The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-26
MILITARY
Platt Cordially Welcomed
Last Might by the Wilmington Infan-
try-He VIII Go Into the Artillery
STANDARDIZATION Tonight.

The Wilmington Light Infantry gave
an enjoyable reception last night from
$50 to IL o'clock. complimentary to
Lieutenant w. P. Plat. who arrived
home on Wednesday trom West Point,
where he graduated with distinction on
last Monday.
The receiving party consisted of
Lieutenant Plat; Capt. A p. Adrian,
First Lieutenant j. vanB. Nets, and
Second Lieutenant ~. E. Chilean. of
the Wilmington Light Infantry: Cap
tain E ". VanC. Lucas. chief of the
United States engineer corps here;
Colonel Walker Taylor. paymaster gen.
eral of the North Carolina State Guard;
Lieutenant A. B. SHIELDING and Lieuten-
ant H. NJ. Chase, junior grade of Will
mington Division. NORTH Carolina Ma
val Brigade; and Lieutenant Joseph J.
Loughlin. of Colonel Walker Taylor's
Boys Brigade.
Attending the reception were Mr.. and
Mrs. John T. Platt. parents of deute
ant Platt, and his brothers and sis
lOiS, MI dIu lie l.. y. T1OShllLS,
Mr.. n Mrs. Philip F. Platt. Mr.. R. c.
Platt, Miss Annie Plat and Miss Mel
lie Platt. Another brother. Mr.. Thomas
II. Platt, is an engineer on the Red d
line, running between New York and
Venezuela, n the youngest brother,
Mr.. John E. Platt. aged about %
years,is a sergeant in Company L, 41st
regiment. United States Volunteers,
now in service in the Philippines, near
Manila. BY the way. The Messenger
learns that Sergeant Plat is making a
good record and his senior officers are
urging his promotion to lieutenant. He
enlisted in Philadelphia a ear and a
half ago.
During the reception last night,
Mayor Waddell and Alderman J. A.
Taylor, called to pay the respects of the
city. A number of elderly and young la
dies were present. and members of the
Wilmington Light Infantry were there
in uniform, as also were a number of
the Naval Reserves. and the Boys Bri-
gade. A number of citizens also called
and, all together it it estimated that,
coming and going, the reception was
attended by $50 persons.
During the evening punch and ice
| cream and cake were served, and the
occasion was an exceedingly enjoy.
able one. The officers and members OF
the light infantry WED with each other
in giving everybody a pleasant time.
A pleasant incident of the evening was
a song that was beautifully sung by
Miss Annie Plat with Mr.. James Owen
Reilly as pianist.
The officers who received wore full
dress uniforms. Lieutenant Plat
wore a bran new lieutenant's uni
form of the United States artillery SER
vice. He chose that branch of the ser
vice and is on waiting orders for ten
days when he will be assigned for SER
vice in the regular army, either in the
states or the Philippines.
Those who attended the reception last
night were introduced to Lieutenant
Plat as they passed the receiving par
ty. The Introduction was f~unctionary,
as most everybody knew Willie. His
friends congratulated him upon his
stand at West Point. and he looked
every inch a soldier in his barring dur
ing the evening.
Lieutenant Plat won all his. onOrs
In 1897 he entered a competitive eX-
animation at Fayetteville for the ap-
pointment to West Point and he hand-
somely won in a class of about ten
young men. He entered the United
States military academy in June 1897,
and he comes out a lieutenant at the
age of twenty-five. He was appointed
to West Point by Congressman Martin
of this congressional district.
Wilmington has had several graduates
from West Point, nj since the civil
war We recall three that have made j
splendid record at the academy. The,
were Lieutenant London afterwards
promoted to captain and now deceased.
Lieutenant Chas. Gerhardt now in tn.
army, and Lieutenant Plat. 1t is a
| vice in the establishment of Messrs.
Burr & Bailey, of the Wilmington
| Iron Works.
According to the invitations sent out
by Mr.. and Mrs. John T.-Platt they
will lender a reception to their son to-
| night from $3.50 to IL o'clock at their
| residence. COG Grace street, between
Sixth and Seventh streets.