The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-01
MARYLANDS SCHLEY.
His Native State Honors the Hero
Of Santiago.
THE STATES BEAUTIFUL MEDAL.

ful OF the Glory OF Her sons.
Baltimore. March 1.-Bear Admiral
| Winfield Scott Schley received ycster-
| day from the people Of this. his native
state, a superb testimonial Of the esteem
| in which he is held 10y the people of
Maryland aud OF their appreciation OF
| his services to the country during the
late war with Spain. incidentally he
was checrcd by assembled thousands az
he rode through the streets Of Baltimore.
and at nipht 400 Of the representative
| men of the city and state gathered to-
gether to witness the presentation Of ths
testimonial and to join in a banquet
given in his honor The testimonial
proper took the form Of a magnificent
medal Of gold and diamonds of great
intrinsic worth aud resplcndent beauty,
the gift Of Maryland, presented in the
name OF the state, by Governor Lowndcs.
Admiral Schley, accompanied by Mrs
| Schley and General Miles, and escorted
| by reception committee arrived from
| Washington at 3 p. m. and drove in an
open carriage from Camden station to
the Reunert hotel The streets through
which the carriage 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 ar
rival at the Rennert an informal reccp-
tion was held, and at 7.3O p. m. the
presentation ceremonies began
After the 400 guests filed into the big
banquet hall and took their places they
remained standing. Governor Lowndes,
who presided. made brief but elo-
quent speech upon Maryland's part in
the late war, which was received with
great enthusiasm. He then introduced
General Felix Aguus, as chairman Of
the testimonial committee, who paid an
eloquent tribute to Admiral Schley, con-
cluding as follows:
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 Commodore Schley would
have been fatal to u.s. wrote Lieutenant
Greely, whom you rescued.
ITO hesitate at Valparaiso would have
lost American lives, and slow action at
Santiago would have compromised your
most marvellous victory. True to every
trust, you make every one proud that he
is an American.
"Ihe medal we present to you tells
its own eloquent story 1t is from the
state Of Maryland-your state-our
state, and it tells in your own noble
words that there is glory enough for ALI
even 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 call
ed upon Governor Lowndes to place
about the neck Of Admiral Schley the
medal Of 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 de
scriptiOn. The Maryland coat of arms Is
made Of gold bars in bas-reGef and en-
amel, surrounded by a circle of fine
/ diamonds, around which is oak
wreath intertwined with diamonds,
| held by a ribbon of blue enamel, the edge
Of which is set with diamonds and on
! which is the inscription: Maryland
| honors her son, Winfield Scott Schley.'
| Entwined in the ribbon are an anchor
/ of diamonds and two swords, the hilts
| and guards of which are studded with
diamonds At the top is the coat OF
arms Of the United States, through
| which is a navy blue ribbon with two
| stars, indicating the rank of rear ad-
miral. On the reverse is a very fine out
| line of the cruiser Brooklyn in bas-relief.
| Altogether there are 500 diamonds in the
medal. Two months were required for
| its making.
When the applause had subsided Ad-
miral Schley replied as follows:
Il feel that any words l might employ
| would fail to convey to you the sense of
! high appreciation which moves me at
| this moment. This is the second time
! in my experience Of ~ years in the SER
| vice of my country that my state has
| DECORATED me for services to my nation,
the first having been after my return
| from the Arctic regions in the fall of
! 1884, when the Lady Franklin bay eX-
/ peditiOn was rescued by the expedition
4 had the honor to command. On that
| occasion it took the form of n vote Of
| thanks of the legislature of Maryland,
\ and the gift of a gold chronometer watch
of rare beauty and value The priceless
J decoration ON this occasion for my part
in the battle of July 3 off Santiago comes
| to me bearing the love Of the people OF
this glorious and grand old state OF
| Maryland, so rich in historic attachment
and connection with the empire Of lib
| erty. 1t brings TO me so much that VIII
always last to remind me of an event in
! my lIe ana service lnuI VIII llNe IN the
history of our state and country.
"1he Victoria Cross of England and
the Iron Cross OF Germany are more
sought by the officers and men of the
service Of those countries than any
other distinction. They are conferred by
the sOyereigns on all whose martial deeds
enhance the nations grandeur 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 hum
blest sailor for deeds that are conspicu-
GUS in the nations service.
"This medal means all that these mean
and in addition it bears the love Of the
people in whose name it is given, aud
this adds a value that enhances any re-
ward that could come for services in
their interest.
Il thank your eXcellency and my dear
friends Of my dear old Maryland for
this great distinction conferred tonight
in their name. | shall keep it always
with infinite pleasure and pride"
At the banquet which followed the
presentation Cardinal Gibbons asked the
blessing aud speeches were delivered by
General Miles, Mayor Malster, Hon. j
V. L. Findlay, ex-United States Senator
William Pinckney White, Hon. John X
Cowan and others.