The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-06-03
THE GUNBoAT NASHVILLE.

Last Sunday Providence was decked
in holiday attire. The stores and We
hicles were oruameuted with read,
white and blue bunting. and large
crowd of people assembled early IN
the morning at the landing to board
the Belle of the Bends and meet the
United States gunboat Nashville.
The two vessels met about O'Clock
twelve miles up the river and came
down together.
The Belle of the Bends fred salute
of 21 guns. aud when the Nashville
dropped her anchor a little distance
from Providence, tho reception COM
mittee went aboard to welcome Cap
tam Maynard, the officers and sailors.
DR.. F. r. Bernard very gracefully de-
liycred the address of welcome.
After the reception committee re-
Turned to the Belle of the Bends the
other passengers on the boat were
shown over the vessel.
The officers and sailors were ex-
tremely kind in showing the people
over the boat. The first gun fired
during the late war was pointed out.
and also the bullet holes made by the
Spaniards. !.
The Nashville is considered one OF
the finest gunboats afioat. She is
about two years old and has every late
/ Improvement, including new kind OF
anchor. The boat is very pretty ana
exquisitely kept. When looking at the
brass work. polished 30 brilliantly that
one could see his face in it. the peo-
pie realized the meaning of the ex-
preston, s'kept in ship shape" Not
rope or nail was out of place.
The Belle of the Bends left her band
on the Nashville. ;.
After going over the ship the Provl-
dence people returned home, and with
them, came great many OF the sail
ors as we'll as the officers. These rode
over the town and enjoyed themselves
generally.
That night beautiful reception was
: rendered the officers at the club rooms
The rooms were decorated with the
red. white and, blue bunting and
with everereens. The Vicksburg band
played during the entire evening. Re-
Z freshments were served in the ban
quoting hall of the club house. They
!. consisted OF champagne and cake
: DR.. Bernard was toastmaster. In
> few brief. apt words. he again wei
|, coined Captain Maynard and the othel
gallant officers of the Nashville to on
little town. He then called on Hon
10 s. WHY for O toast. His subject
: Capt. Maynard. Mr.. WHY spoke no
only of Captain Maynard. but of Cap
tain Maynard's father, whom ne knew
: in Knoxville. Tenn. This gentleman
be said, was one of the noblest sons
q noble state. He was great orator
n He represented his district in the U. 5
. Congress q number of terms. He wa
4 Attorney General of the State @
J Tennessee, and was afterwards aF
pointed Minister to the Empire G
Turkey. 1t seemed appropriate ths
10 the son of this noble Iennesseea
y should have been appointed Captai
d Of a vesssl that bore the name {
Tenn essee's Capital City. Nashville
b. The son had added glory to an alreac
honored name, and toast was drum
to Captain Maynard.
i DR.. Bernard then called on Hon. d
y E. Ransdell for toast. His subjec
q Our Navy. Mr.. Ransdell said b
q. could only touch briefly on subjet
which was almost inexhaustabie. ID
- spoke of how the United State nav
- had always acted heroicly. and ha
made us respected as Nation.
!. the war of 1912 Commadore Perry o
Lake Erie conquered The British vosse
and sent them back the laconic repl.
s. 1--WE have met the enemy and they al
20 ours.~ II was the navy rather tina
D. the army on land that made Us drea'
q ed as q foe. The naval battles durir
4: the war Of Session were AS fierce AS Il
land battles and the heroism of the sal
ors as great. The greatest navaLvic
ar ory Of the world, excepting that
re Trafalgar. is that of Dewey's at Manil
as It is the navy that has given US our b
~ roes in this war-our Dewey, and o.
ut Sampson, and our Schley. and Of
Maynard and our Magruder; and '
.a drink to Our Navy.
- DR., Bernard then called on CAPITA
e Maynard for toast. The CAPITA
z. said that he and his men appreciate
- very deeply the attention and hosl
70 tally that had been shown them
! the people Of Providence, and that
& along the Mississippi river they h
been treated with The greatest cour1