Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-25
daily a'ir9inian.
A Marriage on Board IN II. s Ship War
Unusual Scouo.

/ ttuf on the 18th ult being nothing less than the
marriage oi Mr. Dcwhurst and Miss Markoe, both
Amerlcans who had obtained tho permission OF
| Capt Turner, To ho united on board u national
ship. Invitations were sent to the officers Of all
tho foreign vessels in port to attend the cere.
monr aud the officers and crew set to work fit
un2 up the Saratoga, for unusual a ceremony.
\ letter describing 1t, snys:
Thr quarter deck, hy the nd of awnings and
tlags, was formed into pavilion. from tho main
mast Mt 10 the nirnl. Tho flags of tho different
nntlons 10 be present were ntcrtwned with each
other IN the most conspicuous places forward and
| AIT. The mainmast. the mlz"nmnst. and tho cap
snn were wrapped III loscph's coat of brilliant
Nnriegnted colurs the sides were curtninod by lngs
gracouiy drnped and tcstooncd to tho deck
wll>t the polished surfaces of six sxty-eight she'll
quits protrnded their heavy hrecchrs somc tew
tert upon the deck, rejecting almost like mirror
tho csrru>catiuns of arms aud tinscl of uniforms
and FURNISHED blades which paradcd on the
quarter deck %! n ship.ni-war.
Au arras cciliug naJc u different cnsiyns and
/ la, was ittcl to the under surface Of the avn
'uGS above, eomcwhat nrnbesquc IN It's effect so
/ .hat above. forward and aft aud cithor side il
vas one display OF pennons ut brilliant colors
sneucl, Yet heightened by the RAYS Of the SUM-
which descended upon ii, and which gave 10 the
/ whole II mellow twilight shade most becoming to
IL" ptenre at large and not unlike the effect pro-
! dured hy looking through stanel glass.
The cnhu on the same level with the spar deck
II d"arS thrown open, md prctily carpettcd
! booked as though II were but continuation of tho
/ iarler deck, or Gather the dais nf the lord pa
! Whom or some distinguished oriental II was af.
ituIt t" conceive that you were placed aud moying
! nmulst the grim batteries of the ship of war Tho
/ decks were spn,lc>s and almost M white M mar
! bic. contrasting strangely aud strkingly with tho
! roms oi black polished cannon balls around the
g, hachcs, which Ike the cannon planted on both
sllrs, threw of their radiatiens Of bright reflected
! e"l"rs On the starboard side Of the poop deck
Wa placed large chair Of reception. a table,
ulon which was lastclnlly displayed tho wedding
| onNcs and w'nc occupied tho other sdo of tho
! pop, whist below IN tho ward room II feast had
! l'rrn prepared to entertain the largo company,
ma collation. in the cabin for the bridal party
especially give YOU this most imperfect sketch
Il the space rs il appeared prepared and dressed
oil lar the bridal services.
Tie hour fixed wns four precisely The boat
had been iii patched for the bridal party, and was
'a s'alt On H. return rs IT approached the ship
1nr ollcois assembled on deck 10 receive the BRIDE
and IA she came over the tide, American cnsirns
Wcfr flown from tho fore and main masts and
larg" White flag, cmhlcmatic of the OCCASION from
the ulHoa
she appeared dressed in white with the utmost
simplicity accompanied by her inthor tho bride
.r"o"l, several friends aud two sisters, n wreath
Il white ilowors cncireling her head, without n
iawc Of any description but bracelets. She look
I'll rather pretty woman, but moro remarkable
Tor her gentle, lady like, hghbred air, of slight
! lsuro, with very graceful carriage aud most
| pleasing, winning manners. They wcro invited
Ia tho cabin. aud retired at to tho adjoining
statcroome. The Offices Of the chapnn of tho
English llign,c Tartar Ind been secured for the
"e'asion, nn'l Capt Dunlop (commnrdng) had
| kindly volunteered hi, band Of music.
At halispast three tho boats of the whole fleet
English, French and Spanish began to arrive
with large rarics"l officers. As the commanding
officers cnmo over the side they were received with
n full guard the band at the same time playing
their respective national airs all the guests being
conducted Immediately to tho poop nv they passed
over tho side constituting should think u group
OF nj least liliY oihcnss, in full uniform Every
thing being ready aud the hour at hand the erow.
neatly dressed for the occasion. were called to
muster; they took up the entire port side ol the
quarter deck, The marine guard was drawn up
luet nbaii the mainmast, entirely the deck
from side to silr. The foreign officers were iny-
tel 10 descend from tho poop to the quarter deck,
and the captain repaired to the cabin to announce
10 the bride and groom that their presence was
onl necessary 10 proceed with tho ceremony. A
Wll" passage was made through the throng Of Off
Gers tp permit them to pass, through which they
advanced, accompanied only by the captain who
had been requested by her father to give her away
As they reached the open space allotted to tho
ceremony Immediately in front of the company
and alatI ot the marine guard the guard present
u
tire service, which was most touchiugly and I'M
lressi'cly read by the English chaplain
AS soon rs II was over the captain requested
the English commanding officer to escort the
bride 10 her chair OF reception, on the poop and
then turning to the crew, he said, Give her three
hearty cheers my boys;' and such another shout
went up at from Jolly tars ns made the
"wclkin ring again, aud every ono felt that it
came from their very hearts. At the mo-
mcnt the First Lieutenant fired a salvo of cannon
by divisions and the band played Hail Columbia"
Tie crowd Of officers again repaired to the poop
to offer their congratulations, and then to the fes
tive board, to quaF in numbers full to the long
and happy life Of the groom and bride The after
passed away in one continued scene of revel-
ry and mcrrimcnt, champagne and wine flowing
like water, whilst the crew spliccd the main brace
ut the ball (grog tub.) The evident delight and
qualification Of every at the novelty and beauty
of the scene were conspicuous, and what gratifed
Us most was the constant remark, "in what beau
titul order you have the ship, above and below"
AT sunset the flags were removed and the AVN
ings iurlcd aud once more felt ourselves on
the decks Of armed ship. A boat was manned
to convey tho bridal party to the city about dusk,
the crowds Of officers teastng and drinking below,
were requested to re-assemble on the poop the
men were ordered to lay aloft brilliant full
moon was shining in the armament above and as
the boat showed off from the ships side, three
deaiening cheers were given by every soul on
board whilst at the same moment blue lights
flashed from the forecastle, gangway and poop,
envelopng the ship in spectral blaze, which
made her look for the moment thing "ess Of
ealth than heaven" Thus passed this gala day
for gala day it was. A large number of officers
sad till late at night, enjoying the festivities of
tho occasion forming themselves into sets, they
danced quadrlles on tho quarter deck. without q
petticcat among them, to the music OF the band,
whilst forward in tho gangways tho happy crew