Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-22
OLD IRONSIDES
Celebrates tooth Anniversary
of Launching at Boston.
Literary Exercises at Old South Church
NAVAL Parade in Afternoon.
Immense Crowds Out-Sketch Of the Gallant
Old Ships Career.

L.
the weather bureau saying that toda!
would be stormy, have been verified
me day set apart for the celebration O.
the centennial of the launching of tn,
| united States frigate Constitution il
TINS city. broke with dull and lowerins
skies and shortly after 6 o'clock rail-
began falling with no intermission dur.
ing the forenoon.
The enthusiasm of the citizens, how
ever, was not dampened and every
where the buff and blue button an.
nexed to drizzlng streamer with the
word Constitution" in gold, was dis.
| played by pedestrians. From all the
national. state and city buildings anG
the business houses, national flags
| flags have been brought to the vicinity
of Constitution wharf, the place where
| 'Old Ironsides" made he first trip into
| the ocean. The street decorations were
elaborate.
The state offices and public schools
closed at noon and all the employees ir
| the city department who are mem
| bers of the kearsarge Association OF
| naval veterans and similar naval or
CARNATIONS who desired to participate
| in the naval parade. were given half
holiday, without loss of pay, by Mayor
Quincy. In all the public schools pat
riotic exercises We're held during the
morning session, the nature of the ex-
ercises being left entirely to the differ
ent masters.
The chief feature of the days cele-
brations was The literary exercises in
the Old South church and the naval
parade, this afternoon. Long before
the hour assigned for the exercises to
begin, the historic Old South church
was filled to it's utmost capacity by
men, women and children.
The parade was under the direction
of Brigadier-General J. L. Caster in
spector-general of Massachusetts, who
is chief marshal, and on it's way
through the streets the various organ
izations were heartily cheered by thou
sands of spectators.
The parade started from the foot of
State street at 2 o'clock, and after
marching through number of streets
in the business district reached the Old
South church at the close of the liter
airy exercises there. At this point a
halt was made to allow Governor VOL
colt, Secretary of the Navy John D.
Long. Mayor Quincy and other in
vited guests, to join the procession
After the line had been reformed the
parade continued through the principal
streets of the North End.
Never in the history of the city have
the men of Uncle Sans navy appeared
to better advantage than in the naval
parade. The marines and sailors from
the vessels of the North Atlantic
squadron in port. comprising the Mas
sachusetts. New York, Texas, Iowa and
the Brooklyn, were in line, accompan-
led by the Massachusetts naval brig
ade. Kearsarge naval Veteran Associa-
ton. and survivors of the Sth Massa-
chusetts volunteers.
For fully an hour before the time
announced for the opening of the ex-
ercises. the members of the stats of
the first and second brigades Massa-
chusetts Volunteer militia who came
ashore, were busily engaged in seating
those present, and pleasing music was
furnished by a band located in the bal
cony.
Gen. Curtis Guild, Jr., announced:
His Excellency, Roger Wolcott, Gov
ernor of Massachusetts" at LIS O'clock
The Governor was accompanied by the
speakers of the day, including Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, Assista0t Secre-
tary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt
Rear Admiral Sicard and Mayor
Quincy.
Gov. Wolcott acted as presiding Of
ficer during the exercises. Prayer was
offered by Chaplain Dowse of the
Massachusetts Senate. Gov. Wolcott
then delivered the opening address. He
said:
This is a memorable day. With pro-
found qualification the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, welcomes back to her
old moorings the most famous vessel
of the United States. With decoration
and banners. with the roaring of can
non and the acclaim of her people, the
Commonwealth commentaries the
Tooth anniversary of the launching in
her own waters of the frigate. now old
and dismantled, which won imperish-
able glory for American seamanship.
Old Ironsides won her victory not
alone because her armament was
heavier than that of any other frigate
of her day, nor because the lines of her
hull and her sail plan enabled her to
outsail the line of battleships Of the
enemy. hut because she was handled
with consummate seamanship, was
fought with an accuracy of gunnery
that was unequalled. and was manned
from the quarterback to the forecastle
with crew inspired with that heroic
and ardor that reck not
Of death when glory is the prize.
On the 21st Of October, 1866, on the
Of Trafalgar. the day that
won him immortal renOwn and sepul-
lure in Westminster Abbey. Lord Nell
son ran up on his flagship, the Victory,
The signals that bore to ships Of his |
feet the message. England expects
every man to do his duty"
In like manner America, as she gazes
With admiration upon these mighty en-
zines Of potential destruction which
constitute her new navy, never to be !
Used. pray God, in unjust aggression
Is she notes the perfection of their
mechanism, their massive armor and
he blasting power of their broadsides.