The Portland daily press., 1899-07-17

Clam Bake and Sports at Peaks
Island.

Z Saturday afternoon ended the pro-
gramme for the entertainment of the
North Atlantic squadron as far as Port
land is concerned.
Saturday was great day for the "men
behind the guns" The men from the
ships were tho guests OF tho city at Peaks
island In tho afternoon where they en-
joyed clam baks and took part in the
athletic games arranged for them by
the committee on entertainments. The
Brooklyn's men won the most points In
this contest and the ship will be present.
cd With suitably engraved cup as q
trophy. In tha morning there was boat
racc in which crews from three ships
participated. The crsw from the New
York won this race after an exciting I'm
ish with the Indiana's crew.
Among the officers and men On the
fleets there was nothing but words OF
praise for the manner in which they have
been treated while IN this city. The
idea of the entertainment committee was
TO give the officers and men cordial well
come to Portland without any of the
formaiity which the officers sec enough
Of in other places and TO givc to the
''men behind the guns their ''innings."
which Is not often attempted in other
cities. In fact Ia this entertainment of
the fleet Portland has acquitted itself
very cieditably. The men of the fleet
have at least thoroughly enjoyed their
stay In this port Tney have not been
made the part Of a monkey show for the
anf fps.tsa eef 49,
been given chance TO see the city and
visit lis many places OF entertainment
frec OF cost, have been given plenty Of op-
portunity tor athletic sports, with cash
prizes for the winners. and the pro-
gramme ended with clam bake at Peaks
where every man got plenty to eat ami
was treated as honored guests OF the city.
Everything has passed of smo3shly and
with careful attention to details which
has won for the entertainment committee
the highest praise. Capt. Taylor, In COM
mand of the feet, paid to this committee
the greatest compliment that they have
received when he said that while ne did
not desire to make any invidious com-
parsons, he was free to say that the ar
rangements had been so well Innde that
he had found 1t very easy to comply with
the wishes of the committee in every par
ticular and had thor ,ughly enjoyed his
stay here. Many fleets have visited Port.
land In years past. but none have seut
ashore as good class of men as has come
from the ships under Capt Taylor's coTu-
mand. They have conducted themselves
In an orderly and highly creditable mau-
ner. The police have had no complaint
OF disordery conduct onssths part OF the
blue jackets from the ships, which is q
most unusual thing when it Is remem-
bered that during their stay in Portland
hundreds OF men have hsen ashore and
among SO many 1t would not be surrris-
Ing IL there were u few black sheep.
lhey have behaved here in q manner to
win Tor them and the navy the respect of
every citizen of Portland, and the only
thing to be regretted Is that enough time
was not allowed the city to provide a
more elaborate programme for their en-
tertainment.
The officers with whom the TIMES rep.
re5enGatfves have talked, SAY that the idea
Of giving TO the men OF the fleet SO much
atte .tion meets with their cordial en-
dorsement. The officers have been gen.
erously entertained. but the men have
received the most attention and this is
just what the officers approve OF. It will
be some time before the men of this fleet
forget the entertainment that has been
accorded them here, and it will be many
months before the citizens OF Portland
cease to remember the pleasure and plofit
which this fleet has been to Portland
Capt Iayicr, during the stay of the fleet
IN Portland, has won for himself the
respect and esteem Of every one whom
he has met. He has gone out of his way
70 give TO Portland people an opportu-
nifty 70 inspect his ships, has accorded to
the committee on entertainment every
reasonable request that they have made |
In Re lat1on to the programme and has
done all OF this IN such pleasant way
as to render the labors of the entertain
ment committee pleasure TO them. The
navy has always had place very close
to the hearts OF the Portland people, but
the visit OF the North A tlantic squadron
this year has made the navy more popu-
lar than ever here. Here is what the Bid
dsford Journal said, editorially. Saturday
night about the way In which Portland
entertained the fleet:
PORTLAND'S WAY.
The city of Portland is entitled to gem
erai congratulations for the excellence
ana the heartiness of its reception to the
squadron. The residents of the Forest
City not only know what is due their
guests, but they see to 1t that what Ia
due Is done and in thorough fashion.
Other oities that could be named seem
20 view the men or tho ships not as
peoples amusement. Such other cities
may talk of their guests" but perm is
sion to walk the streets Is all the hospi-
tality they show.
We feel proud Of the chief city of our
state foi the way she entertained the
squadron-the big shore dinner for the
sailo. boys at the Islands, the prizes on
ere1 for their games, the banquets to the
oiIicors, and last and not least, the peit-
ing OF the marching sailors with flowers
cast by half a hundred girls. What one
OF the sailors Will not lsug remember his
experiences at Portlandp
Our congratulations to the Forest City.