The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-03

is gorgeously decked today in honor OF
the gallant sailor who is waiting at heI
gate. Had an ocean of color swept
through the city, it's ebbing tide could
not have stained the streets more bril-
liantly. Hundreds of miles of red
white and blue bunting cover the no.
BILE facades of Broadway and Fifth
avenue, and a million flags hutter over
the town. Not even the churches have
escaped the universal decorations. The
doors and Gothic windows Of old Trim
ity, on lower Broadway, are gracefully
draped with the national colors, and
in ancient Trinity graveyard, the tomb
of that gallant sailor, who, dying, is
sued the command not to give up the
ship, lies shrouded in the silken folds
of the flag for which he died.
A MILLION VISITORS.
A million visitors are here to partici-
pate in the glorious celebration. Every
road is pouring in a steady stream I'M
I'll the streets are crowded morning and
night, the surface and elevated cars
are filled to overlooking and the hotel
corridors are jammed with visitors.
The gaily appareled soldier of many
states, who are to take part in the and
parade on Saturday, began ~trooping in
today and there was no hour when uni
formed men were not moving in some
quarter Of the city to the sound of flies
and drums and horns.
Sailors and marines ashore from the
big fighting machines helped to swell
the crowd trooping in all directions.
Uniformed members of the staff of the
arriving governors were everywhere.
THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH.
The arrangements for the two days
celebrations are completed. The great
arch at Madison qua modelled after
the triumphal arch Of Titus, and upon
which the most famous sculptors Of
America have lavished their genius, is
practically finished and stands a su-
peru tribute to the nations hero. 1t is
more beautiful than the arch in Rome.
ABOARD THE WARSHIPS.
Today the fotilla lay quietly at an
Choir off Tompkinsville,a towering spec
tacle of naval might and power to the
tens of thousands who sailed down in
tugs, in yachts and in steamers to see
the ships.
The crush to get aboard the Olympia
never abated for a minute, and as great
indulgence was shown by Admiral
Dewey, a goodly portion of those who
besieged the gangways got aboard. At
times the ship was fairly overrun.
These crowds and the official visits the
admiral received scarcely gave him and
his officers time to breathe.
The jackies today got the medals
which congress voted them, and proud
ly displayed them to the visitors, I'M
til JeffrieS, the pugilist, came aboard.
Jack v a fighter, and while the big
slugger was aboard the tars were obliv-
iouS to all else.
MANY OFFICIAL VISITS.
Owing to the stream of official WISH
tors, the roar of salutes continued al
most without interruption all day. Ma
jOr General Nelson A. Miles, at the
head of the Washington committee,
called to submit the programme for the
reception at the national capital, and
Major General Merritt and his staff.
stiff with gold braid, came over from
Governors island to officially welcome
Admiral Dewey in the nam of the
army. They were received with all the
hOnors BETTING their rank.
PRESENTED WITH FARRAGUTS
ENSIGN.
Commander George w. Baird, who
sailed with Farragut and Dewey in the
west gulf squadron in 1861, unrolled a
package which he had carefully. guard
ed all the way to the Olympia, and, dis
playing a faded blue admiraPs ensign
upon which were stitched four white
stars, he said to Admiral Dewey:
Admiral, I wish to present to you
the first admirars flag ever broken
out in the navy of this country. The
grand old admiral, whose name and
memory all so revere, first aoisted this
ensign upon the good ship Hartford,
before New Orleans. and afterward
upon the Franklin; and since it came
down from fhot rooCX-ool - $500
been whipped by the wind or worn by
the elements. You, the worthy success
sor of that great admiral whose tactics
you so successfully followed a short
while ago, I deem the proper person for
Farragut's mantle to fall upon"
This flag was made by Quartermas-
ter Knowles out of a blue Number
nag Farragut was first made a
rear admiral. Two white stars were
sewcd on it. When Farragut was made
an admiral two more white stars were
seWed on it. Farragut flew this flag
on the Hartford at New Orleans and
afterward in the Mediterranean.
Admiral Dewey was deeply affected
and tears were in his Eyes as he gazed
at the souvenir. 1t was several mo-
ments before he could find his voice.
Finally he said:
I'll fly it'll fly it at the masthead
I'll fly it in the parade-Ill fly it al
ways-and-and when I strike my ad-
miral's flag this will be the flag I shall
strike"
This was the most impressive scene
that has occurred on the Olympia since
her arrival in port and for some time
no n spoke. The silence was broken
by Dewey, who called his Chinese
steward and ordered a las of cham
payne. The Washingtonians remained
on chatting with the admiral for
an hour. A portion of the committee
LETT Tor Washington at $3.50 o'clock.
DEWEY'S FIGHTING CAPTAINS
VISIT HIM.
The climax was not reached until
Governor Roosevelt, of New York.
came down the bay in the afternoon on
the yacht Wild Duck. He was accom-
panied by General Francis ". Greene.
some officers of the New York naval
militia and several of Dewey's cap
tains at Manila, including CAPTAIN
Dyer, of the Baltimore; Captain Wood.
of the Petrol; Captain Wiides. of the
Boston, and Captain Walker, of the