The Portland daily press., 1889-05-24
THE MONTGOMERYS AT PROVIDENCE.
Danced Last Night and will Eat
CLAIMS Today.
Speeches by Mayor MeIcher and
Others at the Banquet.
PortIanders Treated Like Kings by
Little Rhody.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial to the Press.l
PROVIDENCE, r. l., May 23.-The steamer
fremont was gay with uniforms when she
sailed down Portland harbor last night and
turned her PROV in the direction of Boston.
On board were the Montgomery Guards
starting on the long talked-of visit to their
friends, the Meaghers of Providence. Ming
ling with the handsome uniforms of the
Maine troops and their military guests were
the plain blue suits of the detachment of
Uncle Sans veterans from Fort Preble
bound to the South and new scenes of duty.
One of the big guns ION the fort doomed a
parting salute as the steamer passed, and
the bugler of the regulars sounded a call in
response. At the same time the First Regi-
ment band were giving a concert on the hur-
ricane deck, which they continued in the
saloon.
The Montgomerys spent a pleasant eve
ming on the handsome steamer. A gathering
of the members with musical proclivities
enlivened the scene on deck, and there was
merry party talking in the saloon. By 10
o'clock. however. the majority of the party
had retired and although the fremont rolled
considerably in the long swell, the trip was
as pleasant as could be desired, the night be-
ing clear and not too cold.
The above comment on tho pleasant pas
sage does not take into consideration those
of the crowd who retired early, not to save
strength for the fatigues of the morrow, but
to escape the horrors of sea-sickness.
With the blast of the whistle which an
nounced the steamers arrival in Bosson har-
hnr Of h0nQr4rlae
turned out to await the arrival Of the Mont
gomery Veteran Association, who received
the party and did the honors of the Hub.
The association is composed OF fine set OF
fellows. who did their part of making the
expedition a success in excellent shape.
They arrived at the wharf under command
of Col. Thos +. Dougherty, and escorted
the Montgomerys to the United States Hotel,
where breakfast was served.
The. Montgomery. Light Guard Veteran
Association is one of the crack military Or
ganizations of Boston, and its members are
old friends of the Portland Montgomery
Guards, having been their companions on
many pleasant trip. The Veteran Asso-
citation is composed principally OF former
members of the old Montgomery Light
Guards, all its members being veterans of
some military company. The membership
is not confined to Boston alone, but includes
the surrounding towns and cities, Lowell
and Fall River, together with places nearer
After breakfast at the United States the
commands and the members of the party
marched to the Providence depot, where a
train was in waiting to take them over the
last stage of the trip. The train rolled out
of the station amidst the cheering of the
Montgomery Veterans and the presence of
large crowd of spectators. Col. Dougherty
and staff accompanied the MOntgomerys to
Providence. The run to this city was
pleasant one.
providence but large crowd stood around
the station, where the Meaghers were drawn
up awaiting the arrival of the guests. A
salute was fired as the train drew into the
depot. Notwithstanding the weather the
commands made short street parade, end
ing at the palatial Narragansett Hotel, where
the company is quartered. This afternoon
the banquet occurred at the Emmett Guards
armory and was one of the pleasantest
features of the day. Capt Hackett or
German, ex-Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, was toastmaster. The speech
making was animated, the speakers alludlng
particularly to the patriotism Of our Irish
American citizens and the cordial relations
between the Portland and Providence COM
panies. The t0asts were as follows:
our Gatrsts-Dennis f. Mccarthy.
The State of Mdine-Gen. Harris NJ Plaisted
The State. of Rhode Island-His Excellency
Royal G. Taft.
The Montgomery light Yeteran association of
Boston, Mass-Col. T. +. Doherty, Commanding.
The United States Hon. II. j. Spooner.
The City OF PToUtdence-Alderman Fergus j.
The Cityof Portland-Mayor H. S. Melcher.
The Rhode Island Mitttid-Brig. Gen. K. ii.
.Medgher Guards Honorary corps-Hon. John
M. Brennan.
The United States-Col. Frank Wheaton, U. s.
The Press Mr.. Martin C. Day of the Provi-
dence Journal.
In addition to the above short speeches
were made by Senator Aldrich, Hon. ID. j..
McGillicuddy and Col. Lynch.
Mayor Melcher's remarks is response to
the toast "The City of Portland were as
follows
Portland and the Montgomery Guards /;
the fair and the brave. 1t is a pleasure to
respond to this sentiment. The beautiful
town that is seated by the sea!
can seem to see the shadowy lines OF its
trees and catch in sudden CLEANS the sheen
Of its far surrounding seas, and when you
visit the dear old town you will find her ma
tive air is pure and sweet, and the trees that
overshadow each well known street-as they
balance up and down are singing beautiful
song of welcome to you all.
She sits like queen by the sea, unequaled
in beauty, unsurpassed in advantages, and
let her sons wander where they will, the
wide land through, their hearts still turn
fondly to her as the place they would choose
"But her beauty is not all her boast. Fa-
vorable in situation for business, the enter
prise of her people has extended her inter
ests, far reaching and profitable by land and
by sea. She is rich also in the names and
memories OF those she classes as her own.
For business enterprise she points to John b.
Brown for statesmen she honors the MEM
ory of William Pitt Fessenden; she sends
Tom Reed to Congress and Thomas to for
eign court; for jurists she points to Clifford
D-cl g. 60 foil fNx
journalist to Richardson; for the navy to
Commodore Preble; for the army to Gen.
Shepley many Of them names that stand
out clear and famous in history.
You remember the sea fight far away as
it thundered on the tide, and the dead cap
tains as they lie in their graves DER looking
the tranquil bay, where they, in battle died.
Such martial spirit as that has fal len as an
inheritance upon her sons. In time Of war
they were first to respond to the call of the
country and of the 5000 she sent as her part
of the States quota, over 500 sealed their de
voti0n to the honor of the flag In the sacrifice
| of their lives. In times Of peace she fur.
| nishes the champion company of the militia
of the State and pledge you here the Mont
gomery Guards of Portland, the crack CON-
pany Of the first regiment Of Maine."
Governor Plaisted. in his response, re-
| ferred to the promptitude of Rhode Island in
| responding to the call for volunteers in '6l,
and told some interesting "reminiscences of
UD6 war.
Mr.. McGillcuddy's witty speech was well
| received.
Colonel Lynch appropriately referred to
| the debt of gratitude the militia of today
| should feel for the soldiers of the rebellion
Before the banquet was over the rain had
| ceased and the sun occasionally showed
| through the clouds.
The parade was one of the great events OF
| the day, and was witnessed by thousands OF
| people, who thronged the sidewalks and
streets and filled every available window.
| The following were in line:
American Band.
| First Light Infantry Regiment-two companies
Co. G, 1st Regiment r. /. M.
| Co. III, 1st Regiment X. l. M.
| Co. +, I'd Regiment.
Co. G, I'd Regiment.
Co. ii, I'd Regiment.
| 1st Separate Company X. /. M.
| I'd Separate Company r.. l.. M.
Co. b. Battalion Cavalry.
Meagher Guards.
| First Regiment Band of Portland-F. L. Collins
leader
Montgomery Guards.
| Meagher JuardS Honorary Corps.
Montgomery Guards Honorary Corps
Col. Moran and staff Of the I'd Regiment.
Field and staff officers of the Montgomery Vet
| eran Association of Boston.
The parade elected much favorable com
ment and the Montgomery Guards came il
| for the most liberal applause. After goinI
over long line of march the companies
were dismissed, and the Portland men re