The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-11
NATIONS GIFT TO DEWEY
DESCRIPTION OF THE SWORD MADE
BY ORDER OF CONGRESS.
To he Presented tn the Admiral ut the
Capital on the Second Day of the
Demons tration i'm His Honor.
Special to tn. indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept 10.-The central
feature of the welcome which is to be given
to Admiral Dewey in this city on Oct 2
and next will be the presentation of the
magnificent sword voted to him by Con-
gress as a gift from the American Nation.
This ceremony will take place at the east
front of the Capitol on the afternoon or the
second day OF the celebration, nd will prob
ably be witnessed by crowd greater In
numbers than ever assembled at that point
before. even at the most largely attended
presidential inauguration. stand Will De
erected. extending from the east steps OF
the building 1t will purposely be small, ac-
commodating only about 200 people. Those
who will have places there will be limited
to Admiral Dewey and the officers with
him and a few distinguished guests. On
the immense plaza extending from this the
multitude will gather to see the sword pre-
sented to the hero of Manila. view of
the stand can be obtained from every point
of the vast space at he east Of the Capt.
toll 1t will unquestionably be one of the
most memorable sights that the nationai
! capital has ever witnessed.
John d. Long, secretary of the navy, has
been Invited to present the sword to Ad-
| ingness to carry out this pleasant task.
President Mckinley will sit beside the hero
| Of Manila on the stand while the Cabinet
officials and other distinguished persons will
| occupy places about him.
Just at the present time a great deal OF
| interest is shown in the sword which Ad-
| miral Dewey is to have. The sword cost
| $40 OOo appropriated by Congress last 81 m
| mer in token of the appreciation of the en-
| tire Nation for the splendid victory which
| had been achieved at Manila bay May i. IT
was designed by Paulding Farnham and
was made by Tiffany & Co., of New York
! city 1t was completed about the first OF
J last January, and was sent 20 the secre-
+, tary of the navy about the Middle Oh that
! month in whose custody it has been ever
/ since At first there was considerable dis
| cussion as to how and when it should be
presented. but the formation of plans for
, a national reception In this city TINS Lai!
| occasion was undoubtedly the one at which
to make the gift of the sword: ..
! fanny & Co. in New York city just after IT
had beer finished, and was seen by num-
Der of persons in this city immediateiy aIteT
subsequently placed in one or the vaults at
| that building and has not been open to in
for this. in the opinion of Secretary Long,
was that Admiral Dewey should have the
pleasure. of showing 1t personally 70 his
| friends before it was otherwise exhibited,
| and it will not be seen by any one again
! until il Is given to the admiral at the east
front of the Capitol on the afternoon OF
Oct. g..
The sword is undoubtedly one Of the most
beautiful gifts that has ever been given 10
one of its heroes by grateful nation. with
the exception of the steel blade and the
| body of the sea bbard, the weapon Is made
entirely of twenty-two-carat gold. on the
l. rtn I'd
| flagship of Admiral Dewey, and just beneath
is the sign of the Zodiac for December the
lucky month in which he was born. AROUND
| low the pommel is embraced by gold col
lar. On the front of this is the coat Of arms
of the United States. while still lower 10
the coat of arms of his native State, Ver-
mont II bears the State motto, Freedom
The grip of the sword is covered with
shark skin and wound with fine gold wire,
| while the surface Is dotted with glistenlng
gold stars. The guard IS carved s.ir IN the the
the front of the scabbard are the initials.
&c. D. and under them. ~. s: NJ The
blade of the sword bears the inscription:
1.-The gift of the Nation to Rear Admiral
George Dewey. u. 8. N. in memory of the
victory at Manila May ], 1895"
One of the things which gives national
prominence to the reception here will be the
presence of the Governors of a large num-
Der of the States in the Union. Invitations
have been sent to all these officers to be in
| Washington at that time, together with
their staffs and, IL possible. detachment
of the State troops. Hardly half of them
have been heard from so far, but up to the
present time Governor Wolcott. of Massa-
chusetts; Governor Rolli. of New Hamp-
Governor Tyler, of Virginia. and Governor
Atkinson. OF West Virginia have given def
mite assurance that they will be here. Gov
ernor Pingree. Of Michigan; Governor Bush
| nell, OF Ohio; Governor Ellerbe, of South
Carolina; Governor McMillin. of Tennessee;
and Governor Sayers, of Texas, have writ
ten they will come If they can possibly ar
Committees are also being organized to
take part from the Senate and the House
of Representatives. The House committee
has not been formed so far. but Senator
Proctor. of Vermont. will be at the head OF
the Senate committee. while Senator Nor
the committee consisting of about thirty
members. Those who have accepted posi-
tons on it thus far are Senator Butler, OF
North Carolina; Senator Davis, Of Mime
sofa: Senator Elkins, of West Virginia:
Senator Foraker. OF Ohio; Senator McEnery,
of Louisiana: Senator Mcmillan of Michi-
gan, and Senator Mallory, of Florida.
A committee OF about fifty persons Will
shortly be organized. whose duty IL will be
TO go over to New York city Oct l, and act
as an escort to Admiral Dewey on his tri-
umphal journey for this city the next day.
A special train has been put at the service
of this committee by the Pennsylvania
Railroad. II will start from New York
Monday morning. make a few stops the
way. and reach here just about dusk. That
evening the city will be Illuminated and
there will be a magnificent night parade
The committee which will act as an escort
TO Admiral Dewey on his way to Washing
ton has only been partially made up. The
list OF the government officials who have
been invited includes the President the Vice
President and the members of the Cabinet
Dewey Sails for Home.
GIBRALTAR. Sept 1O-The United States
| cruiser Olympia with Admiral Dewey
sailed this afternoon for New York.