The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-25
NAVAL VETERANS REUNION
TWELFTH ANNUAL REUNION OF
GIDEON WELLS ASSOCIATION.

Shore Dinner at acknowledgements by
General Hawley, w. 5. Wells, Colonel
William b. Wooster, William simmons
of Philadeiphia-Slnging by Mrs. Nora
Russell -Haesche, r. ID. Nelson and II.
McCollum.
The twelfth annual reunion of the
Gideon Welles Naval Veteran associa-
ton, No. 3, of Connecticut, was held at
Merwin's Grove. Woodmont. yesterday
morning and afternoon. A party of
between 15O and 200 people went down
to Woodmont on the electric cars, leav-
ing the green at IL o'clock in the morn
ing. 1t was a jolly party on the cars
and the ride down was very much en-
joyed.
After the arrival at the shore the bus
iness meeting of the association was
held. The delegates to the national
convention of Naval Veterans to be
held Louisville. KY, on September 10
were elected as follows: Joseph Skid
more. John Hogan, George w. Beane,
Charles H. Thompson. Alternates, Ed
win Shelley, Theodore HI. Benton. Henry
Jacquet, Alexander Henderson.
The meeting voted to recommend to
the national convention that the navy
titles of rear admiral and commodore
be abolished. as not being suitable for
use in naval veteran organizations. 1t
was also voted to substitute the titles
national commander and Junior ma
tional commander in place of the pres
ent titles. Past Commander w. S.
Wells Of the National Association of
Naval Veterans, and who is a ship
mate of the Gideon Wells Naval Veter-
ans association, was very strenuous in
urging this recommendation, as he
did not think the highest titles used by
the United States navy were suitable
for veteran organizations and ought to
belong only to those who had earned
them in actual service.
After the business meeting a fine
shore dinner was served in the pavilion
near the grove, to the whole company
of guests. Everything was Of the best
quality, and the dinner was much en-
joyed by all who partook of it.
After the dinner the company repaired
to the piazza of the pavilion and speech
making was in order.
Captain w. e. Jacobs of the Gideon
wells association acted as the presid-
ing officer. He first called upon United
States Senator Joseph R. Hawley Of
Hartford for few remarks General
Hawley responded with few brief but
interesting words. He thanked the
naval veterans for the pleasant and
agreeable entertainment he had enioy
ed. He said that he had always felt
very near to naval veterans as he had
had good deal to do with them when
ne was with Buffers expedition, and
they were near the coast.
Mrs. Nora Russell -Haesche. soprano
singer at st. Pauls church. then sang
a solo In most pleasing manner.
Colonel William B. Wooster Of An
sonia then made a few remarks. He
was followed by Rear Admiral Allen
of Hartford, who made an excellent
address. Past Commander W. S. Wells
came next with a few most interesting
and appropriate remarks. William
Simmons of Philadelphia, chief of staff
then made most enthusiastic speech
in praise of the Naval Veterans of the
United States. He said that there was
enough prize money turned into the
United States treasury to pay the pen
sions which are drawn by veterans OF
the navy. He was also confident that
no sensible person would deny that
had 1t not been for the navy the union
would have perished. Every part OF
the sea and gulf coast was protected
with ships and there was not a naviga-
BILE river in the whole state that did moi
bear iron clads against the enemy
National Chaplain Edwards made the
| last speech of the afternoon.
H. f. McCollum, secretary of the
Gideon Wells association, and Mr.
Frank d. Nelson, who was connected
with the Robinson Opera company play.
ing through the south last season, sang
a duet entitled THE Pilot Brave" Mr.
Nelson also sang several other selec-
tions, one of which was "Out on the
Deep" Mrs. Russell Haesche also sang
other selections, all of which were much
enjoyed.
| After very pleasant afternoon the
party left about o'clock for New Ha.
ven, all present agreeing that the re.
union had been most enjoyable one.
Among those present We're: JOSEPH
! Skidnore of Fairfield, James Malloy Of
! Bridgeport, Alexander Henderson Of
Fredricksted, Santa Cruz, one of the
Danish West Indies islands. Mr.. Hen.
derson has been clerk of the police
court at Fredricksted for many years
He Is a. member of Gideon Wells associ
alton of Connecticut and came to at
tend the reunion. He Is accompanied
| by his daughter, Miss Henderson.
Among others who were present were
John Hogan, Peter Sharmhorst, James
| Ruickholt, Giles B. B. Smith, Major
Benjamin E. Brown, William Jones
National Aide Henry Jacquet, Johr
Norris, E. w. Burleigh, Charles H
| Thompson, Charles Thomas, Solomon
Hazleton, Clinton D. Rood. chaplain
| of the Gideon Wells association, Ed
| win Shelley, boatswain, George Corbett
and Edward Hubbell.