The age-herald., 1901-02-17
FIoridians Make Thir Guests
 Feel Perfectly At Home
ANXIOUS TO BELONG TO ALABAMA
Trip Taken to Fort PIckens, Where Dinner Was Served and Speech Making lnduleed ln--leaye
 for Mobile Tonichs.

Pensacola, Fla, February 16s-(SpecfaL) The Alabama legislators have adjourn ed to Florida, and they have been com pletely captured by the people of that State, more especially the western DOT ton which is so earnestly seeking to be- come part of Alabama The F'loridians have toasted the solons from the moment of their arrival and right royal day they have spent in Pensacola
 The special train bearing the legislative party arrived in Pensacola this morning at an early hour over the Louisville end Nashville Railroad The party consists of some 225 persons, being largely composed of the members, their wives and daughters
 There are a few invited guests. When tho Alabamians left their sleeping cars they were provided with meal tickets by the Pensacola committee and for the day the city has been at their command. Al 9:3o o'clock the Alabarnians were taken on board the tug Columbia for trip down Pensacola Bay.
 First the great United States battle ships now lying in the bay were visited and the inspection of these vessels proved not the least interesting event of the days outing The flagship Kearsarge was first visited. and the visitors were cordially received and most courteously treated
 The Alabama Visited.
 The Alabama was next visited. Tho visitors were accorded hearty greetings by Captain Bronson and his men, Tho. Aiabamians were made to feel thate<hey really had an interest in the vessel sWnjtlis has been named for their beloved T{axx6 xjG to f~X1- [ trough inspection of the vessef ana (<l< ,liiey departed three cheers were enthuAi- l ast1cly sent up for CapAain Bronson fol- | lowed by three cheers for the Alabama ana her men.
 Captain Bronson ordered his men 10 return the honor which was character ized by it's hearty rendition. As the It. tie tug drew away from the monster war vessel the Alabamians were again given tlree cheers and tiger from the sea- men.
 The other battleship, the Massachusetts. was not visited The excursionists were taken to Fort Pickens from the battle ship, distance of nine miles down tlte bay.
 Dinner was served at the fort and 1t was made the occasion for some speech making. Mayor J. M. Hilliard of Pensa- cola presided as toast master, welcoming the Alabamians on behalf of West Flor ida and Pensacola. His speech was made in such a happy vein to make the guests feel that the West Fioridfans are in real earnest in their efforts to become a part of Alabama
 Col. W. W. Brandon responded to the welcome in an eloquet and appropriate speech.
 Other sentiments were responded to as follows:
 Annexation of West Florfda"-L F. Jones, Alabama.
 Response--J. E. Stillman, Collector of the port of Pensacola.
 "Commerce7-EarleP Pettus, Alabama
 "Annexation'- H. Wallace, Alabama
 "Nicaraguan Canal"-W. I. Bullock. Alabama.
 Resources of Alabama'-C.W. Thourp- son, Alabama.
 "Flor'da'-J. J. Sullivan, Pensacola.
 The speech making was enjoyed by the audience and served to bring about a more friendly feeling between the peo- pie of the sister States. The excursion returned to Pensacola about 6 clock this evening and the remainder of the evening has been spent in sight seeing. Tomor- row the legislators are billed to attend religious services in the morning and during the afternoon they will be taken to Fort Barrancas. At o'clock tomor- row night they will leave for Mobile. where Monday and Tuesday will be spent seeing the Carnival. A trip will be taken Monday morning down Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan.
 Col. J. NJ. Falkner and George w Jones are in charge of the special train bearing the Alabamians, and everytbins possible is being done for the convent ence of all. The trip has so far been smooth and free from accident.
 P. E. KERSH.