The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-19
BLOCKADE IS OVER
NAVAL DISPLAY BROUGHT TO A
CLOSE WITH AN OFFICIAL IN
SPECTION.

CHARLESTON, s. c., Feb. 18.-There
was great gathering at the Charleston
hotel tonight where the chamber OF
commerce served their annual banquet,
with Secretary Herbert as the guest Of
honor. The secretary, Admiral Bunce
and his staff, the captains and execu-
tive officers Of the warshdps and the
governor Of South Carolina were the
invited guests. The banquet room was
beautifully decorated and covers were
laid for 200 guests. After the last
course, President McGahan, Of the
chamber Of commerce, made short ad-
dress Of welcome and concluded by in
Producing Mayor Smythe, who respond
ed to the toast, "Charleston's greeting
to her honored guests The next
toast was, Our country" drunk stand
ing by all present Our country's
navy was responded to by Secretary
Herbert. He was given the closest
attention and was frequently interrupt
ed with enthusiastic applause.
THE North Atlantic Squadron" was
responded to by Admiral Bunce. The
firal toast, Our State,' Gov. Ellerbee
was expected to respond to, but being
indisposed, was absent, and Lieut.. Gov.
insolvency replied.
The mock blockade was brought to
an end today.
Secretary Herbert and his party ar
rived from Washington over the At
lantic Coast line at 6 o'clock this morn
ing. In the party were Rear Admiral
Gherardi, ex-senator Butler, Col. I.
S. Farrow, second auditor Of the
treasury; Chief Clerk McHough, of the
navy department; Mr.. Jarvis H. Fine
ly, Mr.. Herbert's son, and several Ia
dies. The party was met at the sta
ton by Mayor Smyth and the commit
tee on reception. A detachment of the
naval reserves was at the station and
saluted the party with twenty seven
guns. The party was driven to
Charleston hotel, and breakfast was
served. The secretary, who was &C
companied by Mayor Smith and the
reception committees and a number of
ladies and gentlemen, left the city
about noon aboard the revenue cutter
Colfax for a visit to the Warships.
Gov. Ellerbe, Lieut.. Gov. McSWeeney
and the speaker Of the house were also
with the party. 1t was with much
difficulty that the vessels could be
made out through the fog. The Co
lumbia was the first reached and the
secretary summoned Capt. Sands
aboard the cutter to get the positions
of the ships. Running to the New
York, Admiral Bunce came aboard the
Colfax. The boats were then lowered
and the secretary, the admiral and
most Of the party were taken aboard
the Maine.
Here an interesting event was cele-
brated. The men were drawn up in
line and the secretary called upon
Landsman Creelman to step forward.
He then presented Creelman with a
government gold medal awarded for
bravery during the storm Of the Sth,
when several men Of the Maine were
washed overheard. Creelman jumped
into the sea to save the drowning
men and was himself rescued with diff
ficulty. Cadet Gherardi, who COM
manded the boats crew that saved
the men, was also highly complimented
by the secretary.
The party then returned aboard the
cutter and, the fog having lifted, the
secretary's flag was sent up and the
cutter ran to the end of the line of
ships to make an inspection Of the
fleet. The Maine meantime had gotten
under way and started for New Or
leans. AS the cutter proceeded down
the line, the various ships each fired a
salute of seventeen guns. The admiral
and his staff, and Capt. Schley, Of the
| New York, were taken aboard and
the cutter ran quickly back to the
| city.