The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-12
\ ENSIGN BLAYELEY LEAVES.

Yesterday, Ensign John X. y. Blake
ley, U. s. N, the officer stationed as the
L!nsly Institute in this city. received or
ders from the navy department to report
at once at Norfolk. Virginia. for duty
aboard the cruiser Yankee" Mr..
Blakeley at once made his preparations
and departed at 1925 o'clock On the Bal
timore &; Ohio for the seac1as::. The
vessel to which he has besn detailed was,
until a few days ago, the Ward line
steamer "EI Rio," and piled between
New York and Havana. The Wheeling
friends OF Mr.. Dlaheley hope that the
Yankee" vii be one. OF the victorious
feet entering Havana harbor in the not
distant future.
Last evening at the Fort Henry, q
number OF Mr.. Blakeley's friends ten
dered him farewell dinner. Those
y: a. Howard. S, W. Harper: y
n. d. Post. W. p. Wilson,
George c. Dewey. Clarence Laird.
Edwin L. Wiles. James K. Taussis.
John a. Topping. George Baird.
The menu was discussed with rare en-
joyment. after which speeches were
made by several OF the gentlemen pres
emf. Prof. John NJ. Birch, principal OF
Linsly Institute, who has been associa-
ted with Ensign Blakeley during the
past few months, spoke feelinSly of the
departure OF the officer, and Of "Linsly's
Loyalty" Mr.. Melville D. Post made a
humorous ten minute speech that was
thoroughly enjoyed. Mr.. George Chaun-
.cey Dewey, editor Of Events" spoke of
3"Our Country" Among other things, he
saiG mat he hoped IN our intercours,,
with foreign nations we would be in the
right, but right or wrong, Our Coun-
try" always. The sentiment was re-
ceived just as such patriotic express
sion will always be received on this side
of the Atlantic:
u Other gentlemen spoke feellngly OF the
departure of Ensign Blakeley. and the
latter responded, saying he would al
ways remember his good friends in
Wheeling. and hoped that in the event
Of hostllides good fortune would follow
our flag. But the portion of his speech
that touched the responsive chords In
the breasts OF his hearers. was the re-
ference to the passing OF the Maine and
her gallant crew. Mr.. Blakeley grew
thrillingly eloquent when he spoke OF
the dastardly and barbarous act Of
Spanish hounds in Havana i,arbor, for
like every officer in the navy ne feels
that the Maine Is to be avenged more
than the Cuban is to be freed.
Mr.. George Baird was the accomplish
ed and witty POSTMASTER Of the occa-
sion.
After dinner, preparations were made
for the officers departure. Shortly after
midnight, the Linsly Cadets, fifty
strong, appeared on Chapline street, &C.
companied by their own drum corps.
When Ensign Blakelcy appeared on the
portico in response to repeated calls
from the Linsly boys, he was the recIpi-
cnt OF an ovation.
Mr.. Blakeley said that he appreciated
the cordial feeling entertained for him
by the boys. He would always remcm-
Der the pleasant associations with Lin
slys boye It had been his good fortune
to participate in, and hoped they would
always have a kindly feeling for the
new cruiser. Yankee" The speech was
received with cheer after cheer Uncle
Sam, the flag and country were In turn
cheered TO the echo The Cadets, many
citizens and the drum corps then form
cd in line, and accompanied by red fire
and enthusiasm galore. escorted Ensign
Blakeley to the Baltimore & Ohio station
on the South Side. When the train
pulled out the scenes Of enthusiasm
were again repeated.
It was the first touch OF real excite
mcnt and enthusiasm that Wheeling
has felt since the war scare was inau-
surated recently. VII