The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-29
OCEAN STEAMSHIP co.'s FLAG.
The Letters on the Old Flag stood
For GeOrcia.

The &c. A" on the house flag of the
Ocean Steamship Company. which was
used up to a short while ago. stood for
Georgia. This Specification was given in
the Morning News few days ago, Vice
President John N. Egan Of the company.
having informed the Morning News that
such was the meaning OF the flags letter.
ing \ gentleman familiar with the his
tory Of the line sent in a communication
stating that the &c. A" stood for Garri-
son and Allen, who were the agents for the
line many years ago.
Gen. G. NJ. SorreI says the letters stood
for Georgia. The flag originally bore
the same letters, and they were
the initials of the New York
firm of Garrison and Allen, and
were so used upon the flag. When the
line became the Ocean Steamship Company
the flag, being of a handsome design, was
retained, though the letters were taken to
stand for Georgia. Since the formation Of
the company that has always been their
significance.
There was no reason apparent to the d.
rectors why the initials of the former
agents of the line, as such, should be re-
tanned upon their house flag. The new flag
Of the company is very attractive. As has
been stated, the lettering. which is in red,
is the initials Of the Ocean Steamship
Company. The design of the flag is that
of Russias The field is white with ST.
Andrews cross of blue bars.
The discontinuance of the old flag under
which they have sailed for so many years
and so successfully is regretted by the old
er employees of the Ocean Steamship Com
pany. Capt. Daggett Of the steamship
City of Augusta, in speaking of the mat
ter yesterday, gave an interesting ac-
count of the origin of the flag. The let
ters C. A. on the flag" Capt. Daggett
said, do not stand for Georgia, as 50
many people suppose, but for Garrison &
Allen. Before the war the large shipping
firm of Garrison & Allen of New York
conducted the Atlantic mail steamship
line between New York and Central and
South American points. After the war
Allen retired and Garrison organized the
Empire Steamship Company, running be-
tween Savannah and New York, retaining
the old Garrison & Allen flag. Mr.. Gar
rison built the City of Macon and the City
of Savannah for the Ocean Steamship
Company, and was for a long time agent
Of the company here. He retired from the
steamship business upon the consolidation
VI tiAt sever al steamship tbtiPdtllCS IltAC
and the formation of the Ocean Steam
ship Company under the ownership of the
Central railroad At the time the consoli-
dation was completed Mr. Garrison ten
dered his old flag to President Wadley and
the directors of the company, stating that
he rendered it with all good will and with
the hope that it would wave over their
ships with the same good luck that it had
always waved over his. The flag was ac-
cepted in the same spirit with which it
was rendered, and has since waved over
the vessels of the Ocean Steamship Com
pany up to ten days ago, when the new
flag, bearing the letters co. S. S. Co.
was substituted. GaTlsons wish as to
the good luck of the vessels bearing his
flag has certainly been fulfilled. The let
tcrs G. end A. were naturally supposed by
most people to stand for Georgia, which
Interpretation was entirely satisfactory to
the company William r. Garrison, who
was very wealthy man, was killed sew
eral years ago in a railroad wreck al Long
Branch"
Garrison's flag, Capt Daggett explained,
consisted of a white field with blue cross
bars. the letter G being next the mast
and the letter A in the opposite angle. The
company also has a commodores flag, now
carried by Capt. Fisher on the Kansas
City. This flag was adopted at the time
of the christening of the City of Augusta.
and consists of a blue field with white
cross bars, the lettering O. S. S. Co. be-
ing run across the flag.