The San Francisco call., 1896-07-21
LENT DIGNITY AND HONOR
Resolutions Concerning Rear
Admiral Beardslee Adopted
by the Exempts.
Thanks to Comm ander In.
gersoll and TO the Officer in Charge
of the Naval Battalion.

The Exempt Fire Company of this City
held a meeting in its hall on Brenham
place last evening, Vice-President A. J.
Jessup in the chair.
During the evening Washington Irving,
an exempt from Monumental g. alluded to
the assistance rendered the company in
the celebration OF the fftieth anniversary
of the occupation of Yerba Buena and Of
fered the following preamble and resolu
tions, which were unanimously adopted,
ordered engrossed, framed and forwarded
to Rear-Admiral Beardslee:
WHEREAS, The honorable duty of hosting
the American flag on Portsmouth square in
commemoration OF the action of Captain John
B. Montgomery OF the United States sloop-of-
war Portsmouth, on the 9th day OF July, 1S46,
the honorable society known as the Veterans of
the Mexican War, and having accepted the
responsibility, we assumed to celebrate the
seml-centenn1al OF the occupation OF Yerba
Buena (nOw the great City OF San Francisco)
on the 9th day Of July, 1896, in our own hum
Bile way, and whereas, we did not
the community or possessed OF the re-
quisiie ability to be equal to the oc-
casion, fearing that our insignificant
efforts If unaided might result III failures, we
appealed TO Rear-Admiral Lester A. Beardslee
for assistance and cooperation, well knowing
that the honor and glory growing out Of the
the naval arm of our service, and that the
presence of a naval force on the ground would
add due dignity TO the event; and whereas
the admiral nobly responded by detailing
force OF 200 sailors and marines, under COM
mand of Lieutenant Commander Royal r. In
gersoll and other officers, from his flagship "a
body of officers and men whose appearance re-
flected credit on the United States navy) to
represent the National authority, thereby
making the celebration a success and doing
honor to the memory of Sloat, of stockton, of
MerVlne. MONTGOMERY. and nfhar
noble and heroic spirits of the old navy of the
past now enjoying their eternal rest in honor
able graves, at the same time. by his action
and the presence of the splendid force detailed
for the occasion making a good impression
upon the aged by recalling cherished memo
ries and inspiring youthful hearts with pa
triotism; while by his manly conduct as an
American sailor and gentleman he has highly
honored the Exempt Fire Company, his treat
ment of US in the course of our correspondence
with him being most courteous and dignified; |;
now therefore in consideration of the above
and foregoing be it
ResoLred, That Rear-Admiral Leslie A.
Beardslee of the United States navy, now on
the flagship Philadelphia, is entitled to the
thanks of the Exempt Fire Company. its Off
GERS and members, and the same is hereby
most gratefully and respectfully rendered.
We thank him also on behalf of every ex-
empt fireman in the State, and so far as we
can do so, on behalf of the people of the State
of California and the citizens of the City and
County OF San Francisco.
The following was also presented and
unanimously adopted:
HALL OF THE EXEMPT FIRE CoMPANYl
SAN FRANCISCO, July 20, 1896.
Lieutenant Commander Boydt r. IngersoH u.
S. N.-SIR: At a meeting of the Exempt Fire
Company, held on the above date, the follow
ing preamble and resolution having been
unanimously adopted, we were instructed to
forward the same 10 you:
WHEREAS, In the discharge Of a duty imposed
upon us by the Veterans of the Mexican War to
commemorate the action of Captain John B. Mont
gomery of the United States soop-of-wnr Ports-
mouth. who on the 9th day of July, A. d. lS46,
hoisted the American flag in the old plaza of Yerba
of the old navy Of the United States and It's gallant
officers and sailors, we were required celebrate
the fet tn anniversary OF the occupation of North
ern California on the 9th day of July 1896: and
whereas the success OF said celebration was In a
great measure due TO the presence Of the officers,
sailors and marines from the flagship Philadelphia,
under command of fLieutenant-Commander Royal
r. 1ngersoll, g. s. N, force which impaired q
National character to the event: and whereas his
conduct on the occasion was noble, patriotic and
manly, emitting him to praise congratulation and
future prosperity especially for the beautiful man.
ner i'll which the flag waited to the breeze
from the truck of the flagstaff, through the sue
cess that attended his quartermaster, who stood by
the hRly ards, be it
ResotUed That the thanks of this company be
respectfully given and hereby rendered him,
fare and success officer Of the United states
navy.
Resolutions thanking the lieutenant
commander of the Naval Reserves, who
fired the salute, were also adopted.