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DECORATION DAYfHow It Wiu Obierved At Andersonville By the Colored People—Excursion Train*—A Big Crowd Preaent*There was a big, good-humored crowd at Andersonville yesterday. Happy negroes (locked there from every direction and there was nothing that happened duriug the whole day to mar the pleasure of the occasion.The A. P. A L. and the It. V. A K. railroads both brought In surprisingly small crowds, but n number came from the surrounding country in all sorts of vehicles, so that before the first train left Americus there was a large crowd at the depot.A few minutes after H o’clock the first train left with all the cars crammed full. After an hour’s waiting the train came back and about 11:30 again departed wUh a big load. On the second train a special apartment was reserved for Col. Robert L. Oliver and the Recorder reporter.The trip to Andersonville was made without any incident of special note. The train sped along'at rapid rate, passing large fields of young cotton and extensive fields of beautiful corn, and In a short time bad reached the historic city.The scene presented to the visitor as bo alighted from the train was a most surprising one. It had a striking resemblance to a circus ground. The ground was literally covered with negroes. There was a hum of voices and laughter could be heard on all sides, but above it all could be distinguished the voices of the numerous Venders of lemonade, ginger cakes ami other refreshments, (ireeu (filbert had a large stand und was getting rich fast, selling refreshments. The Ice cream cake man was there also and doing a rushing trade.Col. Oliver and the reporter repaired to the store of Mr. W. M. Ck.rk, near by, where we rested for awhile, after which we followed the steady •stream of dark humanity towards the cemetery. At the cemetery we found Superintendent Bry-ant busy receiving the dinner baskets at hisofilce. No one Is allowed to carry anything to eat within the cemetery.The morning was spent by the negroes in stroling over the grounds and decorating the graves. There were very few flowers and the tiny Hugs, which were furnished to all who wished them, were used in decorating. A description of the cemetery is not necessary, as everyone in this section, perhaps, has visited It. The 13,70-’soldiers graves are arranged In long rows and present a beautiful scene.There were two military companies from Mucon, the Lincoln Guards and Bibb County Blues, there when the trains from Araeri cua arrived, and at 12:15 the Georgia Cadets, of Atlanta, came. The latter company left on the 2:40 train and were unable to take partlu the drill which took place later.At 3 p. m. the speaking began, but as the train for Americus left before the exorcises were fully under way the reporter did not get a full report. A committee of arrangements inude a programme which, it is to bo presumed, was carried out. The exercises were to have opened with prayer. John T. White aud Thomas Green, Captain of the Bibb County Blues, of Macon. William Pledger, of Atlanta ana Dave Dudley, of Americus, were to have made addresses and Llnconia Hayes, of the Dickerson Literary Club, of Macon, was to have read an essay.NOTES.There were no fights as fur as heurd from.The crowd was estimated to bo between two and three thousand.The man with the wulking canes to bo thrown for was quite popular.An extra police officer was added to the “force” yesterday to keeporder.Not quite all of them were away from the farms. A few were seen chopping cotton along tlic line.There is nothing likeabrassband to tickle the average darkey. There | ] was one from Macon on hand.About 1,500 tickets were sold at this place. The crowds from Macon and Atlanta were fairly large.An enterprising lemonade render bad a buss drum and, let it be known. His stand was crowded, j,Ed Ansley went up at 2:17 and If returned on the next train. He was I} looking after his icecream cake in- I {terests.One of the soldiers fainted in the cemetery and caused some excitement for awhile, but he was soon restored.It will be a wonder if no one dies from the eflect of the hot weather and lemonade. One stand was selling ull you can drink for a nickle.”It was evident that few of those who went to Auderfonvillc realized or eyer knew for what purpose they were there. They Imd come .together in u big crowd for u frolic, and they were happy.Superintendent Bryant received Tuesday a box eontaluing flowers and large United States flags for the graves of the Fourteenth Regiment, Maryland, dead. They were from Rev. N. S. Stephens, of Washington, who was chaplain of the regl-mentduriug the war.IttfIiItc8nAoot:8ae
Newspaper Details
Americus Weekly Recorder
Americus, Georgia, US
Fri, Jun 01, 1888
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Samuel P.
USA 23 Feb 2023
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