Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-15
WELCOME WAS HEARTY
NATCHEz HAD LATcH-STRINt
OUT FOR THE BLUEJACKETs.
Good Feeling General Between Sailors
and Citizens on the Visit of
the Des Moines.

The Navy Department has received from
Mr.. Lemuel P. Conner of Natchez. Miss.
an enthusiastic letter describing the recent
visit OF the cruiser Dies Moines to that city.
Mr.. Conner IL anxious that the department
appreciate the fact that the general feel
ing OF the people Of Natchez toward the
bluejackets Of the United States navy Is
very cordial, and entirely different from
the attitude displayed toward them in some
other sections of the country. He refers
particularly to a recent incident In which
the uniform Of bluejacket proved bar
to the admission Of the wearer to a public
or semi-public place of amusement. Mr..
Conner says In his letter:
Our uniform, whether in army or navy.
to q badge Of homer and is respected and
treated as such as long as the wearer
shows himself worthy; or, should say, we
accord courtesy and proper treatment to
every man wearing the uniform as long as
he shows himself worthwhile uniform we
honor always. And this is the spirit which
aetuates us in receiving and entertaining
on1cers and men of our navy whenever we
nave the opportunity. We have entertained
three vessels Of the old navy-the Ply
mouth, the Yantic and, I think, the Re-
Hance-dnd six Of the new-the Concord in
1882, the Nashville twice in 1899, the Scor-
pion twice in 1901, the Atlanta in 1903, the
Arkansas in 1905, and now the Des Moines:
and we feel a modest pride in knowing that
IN each instance we extended to officers
ana men warm reception and accorded
to all the most hospitable treatment in
our power: we henored our flag and our
uniform, and in so doing we felt that we
honored ourselves; we succeeded in making
our guests enjoy themselves, while we
found great pleasure in having them with
U.S."
Enlisted Men Pleased.
The enlisted men were so pleased with
the treatment which thev received at
Natchez that they showed their apprecia-
ton by giving ball and luncheon to the
citizens Of Natchez at the skating rink
The skating rink was decorated by the
men of the Des Moines and Illuminated
by large number Of incandescent lamps,
and they made every effort in this way to
return the courtesies extended to them by
the people of Natchez, and made the oc-
casion one which would be remembered by
the friends they had made.
There were a number of letters ex-
changed between citizens Of Natchez and
the enlisted men and officers of the Des
Moines, which showed the universal good
Keeling which existed between them and
the keen appreciation of the Inequalities
which had been extended at Natchez In
a letter from Hospital Steward Howard R.
jackson, U. 8. N, to Mr.. Conner the form
er says: Those of US so fortunate as to
have been present in Natchez during the
Mardi Gras feel that we are to be con-
graduated at having discovered at least
one place In the country where the uniform
wearer to be accepted as gentleman until
he proves himself other than one"
The officials of the Navy Department are
much pleased at the receipt of these ex-
pressions of good will toward the enlisted
men of the navy, and at the knowledge Of
the excellent impression which they have
made. and the honor in which their uniform
Is held by the good people Of Natchez.