Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-23
SPIRIT OF '76.
Worcester Continentals Have
Their Annual Celebration.
Open House for Many Guests Some No
table Toasts-A Presentation to
George E. Fairbanks.


Tuesday, and on the annual celebration
of the birth of the father of his coun-
try, the same patriotic fervor and 10y
atty that characterized their forefathers
We're breathed again with renewed fire,
1t is the custom of the Worcester Con-
tlnentals to observe Washingtons
birthday with banquet and toasts, and
Tuesday animation and interest pull
stated to the full. The crisis with Spain
afforded the subject of general CONVEX
sation.
The armory was thrown open to the
guests at 10 o'clock, and from that time
to l o'clock the Continentals enter
tained their guests and extended to
them the full privileges Of an open
house. The occasion was graced by the
presence of His Honor Mayor Rufus B.
Dodge, ex-Mayors Augustus B. r.
Sprague, Henry A. Marsh, Gen Josiah
Pickett of the license commission, Col
Fred W. Wellington, with other prom
inent representatives of the civic and
military life Of the city, including off
GERS of the various militia companies
members of the board of aldermen,
common council and representatives in
the state legislature.
Manager Jules E. Offner, of the Bijou,
whose daring and heroic fight for life
at the recent fire is familiar to the Wor-
cester public, was present as one Of the
guests at the armory, and was the
centre of large group of admiring
friends.
About one hundred and fifty, with the
invited guests and members, were pres
ent. and the celebration made patriotic
enthusiasm burn anew. Hearty cheers
were given for the guests, and to His
Honor Mayor Dodge, who was one of
the late arrivals, was accorded an ova-
ton, to which he was obliged to bow
his Acknowledgements. Upon his en-
trance he was greeted with cheers, and
later when the toasts were given he
was rendered three cheers and a tiger,
with all the eXuberance for which the
Continentals are noted. The same gen.
erous reception was given eX-Mayor
Sprague, Gen. Josiah Pickett and Col.
William A. Gile, the commander of the
Continentals, who maintains the tradi-
tionS of the position with so much hon
or, and who presided at the festivities
with that eloquence and spirit of bon
homie which have won him an enviable
reputation as post-prandial orator.
Col Gile was unusually brilliant in his
epigrammatic speech,
Jul ISGH lOdSlS were piOpOSSu ny OOl.
Gile. and the response in each case was
hearty and spontaneous. The full list
was as follows:
/. George Washington, the father of his
country.
2. Abraham Lincoln, the savior of his
country.
3, His Honor Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., the
mayor of the Heart of the Common
wealth.
A Tho roi1itio Of NTassaabusatts tba1,
are where we were 81 years ago, next
to our flag and country.
5. Roger Wolcott, governor and COM
mander-in-chief of the military and ma
val forces of the commonwealth
6. William Mckinley, Jr., president of
the United States and commander-in-
chief of the military and naval forces.
7. John d. Long, secretary of the
navy of the United States, and those
that fight on water.
s. The heroes of the battleship Maine
and their families
s. Captain Sigsbee, the commander of
the battleship Maine, and Fitzhugh Lee.
10. The United States of America and
the patriotic people.
II. The guests and friends of the
Worcester Continentals.
L. The American flag and its defend
ers on land and sea, sunken or SUBJ
merged.
49, The government of Spain
If she sunk the Maine
Then God help Spain
For we will raise Cain
With the government of Spain
If she sunk the Maine.
The toasts to Commander Sigsbee of
the sunken battleship Maine and Consul
General Fitzhugh Lee were chearad to
the echo, and Continental Hall rang
with the enthusiasm of the response. An
appropriate and feeling toast was given
to the sailors who lost their ives, and
their families
When Col. Gile reached the toast to
the government of Spain, towards the
close of the list, his poetic spontaneous
response was greeted with intense en-
thusiasm, and was cheered and re-
echoed proving the hit of the celebra-
ton. Applause burst forth repeatedly
and Continental Hall rang as seldom be-
fore. 1t was some moments before the
applause had subsided. and then, when
Lieut.. George H. Harlow called Col,
Giles attention to the fact that but 13
toasts had been given and that as the
number was ominous, especially for
Spain, a fourteenth was invoked, with
the Worcester Continentals as the sub
sject
This was the last toast, and was re-
ceived with an exuberant reception
Adjutant George H. Harlow read with
admirable effect a patriotic poem writ
ten expressly for the occasion by Lieut.
Samuel Hathaway
One of the features of the occasion
was the presentation to George E. Fair
banks of a token of the esteem in which
he is held by his fellow-Continentals
Five of the original Continentals now
survive: George E. Fairbanks, George
H. Harlow, w. S. B. Hopkins, E. p
PeYey and Edward A. Putnam, and ac-
cordingly, as Mr.. Fairbanks was one Of
the five, more interest was taken in the
affair. Major Willard F. Pond took
charge of the matter, and soon, with
generous volunteer subscriptions, a
beautiful roll-top desk was produced;
and, on behalf of the assembled Conti-
nentals, it was presented to Mr. Fair
banks by col. Gile. Col. Gile made a
very feeling and sympathetic speech;
and, in most graceful effort formally
presented the desk to Mr., Fairbanks.
The latter was recently burnt out by
the Bijou fire; and, though taken COM
pletely by surprise, made very sincere
and happy speech of acceptance, which
was warmly received. His fellow Con-
tinentals eagerly pressed his hand, and
wished him fortune.
At the business meeting, a nominat-
ing committee, consisting of Major Ma
than Taylor, Samuel h. Aldrich, Ed
ward b. DolliVer, F. l.. Hutchinson
and Adjutant George H. Harlow, was
appointed to bring in a list of nomina-
tions of officers for the ensuing year
The committee requested further time
to report, and the business meeting was
formally adjourned until March 18th.
The following committee was also ap-
pointed to make arrangements for the
grand Canadian trip: Col William A
10 Ayat tho, To- VII I
w. w. Sargent. e. j Putnam and P. P.
ComeX. II is proposed 10 take q trin