The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-08-26
SALUTING TIE FLAG
U. S. S. Portsmouth Taken
Into New Jerseys Navy
With Elaborate
Ceremonies.
PROUD OF HER GALLANT CREW
officers and Visitors Praise the
appearance and Work Of the
Naval Reserves.
PROUD OF HER GALLANT CREW

stripes We're run up on the U. S. 5.
: Portsmouth Saturday afternoon and the
good ship, which has carried the Ameri-
can ensign into every water on the
globe. was duly commissioned as ves-
sci in the navy of New Jersey. The
amateur tars were early on board, and
were soon followed by the officers and
invited guests. Among these were a
number of ladies who were provided with
chairs on that portion of the deck re-
served for the officers Each of the
military and naval officers were piped
over the side on arriving and leaving
with the honors appropriate to their
ranks. Among the guests were:-
Quarter-M -Master-Gen. Richard A. Don
nelly Horace See, naval engineer and ar
chitect, of New York; Lfeut.-Co Thomas
S. Chambers. representing Gen. Sewell;
Col. Oliphant. representing Major-Gen.
Plume; Rev. DIR, Butler, of Chicago. the
fighting chaplain of the famous Irish
brigade; R. c. Kerens, of Missouri;
Joshua G. johnson. shipkeeper of the
Battalion of the West: Philip A. Griffin,
of Newark; Mrs. Washington Irving,
Mrs. Gardner H. Colby, Mrs. Oliphant
and Mrs. Peters.
THE SCENE ON DECK.
The scene on the deck of the old ship
was an interesting one during the after
noon. Captain. Jaquez, the commandant
OF the States naval forces. was there,
accompanied by Surgeon NJ. B. Oliphant
and Paynaster John Guild Muirhead, of
his staff. The Battalion of the West
was represented by Paymaster Davis and
Adjt Turner Lieutenant Washington
irving, commander of the Battalion of
the East, was also there, with Naviga-
CoIt
and A;35t Farnaaln Yardley. the men,
e,s cf his staff. Lieut.. Craven. assisted
by Ensiga Long. was in charge of the
FIRST DIVISION. while in the absence of
Lieutenant Conway and Ensign Prieth,
zsos.ts1ai1 Tansey creditably commanded
The Eecond Division.
Tie c.iscors were in service uniform,
which consisted Of a gold bedecked cap
on the front CT which was the American
eassle. q dark blue, tigflt-fitting blouse,
on the collar OF which was the shield
OF New Jersey, supported by foul
ancao- and tie emblem of the wear
er's rank, ard dark blue trousers with a
wide st-ioe CT black braid. The officers
wore wl.ite gloves ana slittering side
arms. Captain Jaques had on his breast
the inSienia of the Order of the Rising
SCn, recently conferred upon him by the
Mikado of Japan for services in connec-
ton with the Naval Department Of that
Empire The men were logged out in
their white canvas working suits. which
occasion, and evetv speck of rust and
TAR, which soap and water would not
obiiterate,, was, carefully chalked untll
the suits looked immaculate. With their
loose blouses open at the throat re
Ieved by their black neck .choths, Sc
cured by the white lanyard. the men pre-
scented a picturesque appearance.
THE CEREMONIES BEGIN.
At S:30 O'Clock Seaman Dolan blew the
gDoG4e4
that all hands should assemble at their
stations at the guns on the deck below.
IN a trice every man was at his place.
Then Lieutenant Craven gave the. order
to cast loose, and in a minute the big
portholes of the Portsmouth were open
and through each protruded huge gun,
giving the ship what old sailors used
to describe as "briStling appearance.
The men were then dismissed tempo
rarily and they loled about the forward
part of the upper. or spar deck, while
the officers occupied the quarter deck
and entertained the guests with stories
Of the Portsmouth's engagements in we
olden time and awaited the arrival OF the
Governor.
When it became certain that the Gov
erilor would not appear Captain Jaques
decided to go ahead with the ceremonies;
a shrill cali on his whistle for the as
sembling of all the men on deck. The
First Division formed in two lines on
vision was massed on the port side,
while the guard lined up on the port
side Of the quarter. DECK Then Fl Lieu u
reading the law under which the Re.
serves were organized andNthe principal
gave a practical history Of the Reserves.
This done, the signal was given for the
unfurling of the flag.
THE Flag UNFURLED.
The quartermasters sprang to their
stations one at the bow, one at the
main mast and two & at the stern tern ..o.an
Spangled Banner the officers and crew
as one. man faced toward the flag and
sent arms, while the howitzer at the bow
began a national salute of twenty-one
guns Slowly and majestically the Star:
stern the Union Jack broke to the
breezes from the bow and the State
nag of New Jersey proudly unfolded
aigi =. se vas an inspiring scene. and the
crowds which thronged the Fifteenth
street pier intuitively uncovered ano
THE MEN INSPECTED.
AS soon as the flag had been secured
the drum beat to quarters sounded Of
board a naval vessel. this order. is the
most important of all orders. II means means
that the men must man the guns. Or
dinarily seamen have to be very carefu
their own. gangways, and it is almost
capital crime for them to use the @ Off.
suspends such rules. A man must g ge1
10 his position at the guns even If he ha
to Jump through SKyllgnL OF reap oNSi
an officer. Therefore. when that drum
beat sounded the visitors saw something
that was really interesting
The amateur tars broke ranks ane
made for the gangways with as mucl
,eent Susiasm as if their. lives depended
4 nupen their pace. Within a. minute the
on confusion was all over and every mar
s-nwas at his place. Then Captain JaQuef
and his staff. with all the officers, wen'
below and the ceremony of inspection
# was performed after which the guns
~. were again hauled in and everything
1swas made spick and span.
lii PROUD OF HIS CREW.
~ lust before the men were piped down
which is the naval equivalent to breal
ranks. Lieutenant Irving came forwar'
and addressed the men, He told then
that he was proud of his command, tha
i thew bad conducted themselves in a. mos
4 credjtable manner and were pride t
4 New Jersey He predicted good thing
4 for the Reserve II the men continued a
IL we'll as they had begun
IL The men saluted then and Went for
II ward where they were regaled with sal
ads. sandwiches and punch.
II Capt. Jaques was highly pleased wit
1 fthe appearance and work of the battal
lion and Quartefma General Donnel
Nv took occasionl TO compliment him OF
\ 1.-The excellent appearance of his command
It is probable that during this weel
Governor Werts will order the battalion