The sun., 1897-11-23
WELCOME The Wilmington
Officials and Some of the Crew
Ashore.
ON BOARD THE GUNBOAT
The General Committee Escorts the
Natty Graft to This City---Inci-
dents on the Way SIS The
Marines Own the Town.

The United States Gunboat Whining
ton is now open to the inspection OF the
public at the wharves OF Pusey & Jones.
Sharply at 10 o'clock the tugboat Laura
B. left King street wharf and headed
down the Chnistiana. She was going to
the mouth of the Christiana at which
place she was to take in tow the Will
mington and return with the warship to
the wharf of Pusey 4 Jones.
On board were the members OF the
general committee and several news
paper men. Those Of the committee
were: Chairman Alvin r. Morrison,
William Lawton, Samuel II. Baynad,
Mayor Henry G. McLcar, Representative
B. A. HAZEL, A. G. McCausland, Levi
A. Bcrolette, Representative Donaldson,
Jesse X. Baylis, John II. Dandy, Prcsi-
dent Of the City Council Leach, W..
Scott Vernon, Il. NJ. Hopes, w. G. Col
quhoun, Dennis F, Leary, Lewis B..
Morrow, II. W. Zebley and Thomas L.
Russell.
When the Laura reached the gunboat
the committee and guests went on board
and were greeted by commander Todd,
the officers and crew, and Immediately
made themselves at home. Lieutenant
Bertolette who was Wilmington boy,
was very much pleased to see many OF
his friends. There are two other Will
mingtonians on the gunboat, Harry L..
Forrest first class fireman and John
Foley boiler-maker
The trip was very interesting and those
who went on it enjoyed the many incl
dents occurring. The visitors distributed
themselves in different parts OF the craft
and here and there could be seen group
under the guidance Of some officer or
MILDLY, anxiously pecring intocver nook
and corner. On the forward deck Pay
master Sullivan, assisted by a sailor who
ts known as 'Jack OF the Dust" was dis
tributing "small stores' to the men,.
Trousers, shoes, linen, tobacco, etc, are
called "small stores" One Of t h G
mid dies in speaking Of the ships
affairs in general said that all the
men now on the gunboat were "long
tcrnlers" that is, they had en- list e d
for three years, as the Wilmington is 60
ing on long cruise to South America,
and if a sailor term expired while away
on a cruise, the government does not
furnish the passage home. He said that
all the men were glad to go on a cruise,
as the officers of the Wilmington were SO
pleasant to them. The crew were anX-
iously waiting for the smoking lamp
to be lighted, as they were eager to en-
JOY quiet smoke.
At 11.3O the Wilmington passed in the
Christiana assisted by the tugs Laura B.
and Fred Nansen. The first salute to
this city's namesake came from the LODI
dell Car Wheel Works, and as the gunbeat
proceeded up the river she was greeted by
one continual ovation. The salute of
the Delaware Construction Company
was answered by blast from the siren.
At point farther up three barrels each
loaded with fifty pounds of powder and
covered with hay were placed, under
the direction of Col. A. L. Ainscow,
They exploded with violent concussion.
Men and women lined the river banks
and waved their hats and handkerchiefs
as the vessel moved by. The middies
could not return this salute as they are
not allowed to wave anything for fear it
may be construed as signal, The gun
boat tied up at Pusey 4 Jones' wharf, at
1910 and now the sailors are anticipat-
ing some hard work "holy-stoning' the
deck after the big crowds who will visit
the boat, have departed.
The Bible which the school children
will present to the gunboat is now on
exhibition in William Lawtons window.
The book is 11x15 inches and an Ameri-
can edition. The four corners are cover
ed by silver pieces designed in peach
twigs and silver plate also appears on
the back. On the front cover is a plate
I bearing the words ''IIoly Bible, present
. ed to the United States gunboat, Will
| mington by the public school pupils of
Wilmington, Delaware, November 23d,
1897"
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