The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22
SAN IA CRUz'S
GAY MARINES,
New Armory of the Naval
Reserve is Fittingly
Dedicated.
DRILLS AND A DANCE.
Lieutenant Commander Turner
Compliments the Local
Battalion.
ONE THOUSAND GUESTS ATTEND.
Grand March Participated in by Five
Hundred Couples-An Evening
of Pleasure.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Feb. 21.-Nearly
1000 ladies and gentlemen attended the
dedication of the Naval Reserves new
armory tonight. The feature of the even
ing was series of drills by the battalion,
reviewed by Lieutenant Commander Turn
er OF San Francisco. He pronounced the
maneuvers as being admirable and indi-
eating close attention and hard practice.
Lieutenant Turner and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Jeter addressed the members of the
battalion and tneir thousand friends The
latter reviewed the history of the organi-
zation IN this city, and complimented its
officers and men upon their successful
work. saying that their reputation would
do much toward attracting the National
Guard eneampments to Santa Cruz, and
directing the attention of the United
States Government to the need of perma-
nent Notifications at this point.
After the speeches the grand march was
formed, with 500 couples in line and the
balance of the evening was devoted to
dancing.
The hall was beautifully and artistically
decorated in designs appropriate to the
occasion. Evergreens, flowers and flags
port throughout the spacious room. In
the rear OF the stand occupied by Professor
Hastings band was built an immense
wheel of evergreens, bearing the motto of
the battalion, STEADY" Down the hall
from the entrance two strings of flags of
many colors and designs stretched dag
onally across the hall, and crossing at the
center attracted the eye. They were the
regulation signal flags in use by the ships
of all nations. Overhead were suspended
two grand old American fags-that en-
blem that is stretched to the gaze ON all
occasions when patriotism forms feature
of entertainment. The windows were
draped in American flags, while the space
between the windows on the north side
was decorated with crossed oars and signal
flags, while those on the south were filled
with gigantic brakes, over which crossed
cutlasses were hung. Over and all around
these were fcstoons of evergreens.
AT the east end of the hall lighthouse
tower lamps were swung to guide the
guests to the two refreshment tanks that
were guarded, one by a cannon and the
other by a Gatling gun, both loaded to the
muzzle with roses, beautiful and sufficient
ammunition for such an occasion. The
entire interior OF the hall presented
striking credit to the National Guard Of
the State.
The officers of the battalion are: Lieu
tenant, Archibald A. Morey lieutenant,
junior grade, Harry B. George; epsigns,
Carl Lindsay and William E. Miller Jr.:
chief petty officer, Frank l.. Robinson
petty officers, first class-Bert S. Chase e
Charles ]. Gillen, John c.. Doyle and
Henry E. Stumer: petty officers, second
class-Frank A. Evans, Harry w. Bunt-
ing, Benjamin F. Booth and Burrell L.
Jones.
Lieutena Morey, as chairman of the
reception committee, welcomed the guests
with the hearty greeting of a mariner
whose ship is anchored at the disposal of
mis- friends. The dance was conducted
with skillfulness and to the pleasure and
satisfaction of the large assemblage by
Ensign William E. Miller, with accom-
phshed assistants. Both officers and sea-
men gave evidence of their desire to enter
tain their guests happily, and their success
was attested by the enjoyable manner in
which the evening was passed from the
opening drill to the closing dance.
The fashion of Santa Cruz has long
looked forward to this as the Introductory
event OF the summer season here. There
are many pleasant entertainments to come
that will be participated in by visitors from
other cities and towns in the State during
the present season, but the exhibition
drill and dance given by the Naval Re-
serve tonight is an event that will prob
ably be longest remembered, because it is
peculiarly a home affair and marks an
advance in the affairs of the naval depart
ment of the National Guard of California.
The Fourth Gun Division, Naval Battal-
ion, represents the social element of Santa
Cruz and boasts of a membership COM
posed of young men standing high in pro-
fessional and commercial life in this CITY
by the Sea.
The Naval Reserve is justly proud of It's
new armory, which is one of the largest
halls in the State and possesses the attrac-
ton of being well located and bearing an
imposing appearance. The officers and
members have been faithful in the dis
charge of their naval as well as their social
duties and made for themselves reputa-
ton that is not confined to Santa Cruz.
but extends throughout the coast cities
and towns where the mariner takes an
interest In the affairs of his fellow seamep.