Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-10-07
THE SEAMENTS FIRST BALL.
CREWS OF THE ACADEM Y
SHIPS GIVE SUCCESS
Full DANCE.
Beautiful Decorations, Brilliant II
Nominations And Big Sup
Der Served.
COMMITTEES WHO MADE IT
A SUCCESS.

The first ball given last night in the
new boathouse by the crews of the u.
S. S. Santee and ships at the Naval
Academy, will go down into history
as grand success. No pains had been
spared to make the occasion one TO be
long remembered and great care was
given 20 the arrangement of every de-
tail. The ball was held in the sail
loft of the new boathouse, where there
is an excellent floor space for dancing.
The decorations were artistic and
beautiful, carrying out the naval fea-
ture of the event.
In the centre of the room facing the
entrance was the Presidents IS insignia.
On field of blue was a large white
eagle with the motto "E Pluribus
Unum.n Beneath this was a navy
blue streamer with the large letters in
gold ~. S. 5. Santee. To the
right was the Secretary of the Navy's
flag, and TO the left the Assistant Secss
retary's flag. Streamers of flags and
penuants were festooned from the
ceiling to the corners of the room
and the effect was brilliant array of
color that made picturesque scene.
There was just enough light to bring
out this color scheme, and not too much
TO obscure it, Clusters of electric
lights with red, white and blue shades
peeped out from behind graceful
sprays of golden rod and wild grasses
and the effect was very pleasing.
Suspended from the center or the
ceiling was largo bell made of bunt-
ing with clapper Of golden rod and
grasses. From an ar, hway in the rear
hung the bell from the u. S. S. Ches-
apeake, which was struck every half
hour by one of the seamen. The Naval
Academy band furnished the music
and were located in an archway sur
rounded with a profusion of potted
palms, rubber plants and ferns from
the conservatory of Superintendent
Brownson, loaned for the occasion.
Ladies and gentlemen S dressing rooms
were provided both ON the first floor
and on the dancing floor and every
convenience was supplied for the com-
fort and enjoyment of the guests.
Promptly at O'Clock the little
bugler, Charles Wright, about l3 years
old sounded Assembly, - which was
followed by Eight Bells'' on the
stroke of the hour. The company as
sembled for the grand march, which
was led by Commander George Ma
Stoney, u. S. NJ, in charge of ships
at the Naval Academy, and Miss
Ames, niece of Chief Master at Arms
w. l.. Luce. There were $50 couples
in the grand march. Miss Ames car
ried large bunch of American Beauty
red roses tied with white and blue rib
bon, carrying out the patriotic colors
red, white and blue. A similar bou-
quet was presented Commander Stoney
for Mrs. Stoney. The dancing con-
tinued from O'Clock until midnight
and the floor was always filled with
dancers. At the close of the tenth
dance supper was served in room on
the first floor. Two long tables were
spread the entire length of the room
and one smaller table across the trout.
All the tables were beautifully deco
rated and the dishes artistically gar
nished. The table decorations were
executed under the direction of Com
missary Steward w. L. Williams and
Chief Quartermaster Wiegand, and
the work of garnishing the dishes,
which was no easy task, was done by
Thomas Kirby, who displayed much
taste and artistic talent.
From carrots, beets and turnips he
had wrought out the most beautiful
roses and dahlias and also designs in
anchors, hearts, etc. In the centre of
one of the long tables was 300-pound
block of ice, from which large guam
tity of raw oysters was served, the ice
and tank in which it rested were gar
nished with parsley. On either end
of this table was roast pig with a
rose made of a beet in his mouth.
There were pyramids of fruit, salads,
beautifully spiced and garn:shed hams
and everything to tempt the appetite.
On the other long table the decorations
were most unique. As centre piece
huge pumpkin measuring two and
a-half feet in diameter and grown on
the farm of Commander Stoney, op-
posite the Naval Academy. was hol-
lowed out and converted into a fruit
basket, with handle complete. 1t was
filled with grapes, bananas and
oranges. A similar pumpkin was at
one end of the table, while roast pig
adorned the other end. The napkins
were appropriate to the occasion, con-
tanning a United States flag in the
centre and numerous flags and pen
nants as border. The supper was
delightful and abundant and was well
served.
In6 naval Academy was represented
at the ball besides Commander Stoney,
Mrs. Stoney and the Misses Stoney,
by Commander @. X. Barton, Lieu
tenant A. X. Robertson. Captain
Brownson, the superintendent was
expected at 10 O'Clock, but was pre-
vented from honoring the occasion
with his presence. The ball was q
great success and much credit is due
those who had it in charge, among
whom were the following officers !:
President, Raymond Connell; Vice.
President, S. Simon; Secretary, r.
N. McAdams; Treasurer, ]. II. Brink.
Reception Committee-W. I. Will
Jams, p. HofelIer, A. H. Stork, J. L.
Murphy, g. A. Blessing, w. H.
Busch, @. ]. Valdrow, o. A. Wan
berg. Floor Committee. ]. Harri-
son, O. T. Shamlin, j. BormaD, J.
Johnson, A. J. Quinn. Committee of
Arrangements-W q. Coughliu, Il. b.
Bierman, ]. +. Murphy, Q. ]. Huber,
E. L. Hutchins, J. Costello. Sergeant
at Arms-W. L. Luce. To the inde-
fatigable efforts of these committees
and officers is due much credit for the
balls great success.