The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-06-04
MAYOR GID MONT JOY
ELECTED VICf.PRfS.
OF the lea1ue OF Mlsslsslppi Mn.
inequalities.

sissippi Mayors was held at Gulfpor
last Saturday, and q goodly number 0
the officials Of the different municipal
tiles of the State were present to par
ticipate in its deliberations.
+ The convention was called to orde
by Hon. II. NJ. Foote, mayor Of Gulfport
Addresses Of welcome were Delivers
by Hon. T. H. Barrett and Hon J. L
Heiss, which we're eloqaently respondet
to by DR.. J. d. Donald, mayor Of Hat
tiesburg.
| Mayor A. G. Crowder, OF Jackson, dc
livered an address on the "object ant
Purposes Of the Meeting.'
At the Saturday afternoon session
permanent organization was effected
and officers we're elected a follows:
A. G. Crowder, Of Jackson, president
Gid Montioy, Of Greenwood, vice
president;
| Geo. Nj. Footc. Of Gulfport, secretary
The balance Of the afternoon session
was devoted to appropriate fve-minute
discussions and tho appointment oI
committees.
The night session was devoted tC
hearing reports of committees, and gen
eral discussions.
The name chosen is the League ol
Mississippi Municipalities, it being the
purpose of the organization to enlist
within its membership city attorneys
aldermen. engineers, in fact, all public
officials connected with municipal gov.
ernment.
The next annual meeting will be held
in Meridian in May, the gathering at
jackson in October to be a special
event.
Mayor Montioy presented the League
handsome gavel made from the pilot
wheel of the Star of the West, and Q
pen-staf, with gold point, made from
the knee Of the old boat. 10 presenting
these relics Mayor Montjoy gave .
brief synopsis Of the history Of the Star
Of the West, which was sunx In the
Tallahatchie River, near Greenwood, tc
prevent Gen. Grant from making his
way to vicksburg during the seige Of
that city in the sixties. In the neat
little speech he made in turning them
over to the officials mentioned, Mr.
Montjoy gave their history in outline
which is printed below:
"Mr. President, Gentlemen:
II wish to intrude upon the time ol
the meeting for but one moment, To ask
the privilege Of presenting to the May
or's League Of Mississippi, gavel
This particular gavel, am encouraged
to believe, will be Of more than passing
interest to Mississippians. 1t was
made from the pilot wheel Of the "StaI
Of the West" the vessel which ID nov
famous in history as having drawn upon
herself the f,rst shot Of the civil war
while attempting to carry reinforce
ments and supplies to Fort Sumter 10
Charleston hsrbor, January 8, 1851.
"How she was driven out Of the har.
Dor, returned to New York, continued
in the Yankee service, afterwards
reaching the coast Of Texas and wa
captured there by cavalry forces under
General Van Dorm, and placed In the
service OF the Confederacy, are mat
ters OF history, which it is necessary t<
repeat. But, when the federal gun
boats under Grant came from the Yazot
Pass and Moon Lake, and proceeded
down Tallahatchie and Coldwater, II
was this same vessel, the "Star Of thu
west,' which the Confederates ran ~
the Yazoo River on into the Tallahatch
ie, to point opposite whore nov
stands, what modestly assert, Ii ons
| Of the most enterprising cities In th'
state Greenwood --snd there she Wal
4 sunk.
"This maneuver edectually blocked
the way, causing the federal troops y
return. Very shortly after this Incl
dent, / took this piece ofthe pilot whee
| from the wreck, and also smalle
| piece Of wood from the knee Of the ship
Oat Of the latter . pen-staa was made
and II Is nov, after oil this lapse o
! years, indeed . pIeasurable privilege b
i present them both to our new orgaaizs
tion, that promises 20 much for th
state"
The people Of Greenwood sppreciat
the high and deserved honor eonfsrre'
upon her worthy mayer By tho Lsagu
in electiDg him = IL vics-pfssIdsat
| Mayor Montjoy informs Ths Con
rponwealth that the citizens of 0aIfpoi
entertained the visiting nsyos 10
pysl manner. Among other tAina
given them was . trolley ride 70 .
points covered On the coaa By u
traction company, ard n s1eursioa .
the Revenue Cuttos. wincna, 70 u
Gulf 81 Mexico Sunday porniss. : Data
Luach bsing served On boas6 ~ "
ncns In their honor.
h Our Mayor z delighted with biz III
4 10 the coast, and With the psopIs !
I met while down there.
Z Sraycd q Stolen.