The Washington times., 1914-08-31
SPANISH WAR VETS
IN ANNUAL SESSION
National Encampment Opens at
Louisville With 5000 Mem
bers in Attendance.

! LOUISVILLE. Aug 3l.-An army ot
veterans. most of them are still under
forty years. marched upon Louisville
today. and the city captulated without
| signs Of resistance. 1t had bedecked
| itself in red. white. and blue. and every
where was to be noted its watchword
Welcome. United Spanish War Vet
Grams" The national encampment OF
the boys who mG<ched away in 1898 to
| fight Spain and free Cuba began today
| with an attendance that promises to ex-
ceed that of any previous encampment.
The national officers expect that 5000
will attend.
!, The veterans are men who have seen
service in many parts of the globe I'M
der the United States flag. Some Of
them charged up San Juan hill; some
belonged to the Rough Riders; others
helped set Porto Rico in order: many
helped discover the Philippines. The
first thing the veterans did on reaching
Louisville was TO hunt up old com
rades and brush up their Spanish.
"Senor' has replaced Colonel as the
most general form of salutation in
Louisville.
Opening Day Program.
The official program, approved by
Commander-in-Ch Chief John Lewis Smith.
Of Washington. called for a business
meeting this morning. In the afternoon
a luncheon and reception for the women
attending the encampment was the
feature Tonight the Military Order of
Serpents holds a session. after which
there will be a military ball at the
armory.
The convention was called to order
by Gen. John B. Castleman. one of the
most distinguished of Spanish war
veterans General Castleman has tho
against the United States. In the civil
war he was one of the most dashinS
Confederates. He belonged to ..-or-
gan's Raiders. and while trying to set
free the Confederate prisoners in Camp
Douglas, Chicago was captured and
thrown into prison. Hero he was in dan
ger of execution. but at the solicitation
of his sister. President Lincoln issued
an order protecting him.
The war over he was bantshed from
but two years later this decree was
lifted. Castleman returned to Louis
VILE became n foremost citizen and
when the Spanish war broke out was
one of the first to volunteer. Presi-
dent Mckinley made him a general of
lucky to Porto Rico. At the close Of
the war President Mckinley offered
him the rank of brisadier general in
the regular army. hut he preferred to
return To Louisville.
Order of Serpents Parade.
A parade Of the Military Order of
Serpents is one of the features Of the
veterans meeting The serpents are
the cut-ups of the veterans. In this pa
rade they wear Igorrote costume. as
far as the law allows, and they march
in lock step" with their serpent on
their shoulders. twining its way through
the streets.
The Ohio delegation. which has head
quarters at the Galt House. brought a
bnnG Of forty pieces of which every
member is the orphan OF a Spanish
war veteran. The womens auxiliary is
taking an important part. It will pre-
sent a silk fag to the Albert s. Bran
deis school here. The presentation
speech will he madc by Mrs. Sarah L.
Of Toledo. Ohio. the patriotic
Tuesday will be given over to busi-
ness scssions. the nomination of Off
GERS, the parade of the serpents, the
initiation Of new serpents, and many
features. Wednesday the
{ lection of officers selection of the next
meeting place, and TIE grand parade |
will close ths veterans meeting.