The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-04
THE FESTIVITIES BEGUN WITH A
BALL LAST NIGHT.
MOST MAGNIFICENT FUNCTION.
The Decorations Beautiful and Unique.
Naval Emblems Predominating-The
Attendance Large Tbs .Arrivai OF
the Admiral i'm the city Received by
Cheering rhrongs-waited on by
Committee OF Canadians anu Invited
to Port stanley, Ontario.

Chicago, April y In the his
tory Of the great auditorium has there
been in its walls a sight more beauti-
full than that revealed tonight when
the great ball given in honor of Ad-
miral Dewey was at its height. 1t was
Chicago's first opportunity to pay her
tribute to the victor of Manila bay.
There was nothing wanting. 1t was
a decisive success throughout. The floor
was crowded at first, but when the
dance programme proper was fairly
under way, the older people sought the
boxes and the spacious foyer, leaving
the floor to the younger people, who
used it until daybreak. Fully 1000
people were present.
1t being a naval ball, the predom-
mating colors were white and green.
A canopy was drawn over the hall,
making it resemble a huge white
capped wave, the deep green at the
bottom shading softly into the purest
white at the topmost edge. At inter-
walls. around the tiers of boxes, were
placed white galleons, which SEEM
ingly started from the mist of bunting
n delicate-hued electric lights, which
concealed them a few feet from the
Prov, where %dolphinS rose from the i'm
aginary sea below. Above ach galleon
rose a towering mast, bearing in relief
a lions head, and futtering with the
signal flags of the navy. Behind the
figure head of each galleon stood a
sailor, a veteran of the Spanish
American war, who saw active service
in the caribbean sea.
Long foStOnnS of alaotrio E0htS hung
from top to top of the great white
mastS extending around the hall. On
a platform of honor Admiral and Mrs.
Dewey were seated, while Mayor and
Mrs. Harrison occupied a second plat
form of honor.
Behind the admiral's box was hung
a mammoth admiral's flag, and over
head was a canopy respondent with
gold braid. At each of the two en-
rance to each box stood lat atten-
tion"two sailors from the first ships
crew, Illinois naval militia.
The doors of the ball room were
opened at $50 o'clock, n a half our
later the p~atronesseS and of
the ball, headed by Mayor Harrison
and Mrs. Arthur Cation, entered the
ball room and behind two long strands
of silken ribbon awaited the distin-
guished guests.
Immediately Admiral and Mrs.
Dewey entered, followed by a throng
of less distinguished guests. Imme-
diately behind the admiral, came with
their wives, the naval officers on duty
in Chicago, and the officers Of the
United States steamship Michigan.
Behind the navy came the army, head
ed by Major General James F. Wade
and Mrs. Wade, officers of General
Wade's staff with their wives, and
officers of the garrison at Fort Sheri-
dan and their wives. Officers Of the
,-a- -o,r;ao f1ou-0 o-l hohs~I
them came Brigadier General Charles
Fitzsimmons, commanding the first
brigade of the illinois national guard,
and Mrs. Fitzsimmons, members of
General F~itzsimmons' staff, with their
wives, closing the procession of the
city'S guests.
The admiral and Mrs. Dewey after
exchanging greetings took their stand
at Mayor HarriSon'S right, and to them
were presented all the other guests.
There was no grand march, the adj
miralS party retiring to his box when
the line of guests had passed and the
floor was surrendered to the dancers.
At midnight the admiral and Mrs.
Dewey were entertained at luncheon
by Hobart c. Chatfield-Taylor, and
soon afterward he and his party re-
tired.
ARRIVAL IN THE CITY.
Amid the booming of cannon and the
CHeeTS u HuuuTeuS OIL people, AuILllEdl
Dewey arrived in Chicago at IL
o'clock this morning. For the next
three days he will be the guest of this
city. The special train bearing the adj
miral and his party was met near
South Chicago by a special train carry
ing the general executive committee OF
the Dewey celebration and including
Mayor Harrison. President Charles A
Plamondon and the admiral'S son
George Goodwin Dewey. The thousands
waiting at the station " a roar OF
cheers as the train made its appear
ance.
Crowds continued to cheer while the
police cleared the street for the car
riages, and the party proceeded on to
the hotel. On his ride through the down
town streets the admiral was escorted
by a platoon of police, a band, the first
cavalry, n a guard of honor, the
Illinois Naval Reserve Veteran Asso-
citation.
The route to the Annex lay along
Fifth avenue to Jackson boulevard
hence down Michigan avenue to the
hotel. Crowds literally packed the side
walks, n cheered continuously.
AS the party reached the corner OF
Jackson boulevard and Dearborn
streets, a signal man posted o. a high
building wig-wagged to a land battery
stationed in nearby railway yards, and
to the officers of the revenue cutter
Morrill, out in the harbor. Instantly the
land battery roared out the admiral's
salute of seventeen guns, while the
ships guns fired the twenty-one guns
Of the naval salute.
After an informal luncheon given
Admiral Dewey by the members of the
general committee this afternoon, a
delegation called on the admiral ano
presented a formal invitation to be
present at a reception to be given IL
his honor at Hill Terrace, Port Stanley
Ont, on any day in July conyenien
|, to the admiral. The invitation, which
was beautifully embossed and bound
in red morocco, included among it!
8 signatures the names of Sir Wilfrr(
Laurier n Sir Charles Upper. Ri
Rev. c. p. Henderson, who made tn
presentation address. said the invita-
J ton came from representatives of al
= empire hat was somewhat familia,
with naval achievements and assured
4 the admiral that the warmth of tn
reception accorded him would be full.
as great as that given him by his owl
!. countrymeG-