Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-04

Pres entatisn of Swords to Capt. Nesbit and
LIauts. While and Wallace.

HTeS entAI8A VI b00Eab ~ Odpt. NGHAEt anu
Lieuts While and Wallace.
In accordance with the order from
Brigadier-General John A. Wiley, re-
lieving Capt. j. w. Nesbit and his men
from duty at Johnstown, and ordering
them home, the soldier boys began pack
ing their knapsacks for their departure,
and as hitting finale to their long soiourn
here, they assembled on Tuesday evening,
and to the well-known music of their
drums, marched upon the fortress of
Capt. George c. Hamilton, which they
took by storm, and after penetrating to
its innermost recesses, they captured the
gallant Captain himself, whom they took
prisoner and escorted to the main hall,
where he was given his parole upon con-
dition that he make speech, and he be-
gan.
Captain NesbH, 0Ncers ana Men.
Your long and arduous duties here are
about to close, and during your stay you
have made many friends among people
who lost their all in the disastrous flood
of May 81, 1889, which date will pass
down to posterity as marking the time
upon which the darkest calamity of mod
ern ages befell this beautiful valley of
the Conemaugh, and | can truly say they
are sorroy to have you go, but realizing
that you must, as good soldiers, obey the
commands of your superiorl officers they
bid you Godspeed and Farewell. Capt.
| Nesbit, Lieuts. While and Wallace turn
ing from the ever sad farewell to the pleas
ant and joyous one of doing good, take
great pleasure as the representative of the
friends whom you have made while in
| the performance of your duties here, and
the members of your command who are
now gathered around you as a slight tes
timonial of their love, esteem, and good
will, present you with these beautiful
swords, and may you ever wear them as
an honor conferred by those who know
you well, and may they never be un-
sheathed save in the defense of your
country and her glorious institutions.
Capt. Nesbit was so completely taken
by surprise that for moment or two he
was unable to make reply, and then
stated he thought he had been called upon
to participate in the presentation of
swords to the Lieutenants, never dream
ing that he was 10 be recipient himself,
and all he could say for this beautiful
sword was to tendershis heartfelt thanks
for an appreciation Of the gift, and the
sight of it would always recall the many
pleasant hours spent with the donors.
Lieutenants While and Wallace, said
they could but echo the sentiments ex-
pressed by their Captain, and again say
thank you.S
This as all supposed concluded the sur
prises, but another was in store for them,
when Capt. Nesbit, addressing Capt
Hamilton, said
| CAPT. Hamilton.
have been delegated by the members
of Company and others attached
| to and connected with us in a military
capacity, to perform what to me is very
| pleasant duty. During our service here
| your relations with tie BOYS Of Company
G have been uniformly courteous. Your
kind attention to their wants and comfort
has been marked, and, they have appre
ciated and attempted to return your kind
ness by disposition to assist you by any
and every means in their power in your
work and labor here. In a service and
work such as we have been attempting to
| perform and carry out in this Valley, fol-
| loving such q terrible loss of life and
destruction Of property, in our intercourse
with the remaining citizens of the flooded
districts. Your course and advice has
done much to smooth the line that exists
| between civil and military life. Your
council and example has always been
such as to discourage acts of feeling and
violence between the two classes,
and to you we feel that we owe
much in the prevention of such scenes
as often occur, where a military force is
stationed. In addition to this your course
and example rs military man, an officer
in the staff of our Brigade Commander,
has been of service to us as members of
the National Guard. Your presence with
US, your kind advice and suggestions on
military matters, and the interest you
have taken in the individual welfare
and military proficiency of each and every
member of the Company has been felt and
noticed.
Then as q further mark 70 oui apprecia-
tion Of your interests in us, | have been
! requested as the representative OF the
| Company, knowing you to be an ac-
complished horseman, and believing that
so long as you are living and able to
mount a horse, you will continue to in
dulge in that accomplishment, to present
to you this "pair of spurs, beliving
further, that when you have occasion to
use this testimonial, their use will recall
to your memory the pleasant days we
have spent together at Camp Hamilton"
At the conclusion of the ceremonies all
adjourned to the Headquarters Mess
where a banquet had been spread by the
members of the Company, and the usual
banquet exercises took place.
DO You Ever Miss the Buttons Off Your Pants
should you wish to avoid this or the ripping