The Elbert County tribune., 1906-05-24

and the year following from the sides
OF the United States ship Yantic. which
made short cruise in honor Of tho
celebration.
In Charleston navy yard in 1909 Mrs
Sampson, wife of the admiral, ger
formed the beautiful ceremony from
the deck of Old Ironsides.
In Philadelphia, the home of me
MORALS, on May 30, 1903. there was In
augurated this new fashion OF reme,n-
brance. and 1t stands unique among
the myriad celebrations of its kind in
that city of "brotherly love- Five
thousand people on Race street pier
watched four fiower-ships set out ON a
wondrous voyage. There was a Cuu,-
berland for the heroes who sank in
Hampton Roads, Tecumseh in mem
ory of those who perished in Mobile
bay, a dauntless Monitor and n MaiDs
for soldiers sleeping in the coral beds
of Havana harbor
1t was said that strong men OF The
sea choked with emotion while the
floral tributes dropped from tender
hands to the bosom of the Delaware
Three rear admirals were present and
the onondaga, in midstream, fired tho
salute OF 2l guns. Rear Admiral MeB-
Vile. In his speech on this occasion.
said: ut is peculiarly fitting that this
impressive naval memorial on the pea
should be inaugurated on the historic
Delaware, where John Paul Jones with
his own hands hoisted on board sh4
Alfred the flag of Independent Amer
lea for the first time. and where the
first continental congress authorizes
the construction of 13 frigates, giving
the world to understand that the colo
nies intended to assert their rights On
sea as well as on land" 1t was espn-
cially appropriate that PhiladelphEa
should be one to recognize this beauiJ-
full custom. for Mrs. Forbes is a penn-
sylvanian by birth and is also de-
scendant of John Kaye, fist male chilJ
born in Philadelphia.
In the Far Mediterranean
The sailor boys aboard of one OF On
Gle Sans ships in the Mediterranean
sea last year remembered the 30fh of
May. They had no flowers such as grow
on land or in the depth of the sea. but
sailors are clever with their fingers
and out of such poor things as shavjnrx
they made and colored the most deb
cate artificial flowers. and roses ans
lilies. tulips and chrysanthemnns
kissed the blue of that far-off ocean.
Under the personal direction OF Mrx-
Forbes. possibly the most remarkable
observance of all was held last year on
Brighton beach, just outside OF Sun
Pedro harbor, California.
Three United States war vessels took
part, the Wyoming. the P-sble and the
Paul Jones. the small tugboat Warrior.
on which the services were held, taking
Its position, with its precious freight
of people and flowers. in the center Of
an imposing triangle. formed by the
three iron-clad guardians of the ma
tons peace.
After appropriate exercises the oil
emn burial service was read aboard the
Warrior, which was in command Of
Capt. CottnaD, of the Wyoming. and
lilies and roses, carnations and every
flower in California's great garden werc
showered with lavish hands upon the
mirroring blue of the water beneath
Emblems, anchors, stars and wrea.hx
were dropped with murrnured prayfrp
Every man, woman and child abosrra
the little tug had pars and from the
three war vessels which had been sup
piled with flowers, officers. marines and
honest tars dropped bright blossoms ia
memory of some comrade gone be,
fore. AS the volleys for the dead were
fired six stately flower boats, shaped
like the graves of soldiers and bearing
upon their canvas sides laurel wreathx
of victory. anchors of hope and blessed
immortelles Were cut loose to drift
whittier they would upon the bosom OF
the broad Pacific.
A sudden hush. High up on the
Wyoming a lone bugler appeared and
there came the notes that sounded taps;
lower and sadder the Warrior t.ok Il
up and off in the distance came back
the murmuring echoes as though the
dead would fain burst their ghostly
cerements and ccme hack to tell tAe
living how sweet thing 1t is to be -
membered.