The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-29
Address of Welcome to G. A. r.
by Governor Capper.
Influx OF Veterans at Kansas
City Continues.
$1,000 ALREADY ARE THERE
kansas Man. 80, Oldest Veteran
at Golden Reunion.
Two Veterans Drop Dead I'm
der Too Great Strain.

Kansas City, Mo, Aug. "a jam
beyond control of boy scouts and req
caps resulted at the Union station TO-
day from the arrival of from seven to
ten thousand G. a. r. veterans and
their families before noon. The blue
host arrived in special trains, in regu-
lar trains. in trains with many extra
coaches. Almost every group carried a
fife and drum corps Leaving their
trains. the old soldiers formed in lines
and marched thru to the lobby, only
10 lose their identity in the whirling
maeistron of blue uniforms and G. A.
X. badges. II was one of the largest
crowds since the Union station has
been built.
There is rivalry for the honor of
being the youngest and oldest veteran
present at the Golden reunion. w. s
Garrett. of Rosedale, Kan, proclaim
ed his age as 90 years in card stuck
in his hat band. So far he has met
no successful contender. Henry l.
Clark. of Devils Lake, n. D.. claims to
he the Youngest. enlisfing at the age
OF Il.
Hunt Up Old Comrades.
Fifteen thousand veterans thronged
Camp Kansas City today. Down town
thorofares were crowded with the
,vearers of the blue, while hotel lob
hies and Convention hall buzzed with
stories of 81. 1t was a day of MEM
cries for those who had fought and
bled for the final cementing of the
union.
While meetings of the national
council OF administration and the
committee on credentials were sched-
uled for today. the rank and file
were free to search for the long miss
ing comrade or fight again the battles
Of the war
Death Claims Two.
Death has claimed two of the wear
ers OF the little bronze button whose
determination to see the boys once
again was stronger than their feeble
bodies. 3. w. Marcy, of Toledo, and
Spencer Richardson, of Dallas, both
died OF heart disease.
JOY and sorrow mingled at the reg
istration booths Occasionally there
is a meeting of comrades long sepa-
rated. and registration in that imme-
date vicinity usually halts for a min
rte. More often there is diSappOint-
inent caused by the absence of a
comrade. whom the veteran may have
come half across the continent to
meet.
us there any one here who escaped
from Danville prison, April IS, 1852"
No one answered the veteran who
shouted his question above the buzz
Of reunion talk. Disappointed, he
made his way to the Minnesota booth
ard asked about Henry Vessel, of the
Second Minnesota.
! Here is his card. He says he is
Coming"
= The veterans shout could be hoard
lne entire length of the corridor.
b He's coming, he's coming. 1 knew
Z And the registration cards danced
rs he slammed his hat down on the
liable.
Attendance Will Reach 10000.
= The attendance has decreased. some
v that due to fear of a railroad strike
snd lack of rates. but will reach
10000. a special train brought 500
seterans Of the department of Illinois
Sito the city from Chicago this morn
fhg. Delegations from Ohio and West
Virginia also arrived.
Red Cross stations were opened to-
osiy at downtown points to care for
Weary veterans and their wives
The encampment opens tonight with
q semi-official meeting at Convention
ball Governor Arthur Capper of
Kansas will deliver the address of
Wclcome.
Tonight's Program.
Kansas City, Nc, aug. 29.-The