Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-04
poinas of Wednesday.

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storm swept down out Of the Blue
Ridge plateau Of Gettysburg today
bringing needed relief to thousands Of
veterans in Blue and Gray who have
sweltered for four days in an atmos-
phere dangerous in the city Of $4,000
weary men. For more than a half hour
the rain came pouring down upon sun
cracked and wind-swept encampment
grounds. It charged with violent thun-i
dering over the ground that Pickett
covered in '63. Its salvoes Of thunder
were like the booming guns of Meade
and Lee but the thermometer dropped
with wonderful agility and the light
ming cleared the air Of its burden of
humidity.
The veterans lashed down their tents
and showed they had not forgotten the
old days, for not tent was blown
over, so far as reports showed tonight
and not a veteran was injured.
Tonight the veterans were really
able to enjoy themselves for the first
time since their arrival, although the
ground was slippery, the roads half
inch deep in mud.
This was military day at the big
tent, but comparatively few veterans
appeared to listen to the speech max
ing and to hear the bands playing
Turkey in the Straw" "Old Black
Joe" and other we'll known airs.
Col Andrew Cowan Of Louisville,
acted as presiding officer of the day,
and told several stories that brought
smiles to lips of his hearers. Colonel
Cowan was an officer in q Union bat
terry which played a part In the Get
tysburg campaign. ...
On the third day Of the battle, he
said, two of my officers were wound
ed. went with them to hospital and
before I left wounded Confederate
officer was brought. i wish you would
see to It that no reports go out that 1
have been wounded the Confederate
said, my wife. Is in a delicate condi-
ton and I'm afraid II she heard about
1t, 1t might kill her."
Il went to the doctor in charge and
told him the story and he promised to
do all he could.
Twenty three years later that Un-
ion doctor was sitting in his office at
Plainfield, N. J., when boy walked In.
Doctor he said, 7 want to shake
your hand. I am going to school over
at Princeton and my father told me
when l came up here to look you up.
He said you saved his life.'
Doctor he continued, I'm the
boy" . .... .rHL
Colonel Cowan turned to the navy
and the Japanese situation.
I'VE ought to build two battleships
for every one laid down by Japan" he
said, and the veterans cheered again
and again. THE people of the sea coast
cities ought not to be left without pro-
lection. We ought to be prepared to
demand peace"
other speakers Of the day were Maj
or General John r. Brooke Of Pennsyl-
vania; Sergeant John 8. Scarborough
of North Carolina, and Lieutenant
Governor Burchard Of Rhode Island,
representing the armies Of the north
and south. Barry Bulkley Of Wash
ington, read Lincoln's Gettysburg ad-
dress. ....
One of the most remarkable figures
in camp today was that Of General
Funkhauser Of Virginia, who is rs
years old, but who was vigorous
enough in the hot sun to hunt up the
headquarters tent of Brigadier General
Hunter Liggett and pay his respects.
The gray haired old Confederate gen.
eral delighted the general of the newer
army and his subordinate officers with
his stories. ......
Here is a story that wandered into
camp today and although the names
are missing, 1t seems entirely believ-
able.
Two veterans, one in Blue and the
other in Gray, met downtown in Get
tysburg. They literally fell in one an
others arms, and after a tour OF the
town they walked hand In hand
through the streets to hardware
store, bought hatchet and tramped
mile and half to the battlefield.
They hunted up the Bloody Angle,
where Pickett's charge reached its
crest, dug a hole in the ground there,
and with tears and more embraces,
buried the hatchet." -....-.
Thousands of veterans left the camp
and Gettysburg today for their homes
and thousands more probably will
leave tomorrow. The army officers In
charge threw a Gordon over the roads
leading out today and examined the
baggage. Many government blankets
supplied for the encampment were dis
covered and removed. ..
So many cases have been reported OF
| veterans losing their return railroad
| tickets and the consequent distress be-
cause of the inability to purchase
transportation, that Governor Tener
today notified General Liggett the
United States army officer in charge OF
the camp, that the state of Pennsylva-
MIA will pay the return fare OF all vet
Grams who have lost their tickets.