The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-22
Special to The journal


Tallahassee, Nov. 21.-The battleship
Florida will be accompanied to Pen
sacola to receive the silver service by
her sister ship, the Utah, according to
a letter received Saturday by Governor
Gilchrist from Capt. H. S. Knapp,
commanding the Florida, who gives
the itinerary of the vessels and the
date of their arrival in Pensacola. The
ships go first to Guantanamo and di-
rect from that place to Pensacola, ar
irving here on December 10th and re-
naming for three dars, departing De-
cemher 19.
The letter of Cal :. Knapp and the
reply of the governor follow:
~. s. S. Florids- Navy Yard, Bos-
ton, Mass, Nov. Is, 1911.
His Excellency, the Governor of the
State of Florida, State Capitol, Tai
Iahassee, Fla.
Sir: The ship that I have the
honor to command is directed by the
navy department to be at Pensacola,
Florida. on Saturday, December 18th,
1911, and to remain there until Decen-
ber 18th, for the purpose of receiving
the set of silver to be presented to the
ship by the people of the state, the
date for which the department is set
for December 18th.
'.2. l have been informed that tab
Reid Chapter. u. .. c., at the same
time. With regard to the latter, l have
been in correspondence with Mr.. G.
Adrian Pillars of Jacksonville. who is
the artist selected to execute the tab
let. On the second instant he wrote
me that the committee appointed by
that chapter would supply me with in
formation concerning the presentation
Immediately, but have as yet heard
nothing.
"3. 1 am taking the liberty of ad-
dressing this letter to you for the pur-
pose of getting such early information
as may be possible as to the desires
of the donors of the gifts to the ship
regarding the ceremonies of presenta-
ton. The Florida is now expected to
sail for Hampton Roads within two or
three days, and to sail from that port
for Guantanamo, Cuba, on or about
November 9th. From Guantanamo
she will proceed directly to Pensacola.
AS the mail facilities at Guantanamo
are not the best, and the time for
mails from Florida points to Guam
tanamo will be from four to eight days,
upon the route, it is lmpor-
tant to make preliminary arrange
ments, if possible, before the ship sails
from Hampton Roads. l nave deiayeo
this time seeking information, thinking
that might hear directly from those
in charge of the matter. They very
naturally do not know what the move
ments of the Florida are to be between
now and December 18th, and had
probably expected that the ship would
be within easy communication up to
the latter date. AS l am entirely with
out any knowledge of the constitution
of the committee of presentation, am
taking the liberty of writing to you,
not with the idea of troubling you per-
sonally, but because you will be able to
forward my letter to the proper people.
~. l shall be very glad to know
what the wishes are of yourself, if you
intend to be present, and of the people
of Florida, concerning the presentation
in order to meet them as
fully as is practicable.
"5. 1 shall also be glad to know II
there is anything else to be presented
to the ship while at Pensacola, except
the silver service and the tablet to
which 1 have referred, and to be in
formed of the history of the gifts,
they are made by private sub
scription entirely or by public appro-
priation. 1t will also be great help,
under the circumstances of our alb
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