! A
The Omaha
PART THREE
unday
ADVERTISE IN THE
OMAHA DEE
BEST IN TllE WEST
HALF-TONE
PACES 1 TO .
Bee.
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VOL. XXXVIII NO. 50.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 30, 9)).
SINOLK COPY FIVK CKNTS.
DECORATION DAY AND GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Beautiful Memorial Ceremonial for the Dead Soldiers Fostered by the Veterans of the War of the Rebellion and Certain to Be Handed Down to Future Generations of Patriotic Citisens
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yGEOR&E CROOK
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DECORATION DAY is an Institution peculiarly American, In
tho particular form of strewing flowers upon graves of
the soldier and sailor dead. The custom of strewing
flowers upon the graves of friends and relatives Is, how
ever, as old as humanity. Prior to the lncfeptlon of the
American Decoration day there is no record of any particular day
being set apart for this custom. Decoration day as it is now ob
served Is a southern institution, having originated in Mississippi in
the second year ofi the civil war, when the people of that state by
common consent, and later by legislative enactment, set apart April
26, 1862, as "Memorial day," for the strewing of flowers upon the
graves of the dead Mississippi soldiers. The following year Ala
bama, Florida and Georgia adopted April 26 as Memorial day. Other
southern states soon took up the custom in memory of their soldier
and sailor dead, though all did not set apart the same day. In
North and South Carolina May 10 Is observed as Memorial day and
in Tennessee the second Friday In May, while in Louisiana June 3
Is so recognized.
It was not until 1S63 that ihe custom began to be observed In
any concerted way in the northern states, although the custom of
strewing flowers upon the graves of the soldier and sailor dead was
practiced in some localities at an earlier date during the civil war.
The first general observance of the day was from the 12th to the
15th of June lu the north, on account of flowers being more abun
dant in the northern latitudes during the period. Efforts were
made to have some particular day specified that might be universal
throughout the north and it was at the suggestion of Major General
John A. Logan that May 30 was fixed as the permanent date. Ills
suggestion did not take well at first on account of the scarcity of
flowers In the far northern states during May. But the year follow
ing the close of the war May 30 was finally accepted on the recom
mendation of the first national encampment of the Grand Army of
the Republic. ' .
For several years Decoration day was almost wholly a Grand
Army of the Republic institution, the public, participating with
patriotic fervor In the observance of the day, but now the day is
officially recognized as a holiday by all the northern states except
Idaho, and such of the southern states as have their own Memorial
days. May 30 la recognized In Virginia as "Confederate Memorial
day."
1 South and North Co-operate
Efforts have been repeatedly made to have the south co-operate
with the northern states in making May 30 "the" Decoration day,
but without result The south has its own views on this matter and
Is not disposed to relinquish them. At the same time the southern
people have always participated in the Decoration day ceremonies in
such southern states where there are national cemeteries maintained
and supported by the general government. It is also the custom for
the Grand Army of the Republic to unite with the United Confeder
ate Veterans In their Memorial day ceremonies wherever there bap
pen to be Grand Army of the Republic men in the southern states.
The confederate graveyard near Camp Chase, Ohio, In which several
thousand southern soldiers lie burled who died In prison while pris
oners of war,' 1b given the same reverent attention by the Grand
Army of the Republic on Decoration day as is given to the dead of
the union armies burled in Green Lawn cemetery at Columbus, O.
At first no particular 'form was observed in the decoration of
the graves, each locality where soldier and sailor dead lay burled
observing the day its own peculiar way. At the outset the decora
tion of the graves or strewing of flowers was entrusted to little girls.
The ceremonial was a beautiful one and was generally accompanied
with devotional exercises. The ceremony was carried out In the
cemetery at the Soldiers' circle, where the larger body of the dead
had been grouped. It was soon discovered that a great many sol
di were buried in private lots remote from the circle, and many of
luch graves were unintentionally overlooked in the strewing of flow
ers, much to the grief of their friends and relatives. It again fre
quently happened that soldiers had been buried In almost every cem
etery who were unknown in the community where burled, and again
many Boldlers were known to be lying in unknown graves in the
south land where no flower could ever be placed on their graves. It
was this thought that Inspired the system of decorating unknown
graves in form, if not in letter, which has now become the central
featuro of the Grand Army ritual that is observed In the more Im
posing features of the day. The known graves can be bedecked with
flower?, and aio In every cemetery north and south. This feature
of decoratli u l.cs cf late years been entrusted to special details of
the Graiid Ar.ny and their auxiliaries, the Woman's Relief Corps and
the Ladies of tl. Grand Army of the Republic, taking place usually
the momlr.g of Decoration day, while the formal exercises are
usually deferred until the afternoon. The ritualistic ceremony has
up to very recent years been carried out In some park, where an un
known grave with a monument is provided for the occasion, around
which the general ritualistic ceremonies are carried out followed by
an oration and special musical services. The parade feature and
park exercises are gradually dying out because of the advancing
years of the old veterans who cannot stand the fatigue of the parade
or prolonged exercises at the parks. The practice now is to carry
out these services indoors, and this year, as last year, in Omaha they
will be carried out in the Auditorium, with all the ritualistic forms.
Grand Army Will Bequeath Day
Decoration day Is a distinctive Institution of the Grand Army of
the Republic and its general form is, and always will be, in that di
rection. That the veterans of the Grand Army are jealous of the
day cannot be denied, yet the old veterans are beginning to feel that
the time is not far distant when they must lay the work down to
younger bands, and to this end they look to the younger soldiers of
later wars to take up and perpetuate the work of Decoration day
with the same fervor that they have always carried It on. But to
do this the ritualistic form must be changed somewhat because ot
the different conditions of the later wars. In which the younger gen
eration fought just as vigorously as did their fathers nearly halt a
century ago.
Decoration day Is virtually divided Into three periods, the first
being the custom of having old veterans address the pupils of the
public and parochial schools on the FTlday preceding Decoration day;
and Memorial Sunday, when the different posts and corps attend
divine services where the services are conducted with special refer-
F. E.
DA6DITT
CUSTER
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MRS. M.J.MATTHEW5,GRANT Mtffl flS&c
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M R5. JEWEL C.REED,GR00K WRCl
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PRESIDENT NEB
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ence to the Decoration day idea; and third, Decoration day proper.
This year the old and young veterans will speak jointly at the
several schools. On Memorial Sunday, which happens to fall this
year on the Decoration day date, the posts of Omaha, with their re
spective auxiliaries, will attend church in the morning at the First
Presbyterian Seward Street Methodist ana Pearl Memorial MethodisH
churches. Next important to the formal ceremonies of Decoration
day is the practice of the old veterans delivering addresses before
the public schools. It does not follow that these addresses are al
ways expositions of classic eloquence, for the speakers were not
taught in the school of Demothenes, and oratory may not be their
forte. They are men now bent in years who half a century ago left
their homes and school to undertake a mighty task, the like of which
has never befallen a similar soldiery. They now begin to realize battles with the accuracy of an oflkial report or a critical review of
'rKESMRflUJ ClMli
what they wrought, and as preservers of a nation occupy a place In
tho schools which their children and grandchildren are attending.
They are the living evidence of a past replete with mighty events.
The stories of their camp and battle life of half a century ago pos
sess a new interest to them, as the events in which they took part
loom up in such vast importance with the passing years. They
thought but little of these things then, not that they did not realize
their importance, but because they had other things to think of at
Shlloh, Mission Ridge, Chiekamauga, Bull Run, Antietam, Gettys
burg, the Wilderness and Appomattox. With these historic battle
fields bristling yearly with new monuments to commemorate their
valor in their young manhood days they begin to feel that they are
of some Importance after all. They may not tell the story of their
Champion Hail Story Told by Oldest Inhabitant
NOTICED, haven't you, how hail
stones grow In size in the imagi
nation of the oldest inhabitant
and hib younger sons as the date
recedes? Colonel McGorrlty of
Milwaukee is not the oldest inhabitant,
neither is he a younger son, but he exhibits
the talent of both and put their best efforts
to sleep. Listen to his story:
"One spring years aso I was traveling
through what is now the state of Idaho sell
ing Whahoo. There were no railroads
through that country then, so I was utilizing
a native pony as means of transportation.
"That was in the early period of my as
sociation with the business of manufacturing
and selling the marvelous remedy I refer to,
and I was not then so well acquainted with
all Its powers as I am now. My experience
came near costing me dear, too. Only the
Intervention of the elements bringing the
timely hall from which dates my partiality
to this variety of storm saved my career
from untimely extinction.
"Camping for the night on a lonesome
trail, I Inadvertently left a large quantity of
Whahoo exposed to the interference of my
sensation hunting equine. During the night
the pony, becoming restless. Interested itself
In the receptacles containing the remedy
and drank a large quantity. It must have
been shortly thereafter that I awoke to ob
serve the beast endeavoring to climb a
neighboring tree. I was astonished, natu
rally, and took steps to calm the excited ani
mal. However, the pony took steps also,
quicker than mine, and before I could reach
it It was flyingyup the mountainside.
"As I was particularly Interested in the
locality I had no Intention of following the
pony. There was nothing for me to do but
to turn In and get the rest of my sleep.
"In the morning another disagreeable
surprise awaited my awakening. When I
opened mj eyes their first employment was
to register upon my sleep-dulled brain the
impression of a dozen or more husky Indians
sitting about my catnpflre. Now, the abor
igines of that day and place were desirable
companions only when in chains. These
had omitted the chains. Moreover, they
were painted in a manner which I suppose
was artistic from their point of view, but
which was distinctly startling from mine;
"No did they lose any time in confirm
ing my suspicion that they were not disposed
to take the part of old friends of mine. In
short, the.- captured me, a result which I
venture to assert would not have been ac
complished without difficulty had I been
fully awake when they first came upon me.
"However, I was in their hands, literally
as well as figuratively. They led me to a
convenient tree and fastened me securely to
the trunk. Then they resolved thenuelves
into a court-martial, as I guessed, and after
a dlscouraglngly brief interval t)f pow-wow-ing,
though I could not decipher a word of
their conversation, they made me under
stand that I was scheduled for an early visit
to another world. This was disapopinting
to me, for I was beginning to see a great
future In the Whahoo business, and for sev
eral other reasons I wished to live for an in
definite period; in fact, for a long time.
"The sign language they employed to
convey to me their decision, consisted in
burling knives at my person from a distance
of twenty paces or so. It was but a moment
when they began to get the range. One of
the knives actually grazed my left ear, caus
ing the scar which you may still observe I
was especially opposed to dying In this help
less fashion. But there was no advantage
in trying to get loose even if I had been able
to accomplish the feat, which In itself was
highly improbable. With no weapon at
hand, I could not hope to cope with the fully
armed savageb. It looked bad for me.
"Theu at this dark moment came my
marvelous deliverance. It was almost as
strange as fiction and It explains my fond
ness for hail.
"A pair ot knives came flying at me.
They struck one on either side at the same
instant. But Instead of reaching tho target
at which they were aimed, i. e., myself, they
encountered the thongs that bound me to
the tree. My mind worked like lightning.
I had no time, however, to stop to think that
release was of no avail. I leaped forward
free of my bonds. At almost the same mo
ment a terrific storm broke upon us. So in
terested were all of us In our own proceed
ings that we had not noticed its approach.
"The first downpour of rain was Immedi
ately succeeded by a perfect volley of hall.
Instantly I grasped the opportunity and as
many of the hailstones as I could and hurled
them at my enemies. I had bad long ex
perience as a bean bag player and my aim
wu3 unerrlns. At every throw I struck a
redskin squarely in the forehead and had the
satisfaction of watching them one by one fall
stunned and unconscious to the ground.
"That storm lasted scarcely five minutes,
but at the end of that time I was master of
the field. Knowing, however, that the In
dians might recover at any time, I hastily
gathered up their weapons and my supply of
Wahoo and quickly departed.
"One of the fortunate hailstones I car
ried away also. At the first town I came to
I had it preserved, and to this day I treasure
it as one of my choicest possessions." Mil
waukee SentlneL
the professed historian, yet they can. ana do, tell a story of their In
dividual part as seen from their immediate environment that gives
to the written historical page a deeper interest and Inspires in their
hearers a spirit of patriotism that cculd not be inspired through any
other means. They may lapse into occasional egotism in telling
their own story, but yet they are the living evidence of the things
that shall endure as long as history is treasured or revered.
The custom of decorating the waters of the sea with flowers was
observed long' years before the decoration of the graves of the soldier
dead was ever thought of. It was practiced by fisher folk along the
sea shores as a tribute to their dead lost at sea. In fact, the custom
goes back into tho mythological history of England In the days ot
Good King Arthur and Sir Launcelot, when the Thames, the Tyne
and the Dee were carpeted with flowers as a propitiation against
disaster by sea or memory of those who had gone to sea In ships and
never returned. It was particularly a civil custom and had no bear
ing upon the soldiers or mon-of-wars-men who wero lost at sea in
battle, and it was not until the Spanish-American war of 1898 that
the Impulse was given to decorate the waters in memory of tho dead
buried at sea, who had iven up their lives in a national cause.
Custom Begins in Nebraska
And, Btrange as it may seem. It was the sea burial of a Nebraska
boy that gave rise to the cuBtoin. And, stranger yet, this Nebraska
boy was the first American soldier buried at sea of which there is
any record, and also the only one. The young soldier in whose
memory this custom originated was Sergeant George Geddes of Com
pany C, First Nebraska United States Volunteers, who died at sea
from meningitis on June 20, 1808, while the regiment was enroute
to the Philippines. He was buried the following day from the
UnitedvStates transport Sherman. The services were conducted by
Chaplain Mailley and Major John M. Stotadnberg. The entire trans
port fleet stopped during the burial service In respect to the solemn
occasion. A quartet of Company L (Thurston Rifles) of Omaha
sang the funeral dirge, "Lead, Kindly Light;" Sergeant Geddes
was a member of the company from Beatrice and tho ceremonies of
the burial produced Buch a profound Impression upon the command
that it was determined that thereafter no American soldier should
be burled at sea, but that bis body should be returned to his native
land for interment.
The following Decoration day of 1899 the mother of Sergeant
Geddes attended the decoration ceremonies at the Beatrice cemetery
and was broken-hearted over the tact that the grave of her boy could
never be strewn with flowers. She was almost inconsolable, when
another mother of a Nebraska boy promised her that her son's grave
bhould be strewn with flowers the following Decoration day. The
idea took and early In May of 1900 the Woman's Relief Corps of
Beatrice, Rawlins Corps No. 92, took the matter up and enlisted
Lincoln Woman's Relief Corps of San Francisco in the cause. Flow
ers were sent from Beatrice to San Francisco to be strewn upon the
waters of the Pacific in memory of Sergeant Geddes. The express
companies vied with each other tor the privilege of carrying the box
of flowers free from Nebraska to San Francisco. . The flowers were
received in San Francisco by representatives of Lincoln corps and
on Decoration day this corps oi devoted women took the flowers to
the Cliff House and, with impressive ceremonies and In the presence
of many hundreds of San Francisco people, cast the flowers on the
ocean. ,
Tho following year a similar box of flowers was sent from Ne
' braska to San Francisco for the same purpose. A portion of the
flowers was strewn on the ocean from the Cliff House, the other por
tion having been taken to sea by a member of Lincoln corps, who
was then enroute to Honolulu, and, passing near the spot where the
body of Sergeant Geddes had bten burled at sea two years before,
the flowers were cast upon the sea in his memory, the vessel stop
ping for the purpose and, it being on Decoration day, appropriate
devotional services were held in honor of the event and day.
This was tho beginning of the custom of strewing flowers on the
waters In memory of the American soldier and sailor dead buried
at sea, and now' the custom has become universal and a part of the
observance of Decoration day, and will so continue, having been
recognized by the national departments of tho Woman's Relief Corps
and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. The woman
who first conceived the plan was Mrs. Carrie M. Peters, now a resi
dent of Omaha, but then of Beatrice.
Afloat on the Missouri
The decoration of the waters Is not confined to the sea and lake
coast cities, but to all interior ciUea as well, wherever there Is a
body of water. The ceremony has been observed in Omaha for the
last five years with Increasing Interest. In 1907 and 1908 a beau
tiful floral boat was provided and set afloat on tho Missouri at the
foot of Douglas street, the boat being launched by a detail from the
United States navy recruiting station at Omaha. The same form of
ceremony will be observed this Decoration day, the exercises to take
place Sunday evening at 6 o'clock, in order uot to interfere with the
more general observance of the day. The ceremonies will be par
ticipated in on this occasion by a class of young girls, which will
give a short drill and recitation appropriate to the event, following
which an address will be delivered, and followed by the launching
of the floral boat. The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic
will have charge of this service, as has been the custom for the last
three years. A detail from the United States navy will assist in
launching the boat and its floral cargo. A note is sent with the
boat asking those who find it, should it drift ashore, to set it afloat
again on its way to the sea. The brat is usually a frail structure
that will sink within several-hours.
Another form of ceremony is to strew the flowers with appropri
ate ceremonies from a bridge or river bank. The ritual Is a beau
tiful one and at the same time extremely simple.
During the last year or two an effort has been made to give the
credit for the introduction of the ceremony of d corutlng tho waters
to women in various parts of the country, particularly along the At
lantic and Pacific seaboard, but the practice in its present form, and
that adopted by the national departments of the Woman's Relief
Corps and Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Is the Ne
braska Idea and has been In regular practice since 1900. The
Decoration of the Waters has taken a strong hold in the south and
will be observed this year In almost every southern sUU, tas Ne
braska form of ritual blng adopted.
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