The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-19
Bronze Tablets Presented the Two
War Ships.
Gov. Johnston Partici-
pates in Affair.
Gov. Rollins Flag Presentation
Speech.

Portsmouth, N. H., September 18. -The
initial day celebration Of the presenta-
tion of the tablets to the Kearsarge andAl-
ALBANIA, although ushered in by gloom and
storm, nevertheless proved great success
through the fortunate clearing of the
weather, and tonight the two bronze em-
blems are insthe CUSTODY Of the command
ing officers OF the great battleships. The
storm of last night disarranged the pro-
gramme planned by the committee forsthe
day so that the formal exercises Of presen-
tation went over until afternoon, while
those arranged to be he'd on BOARD the
Kearsarge, now at anchor In the harbor,
were postponed altogether. The exercises
on shore, however, were a great success
and the different speeches by prominent
officials were warmly received by large
gathering.
The weather cleared beautifully during
the latter part Of the day ana the stands
erected on the shores OF the inland lake
presented a fine appearance and the
whole afternoon was very satisfactory to
the committee who had planned this part
OF the celebration. The exercises were
held shortly after three O'Clock.
Mayor Edward Il. Mcintyre opened the
proceedings with an address Of WELCOME
and then introduced General Charles II.
Burns of Wilton, as president of the day.
MIR. Burns spoke at length of the signin-
canoe of the occasion and then presented
Miss Mary Thornton Davis of Boston,
niece OF Lieutenant Thornton, executive
officer Of the old Kearsarge, and Mrs.
Henry Bryan of Alabama, daughter of
Rear Admiral Semmes, of the old Alaba-
ma. Miss Davis unveiled the tablet des-
tined for the Alabama, while Mrs. Bryan
performed like act with that for the
Kearsarge
Speeches were made by Governor Frank
lin Rollins, Secretary of the Navy John
ID. Long and Governor James +. John
ston of Alabama.
Because of the inclement weather, Ithe
proposed exercises on board the battleship
Kearsarge were omitted, and Captain W.
p. Folger or that vessel was introduced
and accepted the tablet ON behalf of the
officers and men.
Capt. William II. Brownson, command
er of the Alabama, was also introduced
and spoke on similar lines
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Hack
EFT, Portsmouth man, also spoke. At
the oonclusl.r OF his address cheers were
given for the Governors Of Alabama and
New Hampshire, and the audience dis
persed after singing America. Z"
This evening the days celebration con-
cluded with grand banquet at the Hotel
Wentworth, at which many officers Of the
fleet were present, as well as all Invited
guests, including Governor Johnston of
Alabama and his staff. A half dozen OF
the guests made speeches.
Tomorrow there VIII be formal parade
by attachments from the different war-
ships and the entire State militia. through
the streets OF Portsmouth, with a review
by Governor Rollins. In the evening
there win be a display Of fireworks and
an illumination of the battleships The
weeks celebration will conclude on
Thursday with a firemen's muster.
Very properly the banquet at Hotel
Wentworth tonight was a naval affair.
Three secretaries OF the navy. two now
retired and one in active service, together
with the two Governors who had been
prominent in the days celebration, were
the chief figures and made the principal
speeches. Frank -. Smeeter, ESQ, OF
Concord presided ana introduced the
different speakers. Nearly half thous-
and guests, ladies and gentlemen, par
took Of the abundant repast ana listened
to the speakers.
The first speaker was Governor Frank
W. Rollins. Following Governor Rollins
came Governor Johnston of Alabama.
VIII kept the entire company in a roar
Of laughter with his witty saIIies and hu-
morous remarks.
Secretary of the Navy Long responded
IN part for the President and inlm ediate-
~ following him came Secretary OF the
Treasury Gage, who responded to the
same toast, and the two gentlemen euIo-
gized the chief executive OF the nation in
eloquent words. Former Secretary of the
Navy Chandler spoke of the old navy ana
former Secretary Herbert of the navy,
while Rear Admiral Farquhar, command
ing officer of the North Atlantic SQUAD
ron, spoke of has fleet.
The banquet was closed by a very in
teresting speech by Governor Rollins
who presented portion Of flag to COY
9rnor Johnston Of Alabama, in the fol- |
lowing speech:
"GoveruoI Johnston, / hold in my |
hand two pieces OF bunting, worn and |
AIDED, stained by storm and battle; but
hey were oncs borne at the head of regi-
nents Of brave men; once TWO thousand
talwart youths followed wherever their
olds cleaned in the wind We do not
now the names OF the regiments that
ore them; we do not know the States