The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-26
The International Gel
ebratiOl.
THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY.
and Americans Join at Port
Tampa In Doing Honor TO the Lay.
Crews From the TWO British WAR
ships Join the American Military In
the Ceremonies-A Portrait Of VictOs
ria Unvailed by Electricity by Cow
ernor R~OoseveIt From Albany.

ernoT fHOOScVclb FIOul AIDdny
Port, Tampa, Fla, May 24-The
greatest day in the history of Port
Tampa, hat Of the celebration of
Queen Victoria's S0th birthday, opened
bright and warm. AS h sun appeared
on the horizon, salutes were fired from
the British and American war vessels
lying in the harbor and from then on
events crowded rapidly on each other.
The shipping in the harbor was gay
with it's dressing Of flags and pennants,
and throughout the town was a liberal
display of flags, bunting and floral dec
orations. The flags Of the two nations
taking part in the ceremonies, the Brit
ish and the American, were f1oated
from every point Of vantage and among
them, conspicuously shown, were many
German flags. The most striking fea-
ture of the decorations was a triumphal
arch displaying the British lion and the
American eagle. In one paw the lion
grasped an American flag, and in one
claw the eagle waved the British col
ors, the entire arch being twined with
American, British and German flags.
IWO uuIuTeu IldIlIlcS lIOIl lit LII
trepid and the Pearl, the two British
cruisers sent to take part in the cele-
bration, landed at 8 o'clock in the
morning crd were escorted UP the long
ock by tie Port Tampa division Of the
Florida naval reserves, the English
band playing American national airs
and the Americans responding with the
British anthems. Arms were presented
as they passed under the arch, the
shipping in h harbor rent the air
with it's tea whistles and gongs and
the spectators cheered themselves
hoarse.
The most dramatic incident of the
day was the unwilling of a large por-
trait of Queen Victoria The portrait,
draped in the flags of the two coun-
tries, stood upon q small balcony OF
The Inn and before it stood a crowd
Of expectant watchers. At Don pre-
cisely in the capital at Albany, N. Y,
Governor Theodore Roosevelt touched
an electric button, the covering fell
from the face and two marines, Eng
lish and American, standing On either
side Of the portrait, clasped each 9TH
ers hands il tCken of the amity of the
two great nations. The people cheered
wildly and off in the haIbor was heard
the heavy guns Of the Warships, firing
the queens salute.
AT 1 O'Clock a banquet was rendered
to officers Of the British warships and
other distinguished guests, at which
the speeches were marked by a cordial
fraternity Of spirit and interchange of
good feeling between the representa-
tives Of her Britannia majesty and
those of the republic. The queens
health n that Of the president were
drunk with enthusiasm, and toasts to
the British and the American navies
were received with cheers.
CHARLESTON CELEBRATION.
Georges Society, of Charleston, found
ed in 1898, today celebrated the Queens
birthday by a meeting and banquet at
h chamber of commerce. Previous to
the toast to her majesty, a resolution
was adopted, the members extending
ito her majesty their respectful greet
ings on the attainment of four score
years by n of the best and greatest
potentate5 with whom the world has
ever been blessed and echo the anthem
God Ssve the Queen now proudly
peeling throughout her realms"
The resolutions will be forwarded to
Queen Victoria through the office of
her ambassador at Washington.
Key West, Fla, May 24.-A banquet
was given todey in honor of the queens
birthday by w. J. H. Taylor, British
consul at Key West, and Edward Sud-
low, British consul at Jacksonville
Army, navy, city, county, state and
government officials were present.
Many toasts were responded to. The
enthusiastic nature of the responses
from the army n the naval officers
were pa ticularly noticeable. A vote
Of thanks wos rendered Consul TAYLOR
by the Americans.