Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-04


80 i, witch Won are held by your
o,,n+r, Tho voice of the nation Is
t;ftad in nraise and gratitude Tor the
DISTINGUISHED and memorable services
van have rendered the country ana an
Tho naopIo give you an affecuonatA
,.alcnme home. in which | join with
al ny, baart. Your victory exalted
American valor and extended American
,,,hn,itx There was no flaw in youl
,;n,orv there will be no faltering in
,,,iptaining it. (Grea. applause). 1t
yives me extreme pleasure to have the
.rroat honor on behalf of the people to
hand YOU this sword. the gift of the
,,tion voted by the Congress Of the
United States.
Admiral Dewey took the sword with
, deep bow and there was a roar of
applause as Dewey received 1t. Inc
crowd was hushed as he turned to re-
ply Admiral Dewey said;
II thank you. Mr.. President. for this
great honor your have conferred upon
me. | thank the Congress for what
il has done. | thank the secretary OF
the navy for his gracious words. |
thank my countrymen for this beautl-
ful gift which shall be an heirloom i'll
my family forever as an evidence that
republics are not ungrateful. and l
thank you. Mr.. chairman and gentle
men of the committee for the gracious,
cordial and kindly welcome you have
given me to my home.
The band played The Star Spangled
Banner AID then Cardinal Gibbons
pronounced the benedicition
The sword presented to Admiral
Dewey. except its steel blade and the
body metal of its scabbard. is entirely
of - carat gold. on the pommel IS
carved the name of the cruiser Olym-
pia. which was Dewey's flagship at
Manila and the zodiacal sign for De
cember. in which month Dewey was
born. Circling these is a closely woven
wreath of oak leaves. long employed To
indicate and adorn rank.
Below these the pommel is embraced
by a gold collar on the front of which
are the arms of the United States with
the blue field of the shield in enamel.
Below them are the arms of Vermont.
DaWev'S native state. with the motto
Freedom and Unity" and the colors of
the shild in enamel. The plain part of
the gold collar is decorated with stars
and a graceful finish is given to it by
4 narrow band Of oak leaves. The
sword blade is damascened with the
inscription: The gift of the nation 10
Rear Admiral George Dewey. U. $. n.
in memory of the victory at Manila
bay. May |. 1885
The sword grip is covered with fine.
sharkskfn. bound with gold wire and
iriaid with gold stars. The guard is an
eagle terminating in a claw which
srasps the top in which the blade is
set. the eagles outstretched wings
form the guard proper.
The scabbard is of thin steel, dam
asccned in gold. with sprays OF dell
cate sea plant. the rosmarinus. typical
Of fidelity. consistency and remembrance.
These sprays are interlaced. Stars FL
the inner spaces: DolprnS the outer
spares.
Sprays Of oak leaves and acorns Sc
cure The rings and trappinGs Of tn"
scabhard: above these on the front of
The -abbard is raised monogram III
diamonds ontwining the letters &c. ID.
aud Immediately under them are tn"
letters ~ s. N" surrounded by sprays
Of the sen plant. The ferrule. or lower
end of the scabhard. terminates in en-
tWined gold dolphins.
The sword box is Of white oak. inlaid
with black velvet and at the center nj
the cover has q gold shield Surm"unted
~ an eagle and inscribed with a sin
glr star and the words Rear Admiral
George Dewey. U. S. n"