The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01
COSTLY GIFT TO SCHLEY
HI ADMIRAL PRESENTED WITH A
MEDAL OF GOLD AND DIAMONDS.
Tribute from the People of Maryland
to the Hero OF the Battle OF July B
His Speech in Reply.

"
BALTIMORE. Feb. 2s-Rear Admiral
Winfield Scott Schley received to-day from
the people of this. his native State. a SUI
perb testimonial Of the esteem In which he
is held by the people OF Maryland, and Of
their appreciation of his services TO the
country during the late war with Spain.
Incidentally he was cheered by
thousands as he rode through the streets
of Baltimore, aud at night four hundred OF
the representative men Of the city and State
gathered together 10 witness the presenta-
ton Of the testimonia and join in a ban
quet given in his honor. The testimonial
proper took the form of a magnificent
medal of gold and diamonds of great in
trinsic worth and resplendent beauty, the
gift of Maryland, presented, in the name OF
the State. by Governor Lloyd Lowndes.
Admiral Schley. accompanied by Mrs.
Schley and General Miles, escorted by a re-
ception committee, arrived from Washing
ton at 8 p. m, and drove I'm an open car
riage from Camden Station to the Rennert
Hotel. The streets through which the car
riage passed were lined with people. and
cheer after cheer was given to both the
hero Of Santiago and the general of the
army. Upon their arrival at the Reanert
al nv maj AN@1RNACAA "oE CAAr oA0 - 49,
p. m. the presentation ceremonies began.
After the 400 guests filed into the big BAN
quet hall and took their places they re-
manned standing. Governor Lowndes. who
presided, made a brief, but eloquent. speech
on Maryland's part in the navy and the late
war. which was received with great en-
thusiasm. He then introduced General
Felix Agnus, as chairman of the testimonial
committee. General Agnus said, In part:
Fourteen years ago the Legislature OF
Maryland presented you with the watch
you wear as a proof of their admiration or
your daring rescue of those lost In the icy
seas. Now We welcome you-not a hero Of
the frozen north. but as a hero OF the
tropics. For We remember that on July 3,
| 1898. the bridge of the gallant Brooklyn was
more than I'D degrees hotter than Greely's
camp at Cape Sabine. So do not be sur
prised IL our joy tonight rises with the
temperature. Our Legislature will not con-
| vene until next year. and we could not walt
so long TO do you honor.
L LOVE SCHLEY.
From the rivers of the bay, from the
| mines of the mountains, from the levels OF
the eastern shore to the hills of the AL
leghenies, from all the homes and from all
the people the cry came Let US honor
Schley.' They loved you, they praised you
with their voices. they blessed you with
their prayers, and, when the Governor ap-
pointed a committee to select a fitting en-
blem with which to decorate the peoples
hero, their first thought was TO make the
gift significant and without a duplicate in
the world. Superb swords have been pre-
scented to you. and each tells OF a peoples
admiration for what you have done. But
Maryland offers its tribute In a form that
will ever have its singular charm and mean
ing. You may wear your honorS at diner
ent times, but Maryland's medal of honor
will be with you always. and with 1t goes
the love of a noble people.
Not once. but many times, you have
risked your life for others Brave as a lion
in danger-gentle as a woman in mercy
more caution and less daring on the part
of Commander Schley would have been fatal
to u.s. wrote Lieutenant Greedy. whom you
rescued. To hesitate at Valparaiso would
have lost American lives, and slow action
at Santiago would have compromised your
most marvellous victory. True 10 every trust.
you make every one proud that he Is an
''The medal we present TO you tells its
own eloquent story. II is from the state or
Maryland-your State-our State|t tells IN
your W noble words that there Is glory
enough for alr-eveE for those who did not
fight, but love you all the more that you
fought for them and their flag"
At the conclusion General Agnus called
upon Governor Lowndes to place about the
neck of Admiral Schley the medal or honor,
which the Governor did. amid a perfect
storm of applause, which was renewed again
and again while the admiral stood and
bowed his thanks. The medal Is beautiful
beyond description. The Maryland coat OF
arms is made OF gold in bas-relief. and
enamel. surrounded by a circle or me
| diamonds. around which rs an oak Nreatn
i%ntertwined with diamonds, held by a ribbon
OF blue enamel. Tie edge of which is set
with diamonds and on which Is the inscrip-
ton: Maryland bonors her son-Ntnheld
Scott Schley." Entwined in the ribbon are
an anchor Of DIAMONDS and TWO sWoros, lne
hilts and guards of which are studded with
of fhe United States. through which is a
navy blue ribbon with two stars. indicat-
ing the rank Of rear ,n aam mr. cr, 1n ne er reSsrSs
I'm bas-relief. Altogether there are so ola-
monds in the medal. Two months were re-
quired for its making
THE ADMIRAL'S REPLY.
When the applause. which lasted fully ten
minutes. had subsidized, Admiral Schley re-
piled as follows:
.Yorr Excellency. Gentlemen Of the Com
mlttee. my Friends and Fellow-country-
men-Oi the occasion of this ceremony, IN
confidence. / feel that any words i might
employ would fail to convey to YOU me
sense Of high appreciation, when moves no
my experience OF forty-two years IN tne
service OF my country that my state mas
decorated me for services 10 my Nation the
first having been after my return from tho
arctic regions in the fall OF 1874. when me
Lady Franklin bay expedition was rescued
by the expedition / had the honor TO COM
mand. ON that occasion IL took the form
OF a vote OF thanks OF the Legislature OF
MARYLAND and the gift OF a gold chronom-
eter watch OF rare beauty and value. Inc
priceless decoration on this occasion Tor my
l part in battle on July 8 Oh SdntaSo 'ohSS
TO me bearing the love OF the people OF this
glorious and grand old state OF Maryland.
so rich I'm historic attachment and connec-
ton with the empire OF liberty. IL brings 70
me so much that will always last TO remind
me OF an event IN my life and service tnat
will live in the history OF our state ana
country.
The Victoria Cross CT England and the
Iron Cross OF Germany are more sought oy
the officers and men of the service OF those
countries than any other distinction: they
are conferred by the sovereigss on all whose
martial deeds enhance the nations grand
eur. and they are found alike on the breast
OF the general and of the worthy private.
on the breast OF the admiral and OF the
humblest sailor for deeds that are conspicu-
Gus in the nations service. The medal
means all that these mean. and. IN addition.
IL bears the love OF the people in whose
name IL II given. and this adds a value that
enhances any reward that could come for
service I'm their interest
Il thank your Excellency and my dear
friends OF my dear old Maryland for this
great distinction conferred tonight in their
name. 1 shall keep It always with infinite
| pleasure and pride"