The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-05-15
SILVER SERVICE
Presentation
BATTLESHlP NEBRASKA RE-
cElvEs GIFT OF STATE.
PRESENTED BY Gov SHELDON.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
PRESENTED BY GOV. SHELDON
IN PRESENCE OF BIG COMPANY
Description Of silver Set Presented
by the Governor OF Nebraska to the
6attIeship Observation-Disclosures Are
Having Good Time.

San Francisco, May 9.-In the pres
ence of distinguished company and
an immense crowd OF cheering spec
tators, Governor George l.. Sheldon,
of Nebraska, yesterday presented to
Capt. Il. +. Nicholson, of the new bat
teship Nebraska, the handsome silver
service purchased by the ship with
an appropriation made by the Ne
braska legislature.
At the same time Mrs. Sheldon, wife
of the governor, presented to the Ne
braska stand of colors sent by the
Daughters of the American Revolu.
ton, of which she is member. Other
gifts presented were a bible and
Christian Science publications sent
by the First Church of Christ Scient-
ist of Lincoln and a bible sent by the
First Congregational church of Lin
coin. Dr. j. e. futile, pastor of the
church last named, made the trip to
San Francisco to take part in the pre-
sentation. copy of the enrolled bill
appropriating the money to pay for
the service, and signed by Governor
Mickey, was also given to the captain
of the battleship.
Nebraska is much in evidence in
San Francisco today, as it has been
in other Pacific coast cities and cities
along the way ever since the special
train bearing the governor and his
party left Lincoln. Nebraska cOlors
are profusely displayed, likenesses Of
the great new vessel are seen every
where and no courtesy that could be
shown the visitors has been omitted.
The Nebraskans unite in declaring
that it has been the trip of their lives
and that today is one of the proudest
they have ever known.
The entire journey of the executive,
his staff and the citizens who came
along has been a great advertisement
for the state. At Denver, Colorado
Springs Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Los
Angles and other points the receptions
We're remarkable for their cOrdiality
and every possible attention has been
paid the visiting delegation. Then if
anything had been left undone for the
t'lllpll anu Dltdoult vi lut 81 duStlS
San Francisco made up for it, The
governor and his staff have been en-
tertained at dinners, luncheons and
receptions of all kinds, and those who
do not happen to be governors or
colonies have also been well taken
care of. Not even the humblest "pri-
vate" on the train has been overlook
nv tbn hio- haa ri npnnln of
western states through which the Ne
braskans have travelled. From now
on they will shift for themselves. and
will return home as they choose. The
special train carries them only as far
as this city.
The Nebraska is one of the finest
and fastest ships in the American
navy. Although larger ones have
been built, or started, since the Ne
braska left the ways at Seattle, none
better has been turned over to the
navy department. The ship will join
the big fleet for the cruise around the
world, and all of the speed and en-
durance tests made give evidence
that the Nebraska will not be found
wanting when the journey into many
foreign waters is made.
The silver service presented today,
while not one of the most expensive
Is one of the most beautiful ever pres
ented to battleship. 1t consists OF
twenty-three pieces, eighteen of which
are punch cups, weighing more than
five ounces each and bearing the seal
of the state, the handles being the
fully modelled figure of a sea horse.
The great centerpiece, for fruit,
flowers and lights, weighs 500 ounces
and is a masterpiece of the silver
smiths art. The length of this piece,
which has a detachable loving cup,
is 35 inches and its height is 81
inches. The lights bordering the CEN
terpiece have silver candleshades,
bearing the seal of the state.
The loving cup, which may be used
with the centerpece or separately,
weighs 100 ounces and is IL inches
high, with an Indian scene engraved
on one side of the body and a picture
of the buffalo, Nebraska's oldest in.
habitant," on the other,
The punch bowl has a capacity of
nearly five gallons and is gilded in
side Eagles surmount the handles.
The seal of the state is on one side
and the seal of the navy department
on the other. The state flower, gold
enrol and the states principal grain
products, corn and wheat. are effect |
lively used in the engraving on this
piece. The bowl stands upon three
massive feet, representing the head,
shoulders and fore feet OF the buffalo,
Between these feet are modelled re-
lief heads OF cattle sheep and ante
lope. "U. s. S. Nebraska" is also
etched on one side of the bowl, flank
ed by medalions showing the old sod
house and the settlers wagon.
The punch ladle is Is inches long