The times., 1899-10-01


and beneath it. On a tablet. appears the
name of the ship to which the recipient
was attached. The medal to be presented
to Admiral Dewey will bear the name of
his flagship o. S. s. Olympia. The reci-
pients name is engraved around the edge
of the medal.
The medals are suspended from bars, the
decorations CT which consist of an eagle
with outstretehed wings, an American
shield, laurel wreath Of victory, and sword
Of justice, effectively grouped, with the
waves of the sea for a background. The
silk ribbon at the back of each medal con-
sists of three stripes-two navy blue with
the Spanish yellow in the centre signify
ing that the yellow has been vanquished by
the blue. Each medal is fitted in hand
some leather case, covered with fine yell
low Spanish color leather.
In its entirety, this joint product of
New Yorks eminent sculptor and art
workers will doubtless rank as notable
contribution TO the medallic art of this
country.
The sword of honor was completed and
shipped to the Navy Department several
months ago.
Description of the sword
The top of the hilt of the sword is of
solid gold, twenty-five karats fine, and this
quality of the yellow metal is employed
wherever gold is use. Oak leaves, the dec
Grafton appropriate to the rank of an Ad-
miraI are conspicuous in various parts of
the scabbard and hilt, and there are acorns
on both of these parts of the memorial.
AS Admiral Dewey was born in the month
of December, 1t was desired to use the
turquoise, his birthstone, in the jeweling
of the sword. but this was found to be i'm
practicable as the turquoise is easily
scratched. and the sword in question was
designed to be useful. Encircling the top
Of the hilt is a wreath of oak leaves. Di-
reetly beneath this is the gold collar. y
| On the front Of the collar the arms of
/ the United States appear. Below these are
the arms of Vermont and scroll bearing
| the motto Of that State, Freedom and
Unity.
| The Hit of sharkskin.
! Stars decorate the plain part of the col
! lar and the grip of the hilt is of sharkskin,
| inlaid with stars and bound with gold wire.
| The guard is conventionalized eagle, ter
| ninating with a claw that clasps the top
| of the handle. One wing of the eagle is
| extended SO as to form the broad part OF
/ the guard. The seabbard is ornamented at
| the top with a monogram formed of the
| initials G. D., in diamonds and beneath the
monogram are the letters U. s. N, in
smaller diamonds. The scabbard Is of thin
steel, finely damascened in gold, with
sprays OF ros marinus and with the letter
ID repeated again and again, supplemented
with dolphins. The blade is damascened
and bears the following inscription:
The Gift of the Nation 10 Rear Admiral George
Dewey, U. S. ~, in Memory of the Victory at
Manila Bay. May l, 1888.
The First Naval Vessels.
The blade also bears representations OF
Phoenician galleyss the first warships OF
the world The belt mountings and other
trappings are Of the regulation pattern,
ornamented with oak leaves and acorns.
The belt is of blue enamel and gold, its
buckle being adorned with the customary
eagle, anchor. and stars. The bullion tas-
| sci and embroidered straps are rich and
costly. The amount of gold used in the
sword and scabbard is 725 pennyweights.