The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-05
PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE UNITE
IN DOING HONOR
A PATRIOTIC GATHERING OF AMERICANS
The Brilliant Throng Was Made Up of States
men, Diplomats, Legislators, Army and
Navy Officers and Citizens--T The
Presid, mt Received a Cheer.
washington pcst.)

Gals. diplomats. and the most prominent
citizens Of Washington united last night
to do honor and pay their tribute of
respect to Capt, Charles ID. Sigsbee. the
gallant commander of the ill-starrcd bat
t!cship Maine. The scene at the Airing
ton Hotel, where the reception was held
under the auspices Of the National Geo
graphical Society, was an impressive one.
Should war come the occasion will be 4
part of the history of the strife. and
should trouble be avertcd. the glory of
Capt. Sigsbec will not be dimmed. That
Washington is proud of the brave COM
mander there WAS abundant evidence
last night. In the midst of all the glory
and splendor of the event. from prpSi-
dent Mckinley down to the humblest
citizen. there was exhibited an intense
spirit Of patriotism. which at his time
overShadowed the mere social feature
of the reception.
The board OF managers of the Geo
graphical Society. of which Capt. Si@s-
Ice is IN honored member. consisting of
MesSrs. Charles J. Bell. H.. f. Blount,
+. Y. Covillc, ID. T. Day, Everett Hay
den, John Hyde. w. j. MCGEE. and w.
Il. Powell. had charge of the reception.
and it is due to them that the event
reached 50 rcmaI kablc Il degree of sue
cess. The magnificent double parlors
and ballroom Of the Arlington were
hung with American flags and decorated
with 4 pr0fu>ion of palms, ferns. and
American Beauty roses. The Marine
band. under the leadership of Prof.
Santelmann. WAS present and through
out the reception rendered patriotic Sc
lcctionS. 1t was more Of 4 nations
greeting aud congratulation at the home
coming of its hero han it was Il So
cial function, although the leaders of the
great social world of the Capital Were
there to help make the grand success it
was.
CHEER THE PRESIDENT.
Capt. Si@obcc took his stand just in
side the second reception room of the
Arlington. beside Prof Alexander Ora
ham Bell and Mr.. Bernard Il. Green. of
the Geographic Society. who introduced
the guests TO the hero of the evening. us
obey passed for two hours. rom 9
o'clock until IL. before him in one con
tinUOus stream. More than one thou
sand PERSONS shook the hand that pen
ned the message to Secretary Long half
an hour after the blowing up Of the
Maine.
TIL reception had been in progress
but Il short time, when Il spontaneous
cheer arose from the throig us Presi-
dent Mckinley appeared i'll line. accom-
panied by Mr.. Charles j. Bell. Tho
parSageWay was cleared to permit the
Chief Executives to avoid the ~jostling OF
the crowd, but he chose to remain in
line, and meet Capt. SigSbcc when his
time should come. Prof. Bell introduced
the President. who @raSped Capt. SigS-
bees hand warmly. closing it over with
his left hand, and holding it for an in
>tant. as he said: Captain. it gives me
meeting YOU y few brief words of
commentator and congratulation pass
cd bet wcen the President and the Cap
tain, when the former passed into the
ballroom, while amid much cheering the
band played Hail to the Chief"
President Mckinley remained. however.
but Il moment and then took his depar-
tUrc.
Precisely one hour after the President
had left the reception room Vice PreSi-
dent Hobart, accompanied by Mrs. Ho-
bart and Mr.. Charles j. Bell. entered
and were introduced to Captain SigS-
bee. Nj. Hobart remained for some
time and returned to speak with the
captain al SttDIll tllllt. CONGRATULATE lS
him upon his narrow escape. but nothing
was said i'll relation to passing events of
Il public nature. Such was not the case,
however, when Congressman Routcllc.
of Maine, was presented to Capt. Sigs-
bee. The Chairman Of the Naval Com
mittcc paused long enough to say that
ne had succeeded i'll passing his bill for
the construction Of three tirst-class bat
tie ships. and to state that Capt. SigS-
bee should be commander of the finest
battIpship in the United States Navy.
Capt. Si-sbcc WAS viSibly pleased with
the remark. and replied that he stood
ready to accept any service. Secretary
Long was another Of the distinguished
guests. but he rendered only Il passing
greeting.
1t was rumorrd early in the evening
that Scnor Polo Y Bernab", the Spanish
Minister. whom the Geographic Society
had taken special pains To invite, would
attend. but neither he nor any mcnl"rS
of the legation were present. although
the Minister from Peru and attaches OF
the Russian. the French. and Korea Ie-
cations were conspicuous among inc
gathering. The list Of invited guests III,
GUIDED also members of the Naval and
Foreign Affairs Committees Of both
houses. Mr.. J. Addison Porter. Secre-
tary To the President. memberss of the
supreme Court. the members Of the CAB
met, and the Assistant Secretaries. the
Speaker Of the House. members of the
press, and the survivors Of the Maine.
Non Of the latter, except Capt Slgshe,
are AT present in Washington. Pay
master Ray being compelled to leave
yesterday afternoon.
DuIing the reception the Marine band
rendered the STARS and Stripes For
ever by Sousa: the Star Spangleo
Banner" selections from The Sert
made by Herbert: Hail to the Chief
While President Mckinley was passing