The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-05-16
VETERANS MAY
HOLD REUNION
AT VICKSBURG
CITY LIKELY TO ENTER CONTEST
AS OZARK HORSE" AND BE
SUCCESSFUL.
STATE VETERANS COMFORTABLE
The Attendance At Little Rock
Reunion Expected to Exceed Sixty
Thousand-veterans, Maids And
Sponsors May Walk in Parade.

Little Rock, Ark, May 16.-Veterans
and visitors to the reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans are ar
irving hourly from all parts of the
South, and it is estimated that the
crowd of visitors already approximates
thirty-five thousand. The Louisiana
and Mississippi official delegations
have been well provided for, and even
If they are compelled to crowd up in
rooms, they are at least comfortably
arranged for the remainder of the re-
union.
1t is stated that the daily crowd of
visitors is expected to average 10000.
but if the daily crowd should swell to
an average of 62,5OO there will be am
pie, although crowded, accommoda-
tions for eating and sleeping quarters.
Mississippi Delegates.
The Mississippi division is under
command of General Montgomery. On
his staff are Clay Sharkey, Adiutant
General Webb, Major Cant, Captain
Gardner, Captain Bowie, Colonel J. D.
Mclnnis, and including other promi-
nent Mississippians are Miss Agnes
Mary Harding, sponsor of the division.
Miss Annie Mae Eastland, maid of hon
or, and Mrs. Jeanie T. Saunders. chap
eron, of Swan Lake; Captain Mat
thews and daughter and Captain Dud-
Ley and wife and many others.
The Confederate reunion opened
thls morning, and as many veterans
are yet to arrive it is a trifle earlv TO
talk about the next reunion city. It
is not an impossibility that Vicksburg
Miss, will enter as dark horse"
Vicksburg AS Ozark Horse"
In this connection it was pointed
out by Mississippians to delegates
from Louisiana that Vicksburg could
take care Of the crowds by having
the delegations from the states bor-
dering on the river charter steam
boats for the reunion and live on
them.
1t is altogether probable, although
not definitely decided, that the vet
erans, sponsors and maids, will walk
in the parade on Thursday.
The veterans themselves virtually
decided to abandon the idea of secur-
ing horses and to walk.
Good riders among the veterans say
the soldiers are getting fewer and
feWer at the reunion and that if very
many ride the men in line comnare
lnfavorably.
Inc sponsors and maids said prompt
y that if the veterans walk that thew
VIII walk, and right gladly. It seems
probable that only disabled soldiers
VIII appear in the line in carriages.
First Session Held.
Little Rock, May 16.-When the
-wenty-first reunion of the Confeder-
ate Veterans was called to order this
morning, the capital of Arkansas held
crowd estimated by the officials of
he organization to be the largest ever
known at reunion. With various
of welcome to which gen.
eral George w. Gordon, commander
n-chief responded, and the an
louncement of committee assign
nents the initial session ended. The
1rst session was enlivened bv the
'endition of Southern songs by Conred-
crate choirs and children of the title
Rock schools then sang for the vet
'rans in ohoirs.
The United Sons of Confederate vet.
'rans at their session today completed
heir organization and the committees
eported.