Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-09-14
THE DELAWARE TROOPS
The Last Day of Their Visit
to Baltimore.
ENTEi ATTAINMENT OF THE STAFF.
Governor viges and stan Attend the
Post ONCE Dedication, Are Guests Of
The Maryland Club, visitors at che BAH
and spectators oythe Bombardmsnt.
Stan correspondence IfYENINo JoI'R

BALTIMORE, Sept u The National
Guard of Delaware has gone home. tirec
but happy. The men an5 officers ar pro
fuse in their expressions OF gratihea tioE
OF the grand entertainment provided by
their hosts
The men are tired since the sham bat
tie Thursday, but the many laurels they
won in the conflict make the tired feel
ing easy to bear
Ever since the battle they have been
receiving praise for their pTomptness OF
action and veteran like bearing Especi
ally in the retreat was this noticeable,
for the men turned and fired at their
enemy as they marched Major Carey Of
Colonel George NJ Marshal's staff was in
command Of the first advance The Major
had two years experience in real war
and consequently was acquainted with
the action Of the battle In the absence
of Surgeon William Marshall, Surgeon o.
d. Robinson was detailed ia charge of the
First Regiment during the battle
Thursday evening was the most enjoy
able yet experienced by Governor Biggs
staff. At 5 o'clock, In fall dress uniform,
the staff went to the dedication of the
Baltimore post office Seats on the plat
form had beea provided When the exer-
cises We're concluded, they went to the
Maryland Club, by special invitation
The naval officers from the government
vessels in the harbor We're present and a
pleasant hour was passed.
The Maryland Club is the most fashion
able and exclusive in the city of Bal
timore. The large parlors were crowded
with naval and army officials, in gorgeous
full dress. The dining rooms were de-
light TO epicurean tastes, and they sur
rendered completely on the attack
After this hospitable entertainment Gov
ernor Bggs and his staff left for the
Concordia Opera House. under the guild
ance Of Adjutant General Howard
The military ball was in progress, but
the arrival of the illustrious officers
caused lull in the gayety The officers
were given an impromptu reception, and
Governor Biggs was the centre of an ad
miring galaxy Of ladies'. He kept up his
reputation as q cavalier and caused great
merriment by his witty repartee. The
Concordia affair carried the party beyond
midnight, and soon all returned to the St.
James Hotel
Ex Governor Stockley of Delaware was
at the st. James Hotel for short time
yesterday morning He and Governor
Biggs and General Kenney had chat
together.
In the afternoon the governor and
staff went to Mt. Vernon Hotel on Mt
Vernon Place near the Washington Monu-
ment, and with the Maryland staff re.
ceived the Eighth Regiment, National
Guard OF Pennsylvania. The troops
drilled almost perfectly winning applause
from the ladies and military at the hotel.
| General Payne presented a medal, com.
memorating the occasion to each of the
officers. The regimental band played
several airs in front Of the hotel. light
dinner was served TO the officers and
band with true Maryland hospitality.
When Governor Biggs and staf re-
| turned to the st. James a council was
held to decide on future action. The staff
decided to return home Immediately after
the bonn bardment Tickets on the steam.
er Emma A. Ford were received from the
entertainment committee and at g. 80
| o'clock the party boarded street car and
rode to Pier |, Light street wharf. Gen
eral kenney dispatched a messenger to
Colonel George NJ Marshall, who was
with the infantry at Clinton street
wharf, ordering him to no Id the special
train after the bombardment until the
staff arrived
The E. A. Ford left her mornings at
7 80 o'clock, and moved down the river
slowly because OF the numerous craft
When opposite Fort McHenry the
steamer made fast to the B. s. Ford.
already anchored. The exercises opened
with procession of tug boats, which
steamed down the river in pairs.
Each tug was loaded with passengers
and had good supply Of fireworks.
For half an hour the tugs set off FIRE
works, footed whistles and paraded. The
large steamers rode at anchor and were
crowded to the water edge. Patriotic
songs floated across the water and the
refrains were taken up by other boat
parties and bands. A tug with a calliope
whistle was present and played tune in
its weird shrieking way. 1t sounded like
the Hercules Of Philadelphia which
startled the people Of Wilmington last
spring.
The bombardment Of Fort McHenry
began at $50 o'clock. The tugs and
steamers formed semi circle adjacent t.
the fort, and the thousands of spectators
listened to the roaring Of cannon and
watched the explosion Of fire works
The war vessels were two miles below
the fort and they opened the attack
The night was favorable to a good dis
play. The sky was cloudy and the atmos-
phere was clear and the fireworks were
clearly defined against the dark back
ground Rain fell at the conclusion Of
the attack The booming Of the cannon
was athorough exposition OF the fact that
light travels faster than sound. II was
tve seconds between the flash and the
report, making the fort about one
mile away.
The combat became hotter after the
combatants had warmed up to the work
and the constant booming and the bril-
liant flashes made realistic scene worth
seeing.
The bombardment continued for an
hour and half. The scene was height
ened by the fireworks, bombs and NOR
tars being set off from wharf near the
fort The brave Americans kept up the
battle to the discontinue of the enemy
who fingered, however, until the dawn
AS the sun began to peep from his east
ern coverlet his bright rays shown across
the battlement and from the darkness OF
the night the Star Spangled Banner was
revealed, hutterirg in the breeze anC
waving in triumph.
This was an exact counterpart of the
scene in 1914, when Francis s Key wrot,
his never o-be-forgotten poem, "ThC
Star Spangled Banner" and the lines
Oh, say, does the star sBangled banner ye
wave
Ger the land Of the free, and the home o
the braveY
/ were ansvvered nv the annaaranca ~ IN