The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-17
AMERICAN HOSPITAL SHIP.
The Maine Inspected, a Flag Present.
ed and the Vessel Blessed.

ed and the Vessel Blessed.
were gay this afternoon with about 5000
prominent people present, including a num-
Der of royal personages. on the occa-
sion of the presentation Of the Queens
flag to the American hospital ship
Maine The Duke of Connaught, sur
rounded by the ladies of the committee on
the poop deck. presented the flag to Lady
Randolph Churchill. He said that in the
name of the Queen he thanked the Ameri-
can men and women, here and on the
other side. who had so nobly helped the
English sick and wounded" The duke also
referred to the unique occasion of ship
sailing under the union jack and stars and
stripes as evidence of affection existing be-
tween the two countries. He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen-In the name of
her Majesty, the Queen, / D esent this
union jack to the hospital ship Maine as
mark of her Majestys appreciation of the
generosity of those who found money for
the ship and also as a mark of her appre-
citation Of the charity which large num-
Der of ladies and gentlemen have shown
toward the soldiers OF the Queen, speaking
their own language, who are now fighting
gallanty In South Africa. 1t is a great
pleasure to me to be asked to pc. form
what L DeuSVe TO De q most unique cere-
mony. Never before has a ship sailed un-
der the combined flags, the union jack ard
the stars and stripes, and Ii marks, | hope,
an occasion which brings out the feeling
of generosity and affection which the two
countries have, ! trust, for each other.
cannot thank those who have come for
ward In this manner sufficiently for what
they have done. AS officer of the Eng
liSh army i feel, / can assure you, most
deeply for what you have all done, and
am sure the officers and men who, hope
will reap the advantage of this well-found-
ed ship will ever bless those who have
done so much for them. / would like to
mention many names, but am afraid 1t is
impossible. But l will ask Lady Randolph
Churchill to accept, in the name Of those
who have worked with her, the thanks
both of the sovereign of our country and
of all Englishmen and women for the
splendid present of this hospital ship"
Lady Ranaolph Churchill replied, thank
ing the Queen and the Duke Of Connaught.
The bishop of Isington blessed the ship
and the flag was hoisted by the duke. After
several unsuccessful tugs he broke out the
stops and an immense union jack. with a
red cross in its center, flew out to the SUM-
shine. At the same moment the American
emblem was broken out from the mizzen
mast. The "star-spangled Banner" and
God Save the Queen" were played by the
Scots Guards band. The crowds cheered
and the lockers clustered along the river
banks Joined in applause. Lady Randolph
Churchill called for three cheers for the
Duke of Connaught, which were given
heartily. The royal party included the
Duchess of Connau ght and Princess Louise
of Lorne. They drove away after having
inspected the Maine, which is expected to
sail for South Africa in about a week.
With the inspection of the ship to-day
and the farewell dinner Sunday the work
of the ladies who have been so active In
collecting funds ends. Curiously enough.
their efforts have not always been appre-
ciated in England. The members Of the
committee have been told on more than one
occasion that Great Britain did not want
foreign charity. and some Of the papers
have said many ill-natured things. Vanity
Fair. following a thinly-veiled allusion to
one of the committee who was received by
the Queen, remarked: 80 she has been re-
ceived at last. She must have been sur
prised and gratifed by the unexpected
honor. Charity does SO much