The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-06-28
C0NF'EDERATE VETERANS,
REUNION CONCLUDES In
A BLAZE OF GLORY

LoNlON CUNCLUDES In
A BLAZE OF GLORY
Laying cornerstone Of Maury Nom.
meht, Parade and Grand BnlI Fca.
ture Closing Hours.
Hdchmond, Va, June 22.-IWith q
spectacular and coorful street parade
this morning, the laying of the corner
stone of the Matthew Fontaine Maury
monument this afternoon and n grand
pail tonight as a fitting climax. the
thirty-second annual reunion Of the
united Confederate veterans was
brought to successful conclusion in
blaze of glory
Their annual gathering over, the
united confederate veterans tonight
relunctantly turning their backs on tho
capital OF the Southern Confederacy,
began leaving FOR their homes after
having had the freedom Of Virginia's
metrd@o!is for three days. Many of
inc gray coated warriors. who have
been tho citys guests this week, will
never return to the city for which
they fought in The struggle Of 1861 -G5
as the ranks rapidly arc thinning
Pfctty sponsors and chapcroncS
mingled il hotel lcbAics with ,nc
boys in gray for q last fond fare
wei A riot of color presented itacif
IN tho hotels whcrc these farewell
gatherings were hold. Beneath tho
Dlood-rcd field offset By blue cross
and white stars. the nag OF Dixie, tho
last embrace was givca.
Tho outDoulns Of veterans and
visitors began early this afternoon,
many special trains for the south lcay-
ing carly. Several OF the trains did ont
leave until shortly before midnight,
however, and the visitors and Veterans
remained until TIC last minute.
Attendance figures, according to
those lin charge of registration head
quarters, exceeded all expectations,
credentials being issued to more than
5000 veterans. This number Of vetcr-
ans was augmented by upwards of 25,-
OO0 Sons OF Confederate Veterans,
members OF thc several Confederate
memorial associations, the United
Daughters Of the Confederacy and 9TH
CT visitors.
The reunion. the old veterans them
selves dcclarc-thoe who hayc attend
cd every one Of the thirty-two annual
gatherings--was the most successful,
and considering the thinning of the
gray-coated ranks, the most number
ously attended.
Several hundred of the veterans ana
other reunion visitors departed from
Richmond tonight at 10 o'clock for
New Orleans, Shreveport and way
points, but the bulk Of the outgoing is
expected to begin at $50 tomorrow
when q special train will
leave, carrying slee?crs to Chatta-
nooga, Birmingham and Fort Worth
Texas. This special and others to fol-
low are cXpccto dto carry q large per
ccntage OF the visitors to their homes
in the furthermost stretches in Dixie.
Rcunion visitors are privileged to
return on any regular train until
July 8, and for this reason many arc
expected to remain hero until that
time, making side trips to tho nations
capital, the Crater at Petersburg and
to the several battlcnc!ds and other
historic places around Richmond
'Soul-stirring ard haartJpa!pitat-
ing scenes were enacted IN the lob
hicg of The hotels tonight which, with !
the Confederate ball at the coliseum,
closed the fcstiyitics incident to re
union week. The Oklahoma military
band gayo the last of the band con-
certs on the meZZaninc Of one Of the
leading hotels tonight while several |
thousands who packed every nook and
Granny Of the hoStelry Swung their
partners" and did the Virginia reel,
th minuct and other typical Southern
dances.
Similar scenes and musical features
were enjoyed at the other hotels and a
general mardi gras spirit was in the
air. Everybody was in general good
humor, although many Of the age-bcnt
defenders Of Dixie were making their
last adieus to Richmond and other re-
united friends.
One of the last official acts of the
Sons OF Confederate Veterans before
the sons, as an organization, began
taking leave OF the convention city |