Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-24
SAILOR BILL MACCABEE
COMPLETES 10TH YEAR
Oldest Veteran of United
States Navy Celebrates
Birthday Anniversary.

PHILADELPHIA, September A.-With
smoke curling from the bowl Of a new
pipe, "Bill'' Maccabee. the Oldest veteran
of the United States Navy, sat among a
group of white-haired messmates at the
Naval Home, on Grays Ferry road. Thurs
day and quietly celebrated his 1O7th
birthday anniversary.
Longevity is strange thing" remark
ed the old sailor. Il believe there Is no
recipe for it. I have lived beyond q CEN
fury and yet l have always been fond OF
tobacco and an occasional glass all my
life If any one should ask me how to
live beyond the allotted threescore years
and ten I would say look on the bright
side of life and laugh at every opportuni-
ty. The man who Is pessimist Is bound
to grow old before his time
Maccabee's birthday anniversary is al
ways a gala event at the Naval Home.
The large mess hall, in which the an
cient mariner dined in state with the
other veterans was gayiy nec esd Mo-.
cabee, jocularly, to the old men about
him, fought to be as spry as l am. Ii
will be many day before taps will sound
for me-
Victim of Accident.
EdrW In the Jay tHo OlO 1NdH was
wheeled from the hospital out to the
grounds. A year or more ago he broke
his hip, and since then he has been un-
able to walk Muffled up to the ears in
blankets, his old cap on his weather
beaten head. and the inevitable pipe be-
tween his too.hless gums, the aged salt
held court on the sunlit walks of the
broad lawn in front of the hospital build
ing.
Jaunty young men," whose ages ranged
from sixty to eighty-five years. strolled
on passing Uncle Billy's chair would sa-
lutte the old seadog and call out to him.
wishing him many more returns of his
birthday. Then they would shake hands
and say, We'll, Uncle Bill, how are you
today?'
At this the old mans face would glow
with pleasure and he would reply in his
thin, quivering voice, Fine. fine; never
better in my life, and If it were not for
this leg l could still walk the quarter
deck" Then he would chuckle to him
self, and as his nurse wheeled him away
to SUMMER spot he would point his pipe
stem at the group of admirers and say:
I'll live longer than you fellows yet. See
if 1 DON'T
Many presents arrived at the institu-
ton yesterday for old Bill. More than, a
bushel basketful of souvenir post cards
from all quarters Of the globe were re-
ceived by the ancient mariner Messages
Of congratulations from some of the Of
tcialS at Washington were also received.
During the day enough tobacco and pipes
were presented to the old man to last him
for years.
Less Sprightly Now.
It has ever been the custom for the
hundreds Of visitors at the home on Odd
Bills birthday anniversary to talk for
hours to the venerable salt, pressing him
with questions relating to the history of
his former days and his many exploits.
This year. however. they were restricted
in this. The old-time sailor on the Con-
stitution is not so sprightly. as he once
was, and the officials of the institution
take very good care of their charge.
Bills birthday celebration ended with
the dinner to his messmates, many of
whom are former shipmates. The large
with white-haired and bearded men whose
work behind the guns in many instances
helped to save the nation.
Here and there a sleeve was missing.
Many of the old warriors wore a patch
over one eye. Behind many chairs stood
pair Of clutches. All these. mute eyi-
dences of the bravery of those who risk
ed their lives for the perpetuation Of the
nation.
Directly in front Of Maccabee at the
head of the table stood a wonderful BIRTH
day cake, containing 107 candles. In front
of each guest was some souvenir of the
occasion. The ice cream was in the form
of tiny ships.
Patriotism was rampant all through the
meal. The talk was of former days,
former battles and victories. The most
inspiring sight during the. entire dinner