The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-20
Dedication Of the Armory Calls
Out Distinguished Guests.
THE MILITIA WAS Ov- -RLOOKE1
Only the Governors Staff Was Present,
Others Being Conspicuous BY Their Ab-
sence The Keys Delivered.

The dedication of the new Westerly ar
mory yesterday was one of the most
pleasing public affairs that the old town
has experienced for many years. and for
few hours the noteables of the state
were within the gates, that is from a civil
point OF view. for outside of the COVER
nor's stan the militia was conspicuous by
Cts absence.
For some unexplained reason the
militia, for which the armory was erected.
was entirely ignored In the proceedings.
even Company z, the command to occupy
the building. not being invited. conse-
Quently there was not single representa-
tive from brigade. regimental. battalion
or company headquarters represented.
A very distinguished party left the
Union station on the 1l:l4 train, including
Governor Charles Dean Kimball. former
Governor Elisha Dyer, Governor-elect l..
#. 9. Garvin, the staff of Governor Kim
ball. state officers. Secretary of State
Charles p. Bennett. State Treasurer
Walter A. Read State Auditor Captain
c. c. Gray and large representation
Of members of the legislature. At West
orly the party was met by a number of
senators and representatives. a committee
OF citizens of the town.
The party proceeded at once 10 the ar
mory, where under the guidance OF
Senator Crumb the building was In
spected from turret to cellar
An elaborate dinner was served at
o'clock at which nearly 100 covers were
laid. Governor Kimball occupied the
seat OF honor, while on either side of him
cat former Governor Dyer and Governor
elect Garvin.
Among those at the table were: The
Westerly armory commission, composed
OF senator A. q. Crumb, Senator-elect Il.
G. Stillman OF Hopkinton and ex-Repre-
sentative q. L. Briggs of Kingston; Gen.
G. r.. Brayton. the governors staff. con-
eisting of Adjutant General Frederick NJ.
Sackett, Surgeon General Kenyon, Quar-
termaster General w. Howard Walker,
Colonel John III. Wetherell. assistant ad-
5utant general: Colonel Lester s. Hill. as
sistant surgeon general; Colonel Jesse r.
Eddy, Jr., Colonel q. T. Greenhalgh
Colonel Frank T. Easton. Colonel George
II. Vernon and Colonel Byron 8. Watson;
Charles III. Rowland, secretary to Cover
nor Kimball: Senator j. e. Tucker, Jr..
Representative-elect III. b. Kane. Repre-
sentative Theodore II. Dexter, Represen-
tative Everett Andrews. Representative
John T. Kenyon. Representative Clarence
IL Mathcwson. Representative J. Man
chester. Senator Ezra *. Parker. Repre-
sentative John Ogden, Representative
James E. Bradford. Representative G. AL
vim Potter. Representative Henry E. Pal
mer, Representative Thomas O'Brien,
Representative Joseph McHugh, Repre-
sentative Joseph C.. Moore. Deputy
Speaker Joseph p. Burlingamc. Repre-
sentative Samuel l.. Peck. Representa-
tive b. c. Bently, Representative Chris
fopher Holden, David j. White. clerk OF
senate: Senator Frank Manchester and
Representative William Comstock.
Besides the out -of town participants
many of the foremost citizens of Wester-
ly were In evidence. including Postmaster
Walter Price. Judge J. w Sweeney. third
District court; Chief of Police Cornelius
Bransfeld; ID. w. Miner. William Segar;
president of town council, James McColl,
George w. Foster. Col ]. Alonzo Bah
cock. Rev. John @. Dutton. Rev. william
+. Swan. Louis w. Arnold, Town Clerk
William Hoxsey, Judge T.. NJ Burke.
members OF Republican town committee
and Judge n. b. Lewis, second District
court
Governor Kimball in opening the post
prandial exercises requested Rev. w. Y.
Swan of the First Baptist church to Of
fer prayer, after which he called upon,
Former Governor Dyer, who said in part:
II hold IL TO be a duty OF every able
bodied young man throughout the nation
10 devote so much of his time and ener-
gies 10 the work Of the soldier that he can
respond promptly and efficiently TO his
country's call. And / hold IL 10 be the
duty of the state TO make the calling Of
its citizen soldiers honorable and attrac-
tive.
THE lack of a suitable armory In the
city OF Providence at the outbreak OF the
Spanish war made necessary the use OF
the state camp ground at Quonset for "A
mobilization of our troops at great ex-
pense of transportation and subsistence.
Luckily this will be changed by the erec-
tion OF a suitable building for military
purposes at no distant date"
Senator Crumb then spoke briefly and
delivered the keys Of the armory to Gov
ernor kimbalI. and the exercises came TO
an end by a brief response by the COVER
nor. who said:
The militia should receive attention
IN every civilized community. The nation |
must rely on her citizen soldiers. We
have had one war in the last FIVE years
and may have another before we are |
through"
The Westerly armory Is handsome |
one Of brick. with granite trimmings and |
granite underpinning Il II divided into a !
head house so feet square and two stories |
high. with centsal tower three stories |
high, and drill shed one story high |
soxioo feet inside OF the walls