The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-14

fired a few shots at the city. A lit
erary fellow named Key, who was a
prisoner on a British ship, wrote a
poem which / believe they call the
Star Spangled Banner The Britishers
were sent back. To commemorate
IL legal holiday, and you were or
dered here to help celebrate it."
All this did notbtend to improve the
relations of visitor and host, but the
mayor discovered slater in the CONVEX
sation that Commander Davis had
some ground for feeling nettled at the
manner Of his reception, not at the
city hall. but in the harbor. The may
or inquired whether the Montgomery
was in a convenient place for the pub
lie to reach it,
"She was" answered Davis, "but
some official came aboard with copy
of law showing that we were in the
wrong place, so we pulled up and
went outside altogether. The public
are welcome to come aboard and look
her over. l believe there Is a line Of
cars down to the fort, and they can
row out from there"
The mayor remarked that he sup
posed that Baltimore was not the only
city where the harbor master govern
ed by statute in his choice Of anchor
age grounds for visiting vessels. But
he Ventured to express regret that
Commander Davis had not been more
ceremonious in his manner of announc-
Ing his arrival, as that would have
enabled the city authorities to find a
more convenient place for the ship,
as they had done on other occasions
when the navy department had paid
them a similar honor
The interview ended soon after but
the mayor did not return Commander
Davis call within twenty -four hours,
as etiquette requires. Instead of that,
he made public his opinion Of Com
mander Davis disregard for the amen
tiles. This called forth letter from
the commander to the mayor saying
that the form of his orders to Balti-
more, and the failure Of the mayor to
send first message offering the civil
tiles of the port to the officer in charge
of the ship, exempted him from any
obligations to make call of ceremony
in full uniform. The tempest in a tea
pot was finally quoted only by an Of
fetal decision rendered by Secretary
Herbert. The secretary said:
When Commander Davis arrived he went
up town not for the purpose of reporting
specially, but only to inform the citizens
that his ship was there to be seen. He did
not go to pay official call, and did not
think of the celebration, which had long
since passed off, SO that he could not have
imagined that the presence of his ship had
anything to do with it. Therefore, as he
was not ordered to report to the mayor, his
call was unofficial, and he was not required
to wear his uniform. l think there must
have been some misunderstanding on the
part of Mayor Latrobe.
The mayor was never reconclled to
the secretary's view Of the case, but
he dropped its further discussion and
the incident blew over
This mention of Commander Davis
name recalls the fact that he and sew
eral other United States officers are
possessors of decorations conferred by
the king of Spain for various services
and courtesies. Commander Davis re-
ceived the order of Isabella the Cath
Ollie in recognition Of his attendance
upon Infanta Eulalia during her visit
to this country in 1898. If there should
be war with Spain Davis will receive
an important billet for active service,
as he stands high in the esteem Of the
department and is a kinsman of Sem
ator Lodge. Commander E. W. Dick
ems holds a Spanish order of knight
hood in, recognition of his management
of the tour of the Duke Of Veragua
in 1893. He is now assistant chief of
the bureau of navigation, and in case
of war would have, next to his chief
Capt Crowninshield, most responsible
ity in advising the secretary as to the
disposition Of the several ships and
their respective personnels.