Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-02
SAILOR BOYS LEAD.
Navy Veterans Begin the Fun
at indianapolis.
THE "KEARsARGEp IN COMMISSION

Osborn Take Possession of the warship
and Later Join in the First Parade of
Encampment Week-Indiana's Capital
City Puts on Red, White and Blue
Dress-GeneraI Harrison Arrives
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 2.-The encamp-
ment is upon us and the capacity of Indi-
annapolis to take care of people is begin
ming to be tested. From all points of the
compass the railways are bringing the
veterans and the dominating color on all
the streets is blue already This is at the
level of the ground. Aloft the city is a
rainbow. The red, white and blue hangs
in festoons along the house fronts, pre-
s'nts itself massed in stands of "Old
Glory" and in patriotic designs, and flut-
ters from every staff in the city; windows
a"e draped with it, porticoes wreathed in
and in fact it is everywhere Especial
ly are the national colors abundant on the
business streets and along the lines of the
parades today and next week
Kearsarge Alloy! There, Ahoyl
Jack was the man who opened the en-
tertainment. A model of the Kearsarge
had been built for the ''jolly tar" to take
charge Of and it was launched" at Wash
ington and Tennessee streets Thursday
night, where a large crowd assembled to
see the ceremony. The model is $50 feet
long and fitted up inside and rugged out
side all shipshape. She has quarters for
the crew and officers and good share of
Provisions on board and this morning her
crew took possession of her early-that is
eight bells, or s o'clock. Admiral Osborn
had arrived, and with due nautical cere-
mony, which is not long-winded, she was
put in commission.
Jack Wants Everything Shipshape.
One of the difficulties this far from the
sea coast was to construct this model as it
should be; but that was overcome. An
other was the desire of landsmen in
authority to do something in the way of
decoration not permitted by navy regula-
tions. There are few old salts living here
md the freaks of these landsmen came in
for good deal of chatting from the said
Salts" For instance, as soon as there
was place to hang it burgee was fioated
on the ship bearing the name * earsarge"
Now, what landlubber did that?" said
the salts. For ship never flies her name.
She signals it. Then an admiral's flag was
put up. But this was worse. For the ad-
mtfals flag is never floated except when
thesadmral is aboard.
Naval Veterans Parade.
This morning, however, the flag was run
up on the mainmast and the battle flag
on the fore. Admiral Osborn W rs on hand
tosfsee it done. When the ship had been
put in commission the veterans of the
navy assembled for the initial parade of
the encampment. At 9:3G a. m the men
were all in position, and at the gun fire the
parade begun. The column formed on
North Meridian street, beyond St. Clair.
The route of the procession was nearly two
miles in length. 1t extended south on
Meridian street to East New York street,
east to New Jersey, south to East Wash
lngton street, west to the reviewing stand
beside the court house and the flagship
Kearsage. Here stood the admiral and
the national officers; he and his staff re-
viewed the battalions as they passed the
ship. The associations disbanded after
they had passed the admiral's station 1t
was an inspiring scene. The streets were
lined with people and the veterans were
cheered heartily as with measured step to
the music Of the Union they marched
along.
Proceedings This Afternoon and Tomorrow
This afternoon the annual reception
takes place on board the kearsarge. Among
the famous veterans no will attend is
Commander William Simmons, of the
Farragut association of Philadelphia.
He made name and fame for himself in
the warship Brooklyn, in the defense of
Fort Pickens, the blockade of Mobile, at
Forts jackson and ST. Philip, and at New
Orleans. The regular watches" aboard
| ship began this morning and will con-
tinue at the rate of five day throughout
the entire encampment week. Tomorrow
the Naval association will attend church
in body.
Gen. Harrison Arrives
EX-President Harrison and his private
secretary Mr.. Tibbetts, have arrived home
from the east. The trip was a very pleas
ant, and when the ex-president stepped off
the sleeper he was looking in the best of
health. There was large crowd of naval
veterans at the station when he arrived
and he shook good many hands before
he reached his family carriage which was
waiting for him. General Harrison will
deliver the welcoming addIess to the vet
Grams at Tomlinson hall Monday. evening,
and will preside at the reunion of his old
regiment.