The Portland daily press., 1876-06-27
THE "BLUEs."
69ih Anniversary. of the Portland Me
chanic Blues.

AS usual upon the occasion of the celebration
of the anniversary of the Blues, yesterday s
sun rose upon perfect day, and all nature
seemed to smile upon the occasion.
Promptly at $50 the company with As mus
kets, left their armory under command of
Captain Pencil, headed by Chambers Band,
and proceeded to the United States Hotel,
where they received the invited guests and at
once took up the line of march to Portland
pier, where the honorary members were in
waiting. The officers of the company together
with the honorary members and invited guests
embarked upon the steamer Tourist, and the
com pany and the band upon the Magnet. A
delegation from the Arons, consisting of
Turkey and Stetson as tenor, and Fernald and
Shaw as base, kindly volunteered their SER
vices for the day, and as the Tourist passed the
Ossipee. sang the Star Spangled Banner.
Closely following came the Magnet, the band
joining with the same selection. Three rousing
cheers were given as the boats passed, which
were answered from the Ossipee by manning
the yards and returning three cheers. The
boats ARR, ed at the island at ten o'clock, after
a most magnificent SAIL Landing, march was
at once taken to the 'Hotel de Ponce, where
the breakfast was in waiting, to which ample
justice was done. Breakfast over, target shoot
ing was first in order, which was participated
in largely by both regular and honorary mem
bers Leonard Eustis made the best shot
among the honary members, making an aver
age of 81 inches; A. L. Millett second, average
log inches, and the committee declared Lieut..
Otis of the Dover Light Battery as the poorest
shot.
OF the active members Corporal Kimball
made the best shot, Private Chas. Maxwell sec
ond and Corporal HAYES the poorest.
Target shooting over, base ball, foot ball,
quoits, ten pins, &C., were in order until two
hands fell in, completely filling the large dining
room with its five tables Ample justice having
been done to one of Ponce's famous dinners,
Capt. Pencil called the company to order and
introduced Adjutant Chas. w. Roberts as tie
toast master. The following toasts were offer
ed and upon call of Capt. Pencil were re-
sponded to by the following gentlemen:
"Our Goth anniversary"-Col. 7. A. Roberts.
''The State of Maine POSTMASTER Gcd-
card.
"The City of Portland" President Small of
the Common Council.
''The Military Organizations of Portland
Capt Winslow of the Cadets, and Lieut.. Law
less of the Montgomery Guards.
'The Grand Army. o. Winship, Esq.
of Bosworth Post, and Vice-President Rice of
the P. A. and N. U.
"The Honorary Members"
''The Ladies' A. Winship
"The Dover Artillery Otis of Dover
Light Artillery.
sour past officers" Major Chas. Walker
portland Mechanic Blues an honored and
honorable association, whose own history is its
best eulogst''
This toast was offered in writing by Col Star
bird, unavoidahly absent.
Capt Pencil responded as follows:
We will court the when we speak of the Blues;
In the past they have a record fair.
They have gone to the larboard and then to the
"Starbird,'
And have always come out square.
'gThe Veteran Leader, Chandler Respond
ed to by Chandler.
The toasts were interspersed with music by
the band and Arion Club, and all were highly
entertained and pleased with the same.
The balance of the afternoon passed quickly
to the time for departure, previous to which the
prizes for shooting were awarded-which were
to honorary members, best shot, silver cake
basket; second, gold ring; poorest tin watch
and chain. Active members, best shot, silver
butter dish; second, gold ring; poorest, tin
watch and chain. In addition to these j. o.
Winship was presented with tin gun and
N. Barker with tin sword for their various
shots of which no trace has been found.
Embracing on board the Magnet the run was
quickly made to the city, and as the steamer
touched the wharf salute from the shore
greeted their return.
Prominent among the honorary members and
guests we noticed the veteran John Mussey, E.
Clement, Alderman Perry, L. Blake together
with the gentlemen mentioned above as we'll as
a delegation from the Dover Light Battery.
Thus passed one of the best of the many an
niversaries of this time-honcred organization,
and to its credit be it said that no intoxicating
liquo,s nor the effects of any ware seen upon
the ground, but the officers and privates each
wed with the other, and nothing but praise for
their orderly and gentlemanly bearing was
heard on all sides. Long live the Portland
Mechanic Blues.