Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-02
Rear Admiral Beardslee's Official Re-
port to the Department,
A SERIES OF NAVAL CELEBRATIONS
The Fourth of July Had Double
Observance.
MINISTER SEWELL'S GRAFTON

Rear Admiral Beardslee, commanding the
Pacific station, reports to the Navy De-
rartment under date Of Honolulu July II,
as follows:
'Since the date of my last report, June
Is, 1897, there has been a series of cele-
brations, accompanied by entertainments
and official recognitions, beginning with the
celebration of the queens jubilee on the
I'D of June, on which occasion the ships
rIder my command at this port also the
Ns nlwa, full-dressed shir at sunrise with
the British flag at the main, and remained
SO dressed until sunset, and at noon each
vessel fired national salute of TWENTY
one guns On the evening of June p the
British commissioner gave a reception.
Which was very largely attended, myself.
the commanding and other officers of the
ships under my command attending in
uniform.
The Fourth of July.
The Fourth of July being not only the
anniversary of our own Independence. but
also the third anniversary of the establish
ment or the republic of Hawaii, mutual
notlhcations to that effect and invitations
10 paTuclpate In the observance of the
aa3 aay were eAchansed between the Hawaiian
government and myself The same cour
tesy was extended by both parties To tbo
japanese ship NaniWa ~ 'Ae
compromise became necessary. and
me matter was thus arranged: we ali ma
ticipated in the games, races ana ii,nn,i-
hated boat professions, which we're in
order on the 3d. and on the ;,th the sbins
Msi Meie iu,!-dressed at sunrise, with the
United States and Hawaiian ensigns side
Dy SIDE at the main, the former 10 st.r
poard except on the Naniwa, where the
i1a"alan was to starboard, and at noon
W. tMo saiutes an OF tWenty-one guns each were
md fh1 ,1.z
we also during the early forenoon landed
our battalion to take payt in a mixed
parade of Hawaiian and United States
p 5loops mounted police, tableau floats and
decorated engines, wagons, etc. which
parade was reviewed by the president and
CABINET, myself and officers, from a stand
erected for the purpose.
AT IL O'Clock am. there was an Inde-
pendence DAY service at the opera house
where seats were reserved for us, occu-
pylng one in the box of President Dole
United States Minister SewaIl was orator
OF the day, and received an oya ton which
he richly deserved. During the afternoon
Minister and Mrs. Sewell gave a handsome
public reception, which was verg largely
attended.
The Fall of the Bastfle.
'On the 18th of July. having received
formal notification from NJ. Voisson, French
commissioner, that it was the anniversary
of the fall of the bastile, and was observed
as national holiday of the French re-
public, and inviting to participate in the
observance Of the day, the ships under my
command and the Japanese ship Naniwa
were full-dressed from am. until sunset,
with the French ensign at the main, and
at noon each vessel fired national salute
of twenty-one' guns. Mr.. Akiyama, the
counsellor of the Japanese foreign office.
has returned to Japan. l regret to report
the death by drowning on the 10th instant
of Eugene Ross, fireman, second class,
serving on board the Marion. The general
health Of the officers and crew remains
good