The morning call., 1891-04-17
TN HONOR OF GIBBUN.
A Farewell Banquet to the Re-
firing General.
The California Commandery Of the Loyal
Legion Pay Their Respects-A Brill.
liant Gathering.

The California Commandery of the Loyal
Legion gave a farewell banquet last night
at the Occidental Hotel to Brigadier-General
John Gibbon, the retiring Com mander OF
the Department of the Pacific, u. s. A., who
is to be relieved in few days by General
Ruger.
The large dining-room of the hotel had
been handsomely decorated for the occasion
and presented a most beautiful and attrac-
tive appearance. Flags and shields bearing
the national colors covered the walls, while
crossed swords and helm cts were placed at
infer walls between. The table of honor was
placed along the east side of the room, and
in the middle was placed huge chair of pc
culiar design for the guest of honor. In the
rear of it was arranged a stand of arms
while above the head Of General Gibbon was
suspended a canopy of American flags.
The guests, many of whom were in uni
form, gathered before 8 o'clock in the
spacious parlors, while the Fifth Artillery
Band, which was stationed in the hallway,
discoursed music at frequent intervals.
THE GUESTS.
Among those present were James A.
Waymire, Charles NaymIe, James ID.
Rugales, Colonel j. Stewart, Mr.. and Mrs.
NJ. ii. Weed Captain and Mrs. Nathaniel
Messer, Mr.. and Mrs. f. }. Warren, J. G.
p. de Craft, Captain and Mrs. w. L. Z.
Schenck, Captain c. a. Woodruff, Hon. T.
G. Phelps. Mrs. c. A. Woodruff, Mrs.
William o. Gould, Colonel and Mrs. Arson
Mills, Miss Duff. Captain II. NJ. Won Arnem,
Mis-. W. l. Reed. Colonel c. NJ. Kline, Gen
eral John T. Cutting, Hon. d, j. Staples,
Mr.. and Mrs. n. W. Griswold, DR.. and Mrs.
II. w. Yeamans, Colonel NJ. Murphy, Mr..
and Mrs. James C. Murphy, Mr. William
E. Murphy, General and Mys. 5. w. Backus,
Mr.. and Mrs. a. j. Buckets, General L. 5.
Bragg and Miss Bragg, Miss Grace Lafferty,
tain and Mrs. G. H. A. Dimpfel, Master
G. Dimpfel, Captain Il. J. COehrAne, Captain
c. Patten, Lieutenant Colonel w. r. Parnell.
CAPTAIN n. d'0yly, Mrs. DR.. Sternberg, Miss
Kline, Colonel Smedberg, Dr.. c. FL. Pouns,
Colonel C. E. Royce, Colonel Il. II. WaTfeld,
Sprague, Captain John Laiftrty, Miss
Lafferty, Lieutenant and Mrs. Il, B.
Whittemore, Captain and Mrs. T. D. Judd,
Mr.. and Mrs. J. II. Judd, Mr. and Mrs.
II. NJ. Benson, Colonel Lyman Bridges,
Miss Edith Bridges. Captain j: II. Mead.
son. {. II. Miles, Captain and Mrs. George
II. Stevens, Captain and Mrs. +. 5. Bow
ley. Colonel aud Mrs w. b. Beck, Miss
Ryan, Miss Neide, Mrs. Eggleston, Major
Nede, Lieutenant Mcclellan, Lieutenant
John Finley, Captain G. A. Booth, Captain
anu MIS-. u. y. tult4Cis hl ilItotCi anu
Mrs. II. G. Colby, Captain and Mrs Il. I.
Alien, William Norris, Mr. and Mrs. J. w.
Miller, General John GibboD, Admiral Ben
ham, Dr. G. II. Powers, Mrs. Sternberg,
Major and Mrs George NJ. Whipple. the
Misses Isabella and Alice Whipple, Major
and Mrs. George A. Fisher and Miss Clara
Fisher.
AT TABLE.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock the guests passed
into the bauquet-hall, where an elaborate re-
past was served. More than half an hour
was consumed in dispesng of this, and when
this had been done Chief Engineer Moore,
the Commander of the California Command
cry, who occupied a seat to the right If Cen
era Gibbon, arose and invited the attention
of those present. In few words he referred
to the distinguished serYi es of General
Gbbon, fOrty-seYen years Of whose life had
been spent in the army, and spoke feeiingly
of his retirement from active service.
with his splendid physique" he con-
cluded. "he gives promise Of many years TO
come. and We trust that ne may long enjoy
his well-earned repose from the arduous
duties of military life"
at the conclusion of Commanded Moore's
remarks three cheers were given for Cen
eral Gibbon, who arose 70 respond to the
compliment. He said:
RETIRING, NOT RETREATING.
it is not every man who can deliver his
own obituary. Ii it were common it is
likely that the old adage, Speak nothing
but good OF the dead would go out Of
fashion. We used to have to do ir pretty
often during the Civil War, when the bull
lets of the enemy were not uear so deadly as
the bulletins of the newspaper c0rreSpnn-
dents. l used to warn them at home now
and then not TO believe | was dead till l
notified them of the fact myself. | say the
same to you now, for although l have only
a few more days to iveAotticially-yOu nerd
have no fear, much as this may resemble
a wake, that l am going to preach my own
funeral sermon. l purpose now 10 begin to
live, untrammeled by official cares, and |
think somewhat of hiring one of the city
bands, if l can raiSe the money, TO come
every morning at daylight and play the
reveiIle under my window that l may have
the satisfaction of muttering 'D-the
reveille,' and, turning over, take another
nap.
Southern country was filled with freedmen
wandering about from place to place with
out any very well-defined idea as to what
they wanted, but the fact was they were
trying to find out whether or not they were
free SUI huff. For nearly fifty years have
been travelling around under the orders of
somebody, not always very politely wOrded
either Now propose to wander about un-
der my own orders till | find out whether |
am really free. When l satisfy myself fully
on that point l will settle with-with my
creditors, III L can. IL CANNOT we VIII 10
into camp somewhere.
4" In the meantime allow me to return my
most sincere thanks for this very cordial
demonstration OF the Loyal Legion. Ii has
been so cordial that uuder different circum-
stances it might be inferred that you were
glad to get rid of me. But in this case L
want to distinctly state that l am changing
my base, retiring, anything you please, but
not retreating."
ToASTS AND RESPONSES.
Following General Gibbon Hon. 7. G.
Phelps spoke to the toast, THE Comrades
of the Third Glass;" referring to those men
who during the strife remained at home,
and with money and in the halls of legisa-
ton seconded the efforts of those who went
TO the front to battle for the Union.
Following him Captain Charles A. Wood
ruff delighted the guests for nearly half
hour with spicy "reminiscences of General
Gibbons career as q soldier. Every point
was heartily appiauded.
General L. S. Bragg of Wisconsin, who
was Minister to Mexico under the Cleve-
land Administration, closed the speech
making with glowing tribute to the ser
vices of the old soldier who was about to
pass to the retirement OF private life.
with record of nearly fifty years of
honorable service behind him" he said, ''he
can seek in civil life that rest which he has
so CALAMITY earned"
The health of General Gibbon was then
drunk, standing, and the guests dispersed.
Governor Markham was expected to be
the committee he sent word that in compli-
ance with the commands of his physician
he could not venture out.