The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-17
MIcHIGAN's NAVAL RESERVE.
The Movement which Resulted In Its
Organization.

The Movement which Resulted In Its
Organization.
Michigan has no artillery, but next
to the National Guard, the citizens of
the Wolverine state pride themselves
on the Naval Reserve. To the COM
monweaith of Massachusetts belongs
the honor of enacting the first
law for the establishment of a naval
battalion to be attached to the volun-
teer militia. New York enacted a gen.
orally similar law in 1889, and Michigan
fell into line in 1893. The purpose OF
the laws was to promote the interest
in a national naval reserve and a state
naval militia. Now, just ten years aft
er the first effort. when the nation has
need of the services of these organiza-
tons, il is able TO summon to its aid
about $500 naval reserves from fifteen
different states.
The movement which resulted in the
organization of the Michigan Naval
Reserve had it's inception in Detroit in
May, 1898, foremost among it's enthu-
sastic and influential promoters being
Cyrus Il. Lothrop, son of a former
United States minister to St Peters
burg. Truman ii. Newberry, Henry Il.
JOY, Strathearn Hendrie and the late
Charles c. Poe, whose father, the late
General o. NJ. Poe, left an enduring
monument in the shape of the great
locks and canal at Sault Ste. Marie.
The same month the legislature passed
a bill providing for the organization,
equipment and maintenance of the
Michigan State Naval Brigade. No
appropriation was made for the citi-
zen sailors until 1895, when per cap
IL
authorized. This yielded an annual
fund -of about $4,000. At the recent
special session OF the legislature this
tax in view of impending hostilities
was increased to one-half of per cent
The first meeting Of the young men
who had signed the pledge to enlist was
held at the Russell House. Detroit
Only twenty eight OF the necessary
forty-eight men were present when this
meeting commenced. bat before adj
journment more than the required num-
Der had been secured. The following
officers were elected: President. L. S
Werneken vice president, 1. T. .Cowies
secretary; Cyrus L. Lothrcp. treasurer.
+. T. Sibley.
1t was net until Oct &c. ISL, that the
Naval Reserve had their first practical
experience by be ng taken en- board the
United States steamer Michigan for
daily practice cruises These cruises
were made under ire direction Of Com |
mander Berry. u. s. n. TIE following |
were the officers OF the Reserves dur |
ing these trips. Gilbert Wilkes. lieu
tenant commanding the division; w. !
HOWE Muir lieutenant, junior grade; |
Fred ID. Standish and Cyrus e. Lothrop. |
ensigns: Henry b. JOY, Frank b. Gay |
lord, Strathearn Hendrie. Delos L. !
Parker, John s. Newberry and E II. |
Clark. petty officers. The practice com
prised daily cruises on Lake st. Clair, !
and in the evening laying over the !
masthead"
The reserves were very busy during !
the following winter, a thorough drill |
in infantry and artillery tactics being |
Instituted, while many members were |
added to the organization.
on Dec. 26. 1894, the division was re-
formed into the First Battalion Michi- |
gan state Naval Brigade, and on Jan. |
II, 1895. the Second division, located at |
Saginaw, under Lieutenant f. L. Ea-
ton, was assigned to it.
On May 49, 1895, Lieutenant Charles !
c. Poe. the first commanding officer
and one of the founders of the corps,
died suddenly, and II was as an escort |
on the day of his funeral that the COM
mand for the first time turned out in /
battalion formation. In the summers |
of 1885, 1896 and 1897 the reserves went
to Mackinac island on board the United
States steamer Michigan.