Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-19
ADMIRAL BUNCE'S FLEET
Viewed by Thousands of South
CaroIinians.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Present, Together With Gov. EIerbe and OTHER
State Officers.
NAVAL CADET GHERADI TOASTED
By Secretary Herbert-w. ]. Creelman Pre-
sented With Gold Medal and an En-
velope Containing $1oo for His
Gallantry During the Storm.
NAVAL CADET GHERADI TOASTED

Charleston, S. c., Feb. 1S.-Charleston
has been thronged throughout the day by
thousands of strangers from South Car
olina and the neigh boring states, who
had come to the city to see Admiral
Bunces fleet, that has been bloekading
this port, pass in review before Secretary
of the Navy H. A. Herbert. Among the
special guests of the city for the day
were: Gov. w. H. Ellerbe, of South Caro-
lima; all the state officers, senator's and
legislators. These gentlemen were
brought to Charleston during the day,
and they were the most interested spec
tators of the official communications
which occurred between the fleet and
the secretary. Secretary Herbert and his
party, consisting of Mrs. B. NJ. Micou,
Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Switzerland, Mrs. Har-
rison, Hon. M. c.. Butler, Col. T. S. Par
row, Mr.. II. L. Finney, Jr., and H. A
Herbert, Jr., arrived in the city from
Washington in the special car "Scipio,
via the Atlantic Coast Line, at 6 o'clock
this morning. They were met at the de-
pot at s O'Clock by committee consist
ing of Mayer Smyth, Collector of the
Port George D. Bryan, District Attorney
w. Perry Murphy 7. r. -McGahan, Geo.
B. Edwards and st. John P. kinlock
salute of twenty-seven guns was hred
by detachments by the first division.
South Carolina naval reserves, under
Capt. Dubos. The party was then es-
corted to the Charleston hotel, where
breakfast was served, and the secretary
and his friends rested until IL O'CLOCK
They were then escorted to the custom
house, where they boarded the revenue
cutter Colfax. The secretary was saluted
as he boarded the ships, all of the sail
inc ayup in nan-nf-war fash
ion. A few minutes later Gov. Ellerbe's
special train drew up on the siding, and
the governor, ifltenant-governor, M. b.
McSweeney and Speaker F. b. Gary
were taken off to the cutter, salutes being
also awarded them The harbor was full
of pleasure craft of all descriptions,
which only awaited for the cutter to lead
the way to cast loose their hawsers and
follow her to the bar. The day was an
ideal one. In the city it had been so
warm that wraps were uncomfortable,
but on the water. top coats were not out
of place. l,-r-
At the entrance to the. jetties an un-
foreseen trouble arose. The cutter ana
its train of pleasure craft ran full into
a heavy fog, which set the whistles and
bells ago in a perfect din of noice, Many
of the small boats put back into port and
the larger vessels slowed up their en-
gines and drifted around for an hour.
The cutter worked her way down to the
Columbia, where Secretary Herbert re-
quested the presence of Capt. Sands on
the cutter. Capt. Sands informed him
that the flagship New York was lying
just to the northward, and the Colfax
moved off once more When the flagship
was picked UP in the fog Admiral Bunce
received summons. from the secretary
and came alongside in his cutter. The
moment he stepped aboard his pennant
was run up and the little cutter became
the flagship. The admiral was told by
the secretary that he desired to board the
batteship Maine to present Seaman w.
J. Creelman with medal awarded him
for his distinguished conduct during the
storm. So, with both secretary and adj
miral aboard, the cutter once more got
under way. Capt Crowninshield. of the
Maine, was hailed, and informed that the
two officials would beard his Ship with
their party. The transfer was made
without trouble the jackoes and officers
receiving their superior officers with the
customary salute and formality. With
the ships crew drawn up on deck, Capt:
Crowninshield gave the orders for Naval
Cadet Gherardi, his gunboat crew and
Seaman w. ]. Creelman, to step forward.
Addressing them Secretary Herbert spoke
of their gallant conduct during the storm.
They had, he said made him proud of the
navy and then, singing out. Creelman,
the secretary presented him with the
gold medal and an envelope containing
$100 with a few words in commendation of
his gallant deed Creelman, it will be re-
storm was at its height and attempted
to rescue one of his ship mates. When
these ceremonies were concluded the Wis
itors became the guests of the ward
room of the Maine. When the company
was seated, Secretary Herbert lifted his
glass, and said that he requested that
every one should rise and drink the
health of Naval Cadet Gherardi, whose
gallantry was now the admiration of
his fellow officers and the nation.
Nearly two hours had been spent on
the Maine. When the secretary returned
to the Colfax accompanied by Admiral
Bunce, the cutter steamed down the line
of warships, receiving from each salute
as she crossed the bow. This ended the
ceremonies of the day and the cutter
steered for port, arriving at her dock at
$3.50 p. m.
Tonight Secretary Herbert, Gov. FL
lerbe, Admiral Bunce, the captains and
executive officers of each of the ships
became the guests of the chamber of
commerce at banquet given at the
Charleston hotel. Covers were laid for
200 and the banquet was most elaborate
one. The set speeches of the evening
were made by Mayor Smyth, welcoming
the visitors to the city, Secretary Herbert
and Gov. Ellerbe. Inipromptu speeches
were also made by other gentlemen,
among whom was Admiral Bunce Re-
spending to "Our Navy Secretary Her
bert made the main speech of the day.
The Maine was today ordered to New
Orleans. The Amphitrite, Dolphin, ve-
suvius and Fern came into the harbor
tonight During the morning the fleet
was joined by the Terror which will come
up to the city tomorrow The reception
which has been rendered Secretary Her
bert will take place at the city hall to-
morrow afternoon at 4:30, and at night
the secretary admiral and officers will
be guests of the city at a naval ball.
SMALLPOX AT PENSACOLA.
Washington, Feb. 18.-The navy depart