Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-06-05
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
THE BALL LAST NIGHT.
BRILLIANT DEMONSTRATION.
FULL AND INTERESTING PARTICU.
LARS.

Especial Report for The Evening Star.l
ANNAPOLIS, MD. June 5.-After the close of
our our despatch yesterday visitors continued
10 arrive at the Academy from Annapolis aud
Baltimore, two STEAMERS, the PhIox and Ches-
apeake, arriving IN time for the boat race, with
large number of ladies and gentlemen. The
evening train from Washington brought down
many distinguished persons, among whom
were Secretary Borie and niece, Assistant Sec
Ietary Richardson, Sir Edward Thornton, the
English Minister, Gen. w. I. Sherman, Hon.
J. w. douglass, Assistant Commis sioner OF
Internal Revenue, and others, many of whom
were accompanied by their ladies. Governor
Bowie was not able to attend, on account of
having been called to New York on business
yesterday morning. The steamer Chesapeake
arrived about six o'clock with the following
members of his staff, all in full uniform: Gen.
u. III. Bier, Adjutant General; Gen. ]. II. Eli
colt. Chief OF the Engineer Corps: Gen. X. b.
Waters, Chief OF Ordnance; Cols. J. p. Merri.
man, G w r. Smith, Fred. Raine, Jno. Car
roll, Lewis Turner, Jr, Mahlon Hopkins, ID.
Is. Cannon, Henry Mccoy, Edward kimmer-
ly and Mr.. Creighton, aids, with Col. Left
wich OF the 4th regiment and Col Fulton of
the lst.
The Dinner.
The President dined with Admiral Porter a t
five O'Clock, the following named persons being
seated at the table the President and Mrs.
Grant, Attorney General Hoar and son, Secre-
tary Cox, Postmaster General Cresswell and
lady, Assistant Secretary OF State Bancroft
Davis and lady, General Michler and lady,
Mrs. Richardson, Miss Nellie and Miss Lizzie
Sherman, Colonel Audeureid and lady, Judge
Dent q eneral Ramsey, Miss Turnbull,
General Zeilin, Mr.. Captain Bache, Captain
Patterson and lady, the Misses Lynch,
daughters Of General Zeilin; Miss Chittenden,
Miss Beale, Miss Loughborough, Captain Por-
ter, Miss Lizzie and Miss Lene Porter,
daughters of the Admiral, Miss Nellie and
Master Jessie Grant.
The Boat Race.
The boat race took place between six and
seven O'Clock and was witnessed by hundreds
OF persons on the wharves and steamers lying
of the Academy. The race was won by the
Nauticlus Club ed CLASSY the bea: of the Deca-
ter Club list CLASSY having swamped a few
minutes after rounding the bouy. President
Grant and Admiral Porter We're seated in the
Admi rails yacht, which was the first boat 10
the crew, the others being rescued by another
boat, which came up. The prize flag was pre-.
sented to the winning crew by Admiral Por.
ter amid great cheering OF the spectators.
crew each year and silver plate put upon the
staff, bearing the name of each member Of the
crew. 1t is of blue silk, with gold fringe, and
embroidered with picture Of a boat race.
There was some complaints at the swamplng
Of the six-oared boat, many declaring that il
was done Intentionally by the crew when they
saw the other class would win. The crew de.
clared that the boat took water from the time
she started, and they could not prevent her
swamping. After the boat race the burlesque
naval engagement took place, much to the
anu usement of the spectators. The combatants
were 5. II. May and w. w. kimbaIl, each
being in small boats; Mays being pulled by J.
Hobsen, and Kimball's by II. T. Mcmahon
The combatants were armed with long pole.
padded upon the end. After proceeding some
distance out in the stream the con test was begun,
and May soon succeeded in pushing Monohan
overheard.
upon the second round May pushed Monohan
over and swamped his boat, thus gaining the
victory. After the boat race and sham. fight
the midshipmen went to supper, and lmmedi.
aiely thereafter preparations were commenced
for
The Ball.
The dancing saloon was in the old gymna.
sium building, which was beautifully fitted
up for the occasion. The entrance was at the
foot of the avenue in front Of the Midship.
mems quarters, where canopy had been
erected. Beneath the canopy was a foun-
Tain enclosed in rocks and moss. statue OF
a my biological female figure was placed in the
centre Of the fountain, and above large mum.
Der OF red lanterns we're suspended ia circles.
From this canopy covered avenues led to the
dancing saloon, supper and dressing rooms.
The dancing saloon was upon the second floor
of the gymnasium, circular in form. with a
diameter of 80 feet. The ceiling was painted
sky blue, with stars and planets represented
thereon in gold. Around the saloon there was q
from which there We're two large entrances
and number Of small ones to the ball room.
The corridor was tastefully decorated with
evergreens, swords, pistols, &c., AM: the fol.
lowing lines appeared at the head of the stairs
TO meet the eye OF the visitor
stay, D stay;
When e'er did glorious morning break,
And find such beaming eyes awake
As those that sparkle here!
In the centre of the ballroom several cocoa
trees were represented with foliage, with
VI w & a 10 m TOM nfntra
about eight feet in diameter, the base covered
with roses, while water lilies and other fra
grant flowers spread out from the fountain.
Around the room were arranged what the mid.
dies term " spoony corners" or "fiirtation cor.
ners." They consisted of tastefuily. .decora.ed
canopies, about ten feet apart, beneath which
lowing inscriptions placed over the canopies
IN gold letters -" Spoons" Who enters here
leaves hope behInd;' Lei ron ne Parle que
d'affares serieuses"-here nothing but serious
affairs are spoken of: Faint heart ne'er won
fair LADY," Beware, beware she's fooiing
tDee." Cross anchors in gold were also fixed
upon the ceiling, with the inscription, "Fi.
denty TO our country, right or wrong"
The orchestra occupied a position near the
first entrance, railing formed Of cavalry
swords, separating the musicians from the
lar pipes suspended from the ceiling, contain
ing $50 burners. The monogram of Mrs. Ad-
the Naval Academy, (U. s. N. Al were taste
fully arranged on he wall. The supper room
was in the armory. The table being spread the
whole length OF the hall-over two hundred
feet-upon either side the racks were filled
with muskets, pistols. swords, &c, arranged
in a neat manner Large rooms We're assigned
as ladies and gentlemens hat and coat rooms
dressing rooms, &c.
The grounds were also han dsomely arranged,
over 5000 colored lanterns being suspended
from the trees, besides 300 Chinese lanterns
over the principal gateway an arch was
formed Of Chinese lanterns, with fine effect
and a similar one in front Of the academy, near
Admiral Porter's residence. In front of each
one OF the nine buildings occupied by the mid.
shipmen, arches composed of Chinese lanterns
were erected. beneath which the guests passed
en- route to the ball room.
The grounds were illuminated about half
past eight O'Clock in the evening, presenting q
beautiful appearance, nearly every tree
throughout the enclosed forty acres having
suspended from one to six lanterns, reminding
the visitors Of some OF the scene pictured in the
Arabian Nights. The effect was beautiful.
and drew forth the warmest praise from ali.
The guests began 70 assemble in the ball room
shortly after nine O'Clock, and by ten the saloon
was crowded with army and navy Off ers
prominent personages in the civil life, and
hundreds OF attractive and handsome ladies'
whose toilettes formed q fine contrast TO the
brilliant uniforms Of the officers.
About baf-past eleven O'Clock the Presi-
dental party entered the ball room, in the fol.
lowing order: The President, with Mrs Ad.
miral Porter leaning upon his arm; Admiral
Porter, with MRS. Grant upon his arm; Gen.
eraI r Sherman and Miss Rorie pioca of