The Portland daily press., 1864-08-04
10Th Anniversary of the v. @. A. and P. @.

10Th Anniversary of the v. O. A. and P. @.
The Venerable Gunner Association and
Propeller Club celebrated their 10Th anniver-
sary on Tuesday last, after the style Of the
ancient usages of this venerable club, inter-
spersed, however, with variety of startling
incidents that IL has not always been the for
tune Of this ancient and honorable "body, to
endure during their past twenty years of pill
grimage, which has been tinged by the various
lights and shades incidental to mortals whose
lives have been series Of remarkable events.
On Monday night the advance guard es-
corted the tent and camping paraphernalia to
the usual camping grounds, near Portland
Light, where the tent was pitched and every
thing put in readiness for the reception of the
main body, which left the head of High street
at o'clock on Tuesday morning. dense
cloud of dust, visible from the camp at about
halfpast O'Clock, indicated the approach of
the trains of the august body, and the colors
of the Association were Immediately run up,
and in few moments all was astir about the
camp. On arrival, the members at once set
N-ANH~~Af'1
ments, preparing breakfast. At little past
O'Clock the party were summoned to the smok-
ing viands, and after spending an hour or more
around the festive board, a short time was de-
voted to fishing and such sports as the time
and occasion suggested, when the Commissary
called the Association to order for the trans
action of the regular annual business, choice
of officers, &c.
Alter the reading Of the records by the Sec
rotary, a letter was read from Lieut.. Thurs
ton, member of the club, now absent in the
army of the Potomac, at the close of which
the members all arose and sung "Auld Lang
Syne,' after which three hearty cheers were
given for Lieut.. Thurston, and the letter was
ordered to be placed on file.
Mr.. Eaton, of the Boston Branch, said it
was his painful duty to announce the death of
Capt. Andrew j. Teee, member of the club,
and appropriate resolutions in memory of the
deceased were adopted.
A vote of thanks was passed TO Bro. Perry
for presenting the Club with new gridiron.
Smith, Pray, Trowbridge and Eaton were
contaminated for taking dinner at a favorite
watering place the day preceding the ami
versary, and after the execution OF their SEN
tence, the members proceeded to the election
of officers for the ensuing year, which resulted
as follows:
J. A. Merrill, Commssary; S. c. Fernald,
Secretary; Chas. Trowbridge, Treasurer; Geo.
b. Eaton, Secretary Of the Boston Branch. f.
A. Leayitt and F. Z. Pray, Firemen; Henry
Robinson and G. L. Perry. Watermen; +. II.
Cloyes, Steward; l.. B. Smith, Potatoe Sleer
After the transaction Of the regular BUSH
ness, the members participated in various
amusements of fishing, sailing, pitching quoits,
bathing, euchre, whiting, smoking and
lounging under the shade of the trees or I'M
der the shelter of some projecting rock 10
close proximity to the surging waves of the
ocean, and all went on as gay as a Peach
until about o'clock, when the vivid flashes of
lightning aud deep distant roar of Heavens
artillery gave warning that a tempest was not
Tar of, and dinner was cooked with all posi-
bic dispatch, and everything made snug and
put In the best trim to enjoy the dinner I'M
molested by the warning of the elements even
in the most extreme emergency; but scarcely
had the "Ancients" got fairly underway,
when, about o'clock, the tempest burst upon
them In all its fury, butt end foremost
and despite the Herculean efforts of all the
occupants, down came the house." and the
heavens were at once filed with tin plates,
frying pans, spoons, gridirons, hard biscuit,
coffee pots, BURBERRY pies, tin clippers, camp
stools, hats, coats, boots, onions blankets, beef
steak, shirts, canvass trousers, paper diekeys,
handkerchiefs; and various other articles of
wearing apparel and camp utensils were hurled
with alarming fury and confusion into the air,
and were for the time dancing jig with the
hair OF the hatless but undauntless yenerables.
who evirced a determination to die in the
"last ditch" or save the tent from mounting
TO the skies, which was finally accomplished
under the most trying circumstances, being
not more than ten feet from the precipice that
overlooked the lashng sea, and had it have
gone over it must have carried within its folds
many of the members; but 1t was "got under"
and when everything was securely anchored
and the force of the tempest was spent, the
AANmbSAH iNh OaNh w tic rear uEUCI llle su6l-
ter of barn to empty their boots, now over
running with water, and the sight of those
mostly heroes, as they came in, beggars de-
scription. Some were bootless, hatless, coat
less, and almost headless; some had the brims
blown from their hats, while one half of a
paper collar was entirely washed away some
had lost coats, while the rain was running in
torrents from drenched locks of hair which
chung about their "mugs" in dismal confusion
"like sea weed round a clam"
Eaton, of the Boston Branch came in with
frightful looking face, occasioned by the ex-
plosion of spent BURBERRY pie on his left
cheek, and he was passed over to the Sanitary
Commission, and was doing well at last ac-
counts.
On repairing to the scene Of conflict such a
sight as met the eye was never before beheld.
The explosion OF Grants "mine" could not
have equalled it in confusion. Pies, cakes.
fish, steak, eggs, pop beer, fried onions, pota-
toes, baked beans, and various remnants OF
wearing apparel and camp equipments were
ground and soaked together in pulp. This
was universally admitted to be gay and
festive" though an inconveniently sudden ter
minaton of the regular exercises of the day
and supper was indefinitely postponed, on
account of the westher," and the "Bohe
mians" at once set themselves about gather
ing up the remains of the wreck, most Of
which was saved in damaged condition, ,
especially the private personal property
which had the effect to impart dilapidateC
ar 10 tne "augustb body" As it wended its way
homeward with firm and steady tread
"bootless feet and hatless heads. not !
member, realizing his personal appearance
could In his heart censure the gaping crowd,
of ladies that filled the windows alonp IN,
route OF the procession, and laughed at N,