CHAPTER VIII EIGHTEEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-THREE CITIZENS' AID POST. POST HEADQUARTERS DESTROYED BY FIRE. RESCUE OF THE BIBLE AND STUFFED EAGLE. REV. W. H. H. MURRAY, MEMORIAL ORATOR. TRIP TO MALDEN. TOURING FOR HEADQUARTERS. MEMBERS OF "113" START NEW POST. PRESENTATIONS MADE AND DONATIONS RECEIVED. SKETCH OF COMMANDER AUGUSTUS N. SAMPSON. TH THE THIRD ARMY ADMINISTRATION HE officers were installed by Department Mustering officer George T. Childs, as follows: Quite a goodly number of applications for membership were received early in the year, and new hope cheered the hearts of the Posts' "reliables." The stated meeting was changed to Wednesday evening, with two each month, except the months of July, August and September, making nine regular meetings for the year. The Comrades were urged to be present every meeting and encouraged by the assurance that if every Comrade would lend his energies for the common good, the year upon which they had now entered would be their best. CITIZENS AID POST Commander Sampson exhibited much ability in pressing Post concerns. He was enabled to report the "Signal success' of the special Memorial Finance Committee in making collections. He announced that "Notwithstanding the late terrible calamity (great fire of 1872) and their great financial loss, the citizens of Boston are alive and stand as ever, with open hearts and hands, ready to assist us in this noble work of perpetuating the memory of our fallen Comrades, as set forth in this beautiful and touching ceremony, introduced and performed by our Order." POST HEADQUARTERS DESTROYED BY FIRE The few Comrades who had assembled at headquarters about 8.30 A.M., May 30, to take part in the Memorial Day parade and services were given a genuine sensation. Suddenly a fire broke out in the Theatre Building, and it was seen that the same was serious. Comrades hastened to the Post quarters on the third floor and hastily removed such articles as were nearest at hand. Comrade Dodd rescued the famous and much-prized stuffed bald eagle, and Comrade Sanderson seized the Bible and rushed out of a back window over a wire grating, and made a triumphant exit by the rear passage of the Selwyn Theatre on to Essex Street. Quartermaster Sanborn and Comrade Sears with others succeeded in rescuing the records, guidons, belts and a few other small articles. Sanborn and Sears were the last to leave the building, then thick with smoke and flying embers, the latter receiving painful burns on his hands. MEMORIAL DAY Notwithstanding the destruction of the Post headquarters, twenty-six Comrades assembled at the store of Senior ViceCommander Hersey on Washington Street for the duties of the day. Led by the Metropolitan Band, with guidons and Flag flying, the column proceeded to the Common, where the decorative ritual was performed; thence, by a very long route, they THE THIRD ARMY ADMINISTRATION 47 arrived at Park Street Church. The full G. A. R. service was given, assisted by the Temple Quartette, and an address delivered by the Rev. W. H. H. Murray. AT MALDEN At the conclusion of the church exercises the Post, by invitation of the citizens of Malden, took train, and after a lunch upon arrival at Malden, the march was taken up for the cemetery, where the full ritual was again rendered and the graves of all soldiers and sailors lovingly decorated. Upon their return, the hospitality of Post No. 15 headquarters on Essex Street was temporarily accepted. TOURING FOR HEADQUARTERS In June, the Post met at Room No. 10, Exchange Building, on State Street, where also the Department had established its headquarters. With the opening of the fall season in September the Post met at the headquarter rooms of the 1st Regiment of Infantry, No. 4 Boylston Hall, corner Boylston and Washington streets. In November, Boston Hall, 176 Tremont Street, was engaged as temporary headquarters pending obtaining permanent quarters. MEMBERS OF "113" START POST IN MALDEN One of the incidental results of the visit of Post No. 113 to Malden, May 30, was the revival of interest by the veterans of that vicinity in the Grand Army. This was made apparent a little later by the efforts of Comrade Lakeman and others who were members of Post No. 113 to organize a new Post in Malden. This was successfully accomplished, and General H. G. Berry, Post No. 40, was chartered October 1 and has since become one of the prosperous Posts of the Department. MINOR HAPPENINGS A pleasant event of the early part of the year was the presentation of a marble statue of Daniel Webster, also a large picture to Past Commander Attwood. Later in the year the Post presented a fine gold badge, costing |