The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-22
THREE BRING
LAST MANS
CLUB TO END
Gray Veterans Feast Alone
and Drink Last Bottle Be-
fore Public Ceremonies

Saltwater, Mimi, July 22.-(AP)
Bent by the whitening advance OF
time, but bright Of eye, three gray
veterans today faced 81 vacant and
pall-draped chairs, symbolic of de-
parted comrades, and conducted the
final meeting of the Last Mans
club.
While Mrs. "Saml' Bloomer,
widow of the color bearer of the
clubs civil war unit, moved about
the table to administer to their
needs, the gallant trio Toasted alone,
prior to the first public ceremony
and the last-in the history Of the
}. organization.
y Peter Hall, 80, had come from
Atwater, Mimi, and Charles Lock-
wood, IS, from Chamberlain, s. D.,
while the Baby" Of the group,
John S. Golf, 81, came from st.
Paul to keep q promise to the men,
now dead. who 66 years ago today
entered the battle Of Bull Run as
members of Company B, First
Minnesota Infantry.
Bottle To Topic
A touch Of sadness was evident
as the aged veterans sat down to
break bread together for the last
time, a touch made more pro-
nounced by the realization that this
was to be their last common meet
ing.
A bottle of rich burgundy wine
AZ years old stood in the center of
the table. The bottle set aside for
the last man, was to be opened at
last and the wine drunk as toast
to the dead comrades.
While the veterans talked OF
earlier days as they partook OF
dinner on the stage Of the auditor
ium. secluded from onlookers by q
curtain, the Rotary club, hosts to
the organization, met in its club
rooms. The veterans were not ia
be disturbed, that they might be
alone with each other and memoir.
les Of their dead comrades.
Tribute ID Paid
As the youths Of another day
sat alone, Saltwater citizens and
persons from other parts Of the
state, all here to honor the last
men, filed into the auditorium
Many were sons and daughters Of
civil war veterans, while here and
there sat an aged man, who him.
self 4 had faced the fire that
threatened the life Of the nation.
Their meal over, fond memories
recalled, and ready to open their
solemn meeting to the public, the
veterans turned toward the curtain
as it slowly lifted. Here sat hun
dreds Of persons, assembled to pa,
them honor and witness keeping o.
the last covenant to the dead.
Every one joined in singing
sAmerica," to open the exercises
Then came the invocation by Rev
Thomas Dewhurst Of the loca
Episcopal church. After an address
by Lieut.. Governor WI. Nolan
representing the state Of Minnesota
the singing Of "Auld lang Syne,
concluded public participation il
the ceremonies Then the waterman
turned to their ceremonies. Mi
Hall, as presidents called TIE meet
ing to order and NJ. G0kG ~ Secre
tary, presented tn mipntse q TIL
last meeting. s.if
Get Many Greetinss
Scores Of letters and toleGrams
coming from other veterans m
friends, awaited reading befQre TIL
bottle Of burgundy, talen from e,
resting place in . wooden case IN
: vault today, was to - brough
forth for opening.
The final toast was then 70 paai
the.lips Of the trio ITO our departel
eomra3es," the club wes 70 b
formally disbsndcd, and The veter
~ shake hands, for the final tim
q : mseting y the Last Nam
4 club.