The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-14
AS COOL AS AT HAVANA
WAS RECEPTION OF THE MONT.
GOMERY AT BALTIMORE
Laughable Incident in Connection
With the Fort Henry Celebration
In 1894, Which Became the Sub
1ecf for Considerable Correspond
ence and Official Red Tape.
Washington Bureau st. Paul Globe, }
Corcordn BUILDING.
Special to The St. Paul Globe

Special to The st. Paul Globe
WASHINGTON, March 13.-The ar
rival Of the cruiser Montgomery in Ha-
vana harbor was promptly followed. of
course, by the usual exchange of cour-
tesleS between her officers and the
spanish officers on shore. The errand
or the vessel and the circumstances of
her reception afford a striking contrast
with her visit to Baltimore in the fall
or 1894. The record of that visit is
one of the few amusing touches worked
into an otherwise serious log, and is
still laughingly referred to by officers
OF the navy as precedent on ques-
ton of official red tape
Ferdinand G. Latrobe, a great stick
Ter Tor etiquette, was mayor of the city
at that time. He had united with a
number Of public-spirited citizens in a
request to the secretary of the navy
that the Montgomery having been
built In the harbor of Baltimore should
be sent there to take part in the cele-
oratlon OF the anniversary of the de-
Tense of Fort McHenry BY some ac-
cldent, either delay in the transmits
sion of the secretary's order or a hitch
IN the programme of bringing the ship
to that point, instead of arriving on
the 18th of September, so as to be on
hand for the celebration of the 18th,
the Montgomery did not reach her des-
tination till the LIST of October Her
commander, Charles H. Davis. strolled
up into town in a dapper tweed suit
instead of his uniform, and walked
carelessly into the office of the mayor
in the city hall. The mayor looked up
from his mail as his visitor entered.
but supposing him to be a person of NO
Importance, did not glance at the card
which was laid on the table, but con-
tinued reading and writing till he had
"a h11c iva, toJ,
hand. Then he picked up the card
and read with much. surprise the en-
graved inscription: Commander Da-
Wis, United States Steamship Mont
gomery." He advanced at once to
greet his visitor, explaining that he
would have done this sooner if he had
realized who the latter was.
"Oh, that's nc matter" answered the
commander, carelessly, Il should not
have disturbed you, as my only object
in calling was to leave my card, but
your clerk in the other room insisted
upon my coming in and making my
call in person"
There was an awkward pause of u
few seconds, during which the mayor
looked as If he expected something
more. 1t was broken presently by
Commander Davis, who continued:
well, / am here, and my vessel Is
here, but I don't know what I am here
for"
II suppose you are here because the
secretary Of the navy ordered you
here" rejoined the mayor, rather tes-
tily.
1t was now Mr.. Davis turn to take
offense at the others manner
II was instructed to be here on the
18th of September said he, somewhat
YEARLY, "but I couldn't make it. 1
understood there was something going
on; I don't know what it was"
Eighty years ago." observed the
mayor, with fine sarcasm. some Brit
ish vessels sailed up the bay here and