The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-11
0TEY BATTERY'S
ANNUAL REUNION.
The Veterans Spent a Merry Day at
the Pumphouse,
A DINNER FIT FOR A KING.
Provided-Some Spicy After-Dinner
Speeches-Capt. Merritt on the
Phiiippines-The Officers.

II was about 10 o'clock A. NJ. when the
first OF the members OF the Otey Bat
terry Association began to assemble at
the Old Pump House for their annual
celebration yesterday. by noon the COM
pany was about completed. and the time
up 10 3 o'clock was spent in storytelling,
renewing old acquaintaces and paruci-
pating in various games, regaling them
selves with cooling draughts Of lemonade,
ciaret, Apolenaris. ginger ale and ice
wafer. Cigars were furnished IN protus-
Ton.
FIT FOR A KING.
Dinner was served al 3 o'clock cher
John Dabney was at his best, and hiS
bill OF fare was as follows. Brunswick
stew, saddle Of mutton. Virginia baked
ham. fried chickens, sweetbread and peas,
tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, eggs
pic6les, buttermilk, etc.
The repasr was thoroughly enjoyed ana
the company repaired TO the lawn and
put IN the remainder Of the day in social
Intercourse.
When dinner was finished, Captain
Alexander Grant. the chairman, called
the meeting to order and short speeches.
were made by several members.
Lettrs OF regert at inability to attend
were read from Messrs. ii. T. Gay, o.
Staunton; julius G.. Frederick. Cumber-
land, Md; j. w. sharp. Portsmouth,
Va. and Major ID. y. Walker.
Captain Taylor then introduced Captain
Merritt, who made a neat little talk al
though declaring at the beginning that
he was not talker, but a plain captain
OF a vessel that has piled the waters or
the seas. At the suggestion Of menu
Der, Captain Merritt recounted his expert
ences as a blockade runner, IN which he
! l.F
told Of how by a system of rockets he
would deceive the blockading squadron.
Referring to the Philippines Captain
Merritt stated that I'm his opinion, the
United states would make a serious mis-
take by acquiring the islands. America
would derive as much benefit ~ though
she owned them. She would have more
trouble ion preserving order than = she
would derive benefit therefrom. lie
thought that if America devoted herself
TO the cause of humanity iu freeing Cuba
she would have done her duty
Captain Merritt gave the company an
interesting talk OF his tours all over the
world. particularly a. description of the
Philippine Islands and the characteristics
OF the peope there, especially OF the
pretty girls of the islands.
RACE or PIGMIES
Captain Merritt. IN the course Of his
interesting address. stated that the Island
OF Negroes was inhabited BY race OF
pismies-genuine negroes. They ara scarce
ly more than three feet high. and have
lmJibed the Spanish idea Of sport. Game
cock fighting IS the principal pastme.
and they are the most inveterat' gamb 'ers
on th. face of the earth. These negroes,
however have almost been cNterminated
by the Malays.
srl. -.fr C,-t.fr NT.r~fff ara
the most polite people he ever saw. Ches-
terrified was % savage I'm comparison with
the Jap.
ln Manila there IS every advantage OF
a modern American city-paved streets,
electric lights. water works. etc.
Tho natives On that country subsist
principally on rice and bananas. They
worl. about two days in the week and
rest the remainder of the time They
think more of a game chicken than they
do Of their families
The Spanilrds do not stand high IN tho
estimation of Captain Merritt. lie says
they are as brave as lions and will night
until they drop i'm their tracks. Treach-
erOus and as sly as ever was an Indian.
They will shake hands with YOU with one
hand and run a knife into You with the
other. They are no good whatever, their
Castllian pride being the only thing they
possess. I'm Cuba. continued Captain
Merritt tho insurgents are mostly ne
gr0es and renegade whites and half
breeds. The best element are with the
Spaniards.
OLD OFFICERS REFLECTED.
Mr. Robert o. Briggs, Mr.. G.. g.. Baugh-
man. Mr. Montgomery West. Captain g..
Watt Taylor Mr. W. If. StratJon and
others made Interesting remarks.
A committee consisting of Messrs.
Baughman, Briggs and Taylor was APP
pointed To make arrangements for re-
union to be held some time during the
winter.
All OF the old officers of the Otey Bat
terry Association were reelected for am
other term.
Among those present al the festivities
were the following:
Messrs. r.. G.. Burton. OF Baltimore;
Julien Binford Robert n. Briggs II. h.
Thompson. j. Clinton Roberts. Charles
A. Spence. John VI. Noting j. h. Page,
A. Grant. G.. O.. Baughman. Montgomery
West. II. j. Anderson, William Ill. STRAIT
ton. r. II. NJ. Harrison. Jones A. Otey
Major r. l.. Courtney Major ia. clay
Drewry. W. =. Adkins. George Washing