The sun., 1909-05-23
Big BATTLESHIp AT NATCHEz
WATER AND PATRIOTISM QUITE
ENOUGH FOR HER THERE.

lsO Feet OF the Former Under Hor II she
wants II and Patriotism ReachinE
70 the stsrs-Puach Bowl for the
ship-Address by John sharp Williams.
NArcHEz, Miss. May 72.-This has been
tho most patriotic day In Natohez's bis
tory. The officers Of the u. s. 8. Mis-
sissippi were presented with q punch
bowl. the gift Of Matches to the battle
ship. The presentation speech was made
by United States Senator-elect John
Sharp williams.
A diversion was interjected by the pre-
sentation Of an American flag captured
by company of Confederate cavalry
from the United States gunboat Petrol
In the Yazoo River on April %. 1894. This
presentation was made by Capt. Allen I.
Bowie. whose brother. Capt John Il.
Bowie. made the capture. All In the great
audience OF men and women gave DEM
onstration OF their feelings when Capt.
Bowie assisted by Col. W. A. Montgomery OF
Edwards, Mise, approached Capt. John
c. Fremont and gave into his custody the
old Gag. The members Of the committee on
the stage arose to their feet and the audi
enoe stood as these three gray haired
men olasped hands holding the flag be-
tween them.
Another patriotic incident occurred
when Judge Thomas Rober, who came to
Natches with the Union army and has
made this city his homel appeared in
behalf OF the ladies' and children OF
Natohez to present. their gift. a $3.50 phono-
graph. Then came another display Of
patriotism when Prices class OF the pub
ho school sang America Master Gail
lard Connor, aged 10 years. dressed as
Uncle Sam, the costume being made OF
American hags, conducted the nag eIer-
cises. the school children repeating the
words "a he sienalled.
It was shortly after IL o'clock when
Richard F. Reed, chairman Of the presen
tation committee, opened the programme.
Capt. Fremont OF the battleship and
United States Senator-elect John Sharp
Williams occupied the centre Of the stage.
with Gov. Noel, Mayor Martin Behr1nan
Of New Orleans. Col. W. A. Montgomery
Of Edwards, Miss; Capt. Allen T. Bowie
Of Monroe, La; Mayor W. @. Benbrook
and the committee.
Senator-elect Williams in his address
mentioned the names of former President
Roosevelt and eS-Secretary OF Navy
Moody as the men who named the battle
ship and Of Admiral Dewey. and Jefferson
Davis. which brought forth tremendous
cheering.
The punch bowl stands eighteen inches
in height on tray So by "a inches. It is
made OF hammered copper and silver
applioued, gold lined. bearing the in
scription III. s. S. Mississippi, from the
OF Natchez, Miss. in token OF
their admiration and pride in the navy
Of their country
when fobs and gold watch charms for the
officers and silver ones for the sailors
will be given. In his acceptance Capt.
Fremont cited the presence OF the battle
ship Miss issippi as demonstration OF the
OF the Mississippi River and
an indication Of greater possibilities in
the future.
call this afternoon
Many thousands inspected the battle
ship to-day. The ship u lying near the
Louisiana shore where the water Is only
SIS feet deep. Twenty feet nearer the Mis-
sssippi shore the water is from 100 TO 200
feet deep. and there 10 width enough for
the battfeship TO make two or three turns
Il necessary She ia drawing ae.2 feet at the
stern Capt Hiner, the nver pilot who
brought the vessel TO Natchez. is oonii-
dent Of an easy return to the Gulf. :.
At the dinner tonight improved
navigation on the great high way Of COM
merce, the demand and the right Of the
Mississippi Valley. was emphasized. Ex-
Con gresham Charles E. Hooker. ex.
Colonel C. S. A.. spoke on America.
Col. W A.. Montgomery toasted What
he battleship Mississippi rs to Missis-
,ippians.' Gov. Noel spoke Of 'Missis-
,ippi, a loyal member OF the sisterhood
II States, a leader in moral and material
progress Capt. Fremont carried the
,anqueters on their feet with his response
o the toast THE navy, the floating bull |
vark OF the nations defence; il is with |
tut sectional prejudice and It's patri-
,tisrn knows no boundaries save those |
4 the country at large" Mayor Behrman
4 New Orleans urged the improvement