Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-15
U. S. S, south CAROLINA.
Mighty State HOnOfS Mighty Name.
sake.
COSTLY silver SERVICE PRESENTED
Story Of Interesting Exercises at
Charleston Last Observation-Disclosures S
BY Governor AnseI and Mrs. r. M.
Sratton.

| Charleston Last Tuesday-Addresse
BY Governor AnseI and Mrs. r. M
| 8ratton.
/ Special to Columbia State:
Charleston, April 1.-TWO thous-
and people saw the presentation ex-
ercises today at the academy of music,
the magnificent silver service into
the keeping of Capt. A. F. Fechteler,
u. S. N. commanding the u. S. S.
South Carolina, and Mrs. r. MOultrie
Bratton, state regent of the South
Carolina Daughters Of the American
Revolution, rendered the handsome
silken state flag to Commander John
c. Leonard, U. S. N, representing the
battleship. Gov Ansel presided over
the exercises. Bishop w. A. Guerry
of the Episcopal diocese of South
Carolina opened the programme with
an Invocation, and closed it with a
benediction. Music by the artillery
band and the rendering of Carolina"
by D. A. r. singers were special fea-
lures.
1t was a few minutes after noon
when the curtain rose and disclosed
to the large audience the stage, at the
front Of which, in the centre, reposed
the beautiful silver service, displayed
in pyramid array. Gov. Ansel and
Messrs. Mauldin, Rucker, Cleveland
and Bryan OF the silver service COM
mission occupied seats at the right of
the silver, while Capt. Fechteler, Com
mander Leonard, Lieut.. Neal, Ensign
| Atkins, Ensign Bellinger, Surgeon
Phelps and Midshipmen Racquet, Doyle
and DeMott of the battleship were
seated at the left of the service. Mrs.
| r. Moultrie Bratton, state regent, at
tended by Ensign COPELAND, U. S. N,
governors aide, and the flag commit
tee, Mrs. A. G.. Lyon, chairman; Mrs.
r. H. Jennings and Mrs. L. 5. Wolfe,
all of the Moultrie chapter of Orange
burg, D. A. r., members of Gov. An
sells staff, Gen. Wylie Jones and staff,
Mayor Rhett and members of city
council, members of the congressional
party, and delegation of sailors from
the battleship, commanded by Yeo-
man E. Devorak, were a part Of the
number on the stage. Warrant Off
GERS Duncan, Olsen and Jones were
also present from the ship, and Pay
master Leary was on hand to assume
charge of the service after the eXer-
cises.
The exercises were simple and ef-
fective. There was no attempt at ora
tory, but a deal of sincerity marked
the addresses. Altogether, the affair
was most impressive and was repre-
sentative and adequate.
1t was a splendid audience that
gathered to witness the ceremonies.
The theatre was packed from orches-
ira to gallery, and remarkably good
work was done by the ushers in seat
ing the large crowd. Invited guests
occupied the orchestra and balcony
seats, ladies being far in the majority.
A picturesque feature was the ring
of sailors who sat on the front row Of
the family circle. Time after time the
addresses were interrupted by ap-
plause, and the appearance of the
different speakers evoked an especi-
ally hearty welcome.
| After the invocation by Bishop
| Guerry, Gov. Ansel delivered his pre-
sentation address, standing before the
| splendid silver service, the gift of the
state of South Carolina to her gallant
namesake in the navy.
Capt. Fechteler, the Officers of the
United States Ship South Carolina.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The gen.
eral assembly of the state of South
Carolina. at the session of 1903, made
an appropriation for the purchase of
a suitable silver service to be present
ed to the United States ship South
Carolina, providing for a commission
| to present the same. That commits
sion consists of the following named
gentlemen, to wit: Hon. w. L. Maui
din, Hon. F. M. Rucker Hon. John B.
Cleveland Hon. Geo. d. Bryan and
| myself and we come now to perform
the very pleasant duty of presenting
this service.
| 1t has been a beautiful custom for
years past to make presents of value
to ships, and, in the earlier days of
navigation, very common present
was the figure head. | am indebted
to Mr. Charles w. Stewart, superin-
tendent of the library and naval war
records of the navy department of the
United States, for very full memo
randum regarding the presentation
of articles to ships. AS it may prove
of interest to many of you, l desire to
read part of this memorandum:
THE presentation of articles of
valua to ships is probably as ancient
as ships themselves. In the earlier
days of navigation q very common
present was the figure head, and this
was often very valuable, sometimes
being made of gold and silver. and
the use of figure heads has continued
down nearly to the present time
| ION the British NAVAL vessels in the
eighteenth century it was quite com
mon to have ships bells. chinaware
and furniture presented by friends or
admirers of the captain, or, in some
cases. of the ship itself. In our own
history the Constitution was present
ed, among other things, with swing
ing brass stove and with a set of Chi
ma which bore the picture of the ship,
"As we have grown in prosperity
and wealth and have named our YES
sells largely for our cities and states,
the citizens have presented to the ma
val vessels various gifts. from few
books or articles costing Il few dol
lars up to valuable sets of silver plate
costing $25.00O. This last amount
was expended by the state of Pennsyl-
vania for a beautiful set of silver for
the United States ship Pennsylvania
In our new navy. the first presentation
| r 6 "a q