastic in the History of the
State Organization of the United Spanish-Ameri-
can War veterans-A Good Program.
INST|TOT|0N OF SERPENT LAIR FEATURE
In the Parade the Veterans of Uncle Sans Last War; One
of the Interesting Sights viii Be Field Piece Which
Saw Service Against the Spanish, and which
Belonged to One of lndiana's Batteries.

Plans have been completed for the
reception and care of the United
Spanish War Veterans who Monday
camp on Richmond soil The encamp-
ment bids fair to be the largest and
most enthusiastic in the history if the
Indiana organization. During the last
year the Indiana department has in
creased in efficiency three hundred per
cent. The big increase in member
ship augers we'll for the encampment
because enthusiastic interst in the or
ganization has increased proportion
ally.
The big serpent representation Of the
monster PHILIPPINE python, arrived to-
day and is now Gagged in the depart
ment office in the Comstock building.
The snake is seventy-five feet long
when fully inflated will be the big fea-
ture of the parade Monday night It
will be carried in serpentine style
through the streets by the men who a
few hours later are to be initiated in
to the mystic order of the serpent.
Feature Of the Parade.
Another feature of the parade will
be section of artillery with one Of
the big guns used by the Twenty
seventh Indiana Battery during the
war. The gun has seen service on
foreign soil. 1t has been brought at
great expense. The war department
has a strict rule against granting the
use of artillery. but this time it made
an exception and shipped the cannon to
Richmond.
The new stand of colors purchased
for the Indiana organization has ar
rived and fs now on display In the
Starr Piano windows. The cherry red
flag is the regular banner of the In
diana department. The colors were
zen of Richmond who, though not a
Spanish War Veteran, has taken much
interest in the organization. The col
ors will be formally presented to the
veterans at the dinner in Glen Miller
park, Tuesday. When presented they
will be saluted by the field piece of
the Twenty-seventh Battery.
6l9 Octe9dbiohS AoUtU9s
In the parade will be found many
men who were wounded during the
war and barely escaped with their
lives. There will be present some of
the soldiers who took part in the ia
nous chase and rescue of the Gilmore
party in the PHILIPPINES. There will
be two hundred and thirty-nine dele
gates and forty-five officers in the
parade. Besides these. large delega-
tions will be present from Indianapo-
lis, Fort Wayne, and other Indians
cities. Word has been received from
Indianapolis that one hundred veterans
will come on special interurban cars.
No doubt the man around whom the
soldiers of our last war. will gather
most enthusiastically is Col. Edward
H. Gihon, of Boston. Mass, commander
in-chief of the Spanish War Veterans.
Col. Gihon is a man of great magne-
tism. and forceful speaker. He is
the hero of the veterans because of the
bravery he displayed when his regi-
ment landed at Sibony, Porto Rico.
The regiment of green troops was land
ing in the range of the enemy. At the
instant when Col. Gihon set foot on
land he was shot down. Realizing that
if he were carried from the field his
troops would become disorganized he
arose at once and lead the fight
throughout the day. Later he was TAX
en- to a hospital where he came near
dying from his wound. His bravery
became the slogan of the campaign in
Porto Rico.
Major Megrew Coming.
Another noted veteran who will be
present is Major Harold C. McGrew OF
Indianapolis. Major McGrew former
ly lived in Richmond He was the first
department commander of the Spanish
War Veterans.
The Spanish War Veterans are not
seeking publicity. The order was not
founded for self glorification or as a
pension seeking body. It was founded
to keep together the men who fought
together. It has also done excellent
service wherever a widow Or orphan
needed help. The only pension the or
der as body has ever asked for was
that OF John Kissinger of Fort Wayne.
Mr.. Kissinger permitted himself to be
exposed to yellow fever mosquitoes in
order to prove that the mosquito is
the means OF spreading the disease.
The two army physicians inocculated
with Kissinger died. He recovered
but was so broken in mind and body
by the ravages OF the disease that he is
helpless.
The order also tried to get the bill
through Congress to raise the Maine.
1t wanted the bodies of the men who
went down with the battleship recov-
cred and given decent burial It dis
played little patience with the citizens
who were afraid that the floating OF