«*V. cP •fet? V** --ate- \/ -tffe** ./%,. ^ c° -^Ur ^ /\'i^\ c°*.^A <*♦£&/% / .^ ** .iilr* >. *...• ^ ***** A ^ ^° -^w>- /^>^\ c^.^i-% A!^fe.-% c°*.^a \5 **>57f»* A ^ • ^ A^ •- £ ^ «e .*< J r> *** .. o v °o -t^v V**^\«* ^^-'V Vv^-V V^^V V'^V 'V^'V V T <^°V °V^«V V 7 ^*^ ~4- "** r*' a v^ A 6 * \u' Z ,** ^ ■ • « . «*V A > %S V A «Z- ""o" «4 V A^ ^ •^o^ ^«^ . . . . _ *o v^Sy .. v^-y v^v v^>- -oJW-'/ • c -^^--. %/ :j9flg;-. V 0< ° .*«-,%,/ &&. \>s a .v^i-. °v THE COAST ARTILLERY CORPS IN THE PAGEANT Soldiers from Fort Wright, Fisher's Island THK NAVY REPRESENTATIVES Bluejackets from the Torpedo-Boat Destroyer Division THE STONINGTON BATTLE CENTENNIAL A RECORD OF THE CELEBRATION OF AUGUST EIGHTH, NINTH AND TENTH NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT PALMER PRESS 1915 brL COMPILED. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE PALMER PRESS, STONINGTON COPYRIGHT 1915 BY PALMER PRESS IGLA40G149 " V MAY -8 1915 EXECUTIVE COMM ITTEE Left to right, sitting: James II. Weeks, Secretary; Cornelius B. C'randall. Chairman; Everett N. Pendleton, Treasurer Left to right, standing: Charles B. MeCoart, Wurtein A. Breed. Henry H. Palmer, Jerome S. Anderson, Jr.. Benjamin S. Cutler *3r Jm m * a\ l- ^£^\jf \ PARADE HOSK CARRIAGE of Stonington S. F. E. Co.. No. I. Miss Mary Kelley on carriage; Robert Edgar and John D'Amicoat tiller. Steamer following CAPTAIN JOHN MASON Rev. Charles J. Mason in the role of his ancestor and carrying the latter's sword FIRE CHIEFS IN SATURDAY'S PARADE Chief Ed. P. Teed. Stonington; Chief Charles F. Donath and Assistant Mason Manning. Mystic; First Assistant Charles H. Rose. New London; Chief Loren L. Park. Noank; Assistant Charles D. Main. Stonington RIGHT OF LINE IN FIRE PARADE ON MAIN' STREET Procession about to start. Stonington Fire Police in foreground. Pioneer Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1. of Stonington, in rear TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON FLAG RAISING AT CANNON* SQUARE Rev. J. H. Odell. L). D., addressing Stomngton Boy Scouts Saturday morning AT THE HEAD OF THE LINE Marshal Hadlai A. Hull, Marshal Aides Arthur N. Nash and Bourdon A. Bahcock MYSTIC HOOK AND LADDER CO.. No. I B. F. HOXIE ENGINE CO., NO. I. OF MYSTIC After the parade, at Wadawanuck square PREFACE fX^HIS is a plain account of the celebration of the one-hundredth ■*- anniversary of the Battle of Stonington. It has been written with the simple idea in mind of preserving a record, as nearly complete as need be, of the events of August eighth, ninth and tenth, 1914. There has been no attempt at embellishment or fine writing; the facts of the celebration have been set doAvn bare of flourish and fancy. If rhetoric is sought, it can be found in the formal addresses of the occa- sion, while many a touch of sentiment may be discovered in the melodious verses which the anniversary evoked. It may be objected that there is too much detail in the recital of the preliminaries of the celebration, but it was believed that the story of how the plan grew might be of service to other communities intending to celebrate anniversaries of their own. Some useful hints may be gathered from the experience of those upon whom the management of the Stonington Battle Centennial devolved. An endeavor has been made to give credit wherever credit was due for the success of the celebration, but it is certain that some names have been inadvertently omitted. Indeed it would not be practicable to put on record the individual services of all those who helped to carry the picturesque enterprise through. There were literally hundreds who gave generously of their time and efforts to the task. All that can be said by way of acknowledgment is that there was harmonious co-opera- tion from the first and that everyone's contribution of labor and counsel had its share in the consummation. The celebration was a township affair. It owed its success to the loyal assistance of workers in every district of the town. Pawcatuck, the Road, the Borough, Mystic and Old Mystic all gave their time, money and effort. All parts of the town were represented on the various com- mittees and in the Saturday and Monday parades. The new Stoning- ton flag, carried at the head of the pageant of Monday with the national and State emblems, showed five stars symbolic of the five districts of the town; the churches throughout the town united in patriotic services 5 6 on Sunday in honor of the occasion. Not within the present generation, certainly, has such an appeal been made, and so successfully made, for the subordination of sectional prejudices and rivalries to the interests of the town as a whole. May the spirit of sympathy and union continue — from the Mystic to the Pawcatuck — and all the people of the town feel in increased measure henceforth their essential unity. It should be added that generous assistance was rendered also by New London, Groton, North Stonington and Westerly, whose share may be traced in the following pages ; by summer visitors, and by vari- ous others. It is unfortunate that some of the features of the celebration were not adequately caught by the camera, but the spirit and quality of the occasion are fairly reflected in the pictures in this volume. It was impossible to include all the attractive illustrations that might have been put in ; the best that could be done was to make a selection. It is probable that amateur photographers have in their possession many attractive prints that the public has never seen and would be glad to see. If such photographs are in existence, and the owners are willing to contribute them to a permanent record of the celebration, they might appropriately be lodged with the Stonington Historical Society. In conclusion it may be said that the celebration not only taught us all the value of united effort, but gave us a new sense of kinship and a new hope for Stonington's future. H. R. P. np:ptunk HOSK CO., No. I, OK stonington m ^qms^ r "^* rr - "W ?5R ^^rfliP 5ili ^^(j tcSH «* fc Qui * K V f j t s 1 I kf rajs ■ ^B ir *? 1™- ^^mL 1 ? '* STONINGTON STKA.M FIKK KNGINK CO., No. 1 PIONEER HOOK AND LADDER CO.. NO. 1. OF STONINGTON KoDomoc Band of New London, escorting Alert Hook and Ladder Co.. No. I. of Westerly, in the distance CATARACT FIRE CO., NO. '. Of Lakewood CONTENTS Dedication Preface .... Contents Planning the Celebration Saturday, August Eighth Sunday, August Ninth . Monday, August Tenth The Patriotic and Pageant Parade The Pageant-Parade of Stonington The Centennial Bali Cost of the Celebration The Flag of Stonington Financial Report of Executive Committee The Historical Society Exhibition Committees ...... 3 5 7 9 19 24 35 47 49 57 58 59 60 61 63 - 1 B. F. HOXIE ENGINE CO. OF MYSTIC, FOLLOWED 15V MYSTIC HOOK AND LADDER CO. PAWCATUCK FIKK POLICK ALERT HOOK AND LADDER CO.. NO. 1. OF WESTERLY Wakefield Military Band and Wakefield Hook and Ladder Co.. No. 1. following. Westerly Band escorting P. S. Barber Hose Co. of Pawcatuck in the distance rber Hose Co 1\ S. BARBER HOSE CO. OF PAWCATUCK Chief Henry A. Stable and other officers of the Pawcatuck Department in the foreground PLANNING THE CELEBRATION "Tj^OR several years previous to 1914 the desirability of celebrating in A that year the one-hundredth anniversary of the battle of Stonington had been apparent. During the latter part of 1912 a number of local organizations appointed committees in anticipation of the event, and on December 23, at the call of the board of Warden and Burgesses of Stonington Borough, a meeting was held in Borough Hall to which "all organizations and societies" were invited to send representatives. At this meeting Cornelius B. Crandall, Warden of the borough, pre- sided and James H. Weeks was appointed Clerk. After some discussion of the proposed celebration, it was voted, on motion of Charles E. Shackley, "that a committee of three be appointed to confer with the Representatives to the General Assembly from Stonington in relation to obtaining an appropriation from the State for the celebration." The Chairman named as this committee Judge Wurtem A. Breed, Jerome S. Anderson, Jr., and Henry R. Palmer. It was further voted "that said committee be instructed to formu- late a plan for celebrating and commemorating the one-hundredth anniversary of the battle of Stonington and report at the next meeting. " The first definite steps were thus taken considerably more than a year and a half in advance of the date of the celebration. It was felt that the occasion demanded painstaking and mature preparation, and that whatever was done should be decided upon in season to allow the details to be worked out with the utmost care. There was therefore no distressing congestion of arrangements at the eleventh hour : every contingency, so far as practicable, had been anticipated, and while changes of plan were found to be necessary from time to time, there was no confusion on this account. The scheme of the celebration developed naturally and unhurriedly, and, thanks to the co-operation of loyal and devoted workers from all parts of the town, and from the neighboring towns of Groton, North Stonington and Westerly, was carried through to a remarkable success. Practically everybody who was called upon to help responded willingly. 10 The organizations represented at the first meeting, and the names of their delegates, follow : WARDEN AND BURGESSES C. B. Crandall, W. P. Bindloss, T. W. Garity, H. A. Muller, B. C. Chesebro, C. B. McCoart J. A. Vargas. STONINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT Chief Engineer E. P. Teed, Assistant C. D. Main. Neptune Hose Co. : C. E. Shackley, C. B. McCoart. Stonington Fire Police: C. G. Cushman, W. F. Wilcox. Pioneer Hook and Ladder Co.: J. F. Joseph, J. H. Weeks. Stonington Steam Fire Engine Co.: J. S. Anderson, Jr., F. J. Ostman. STONINGTON FREE LIBRARY E. P. Edwards, C. B. States, Miss Lizzie M. Trumbull. STONINGTON MEN'S; CLUB W. A. Breed, B. S. Cutler, E. B. Hinckley. STONINGTON LODGE, NO. 50, A. O. U. W. David Vennard, Fritz Buck. STONINGTON HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Miss Gertrude Palmer, S. H. Chesebro, Gilbert Collins. STONINGTON IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Miss Louise Trumbull, Dr. C. M. Williams, H. R. Palmer. STONINGTON TRAVEL CLUB Mrs. D. C. Stone, Mrs. O. F. Pendleton, Miss Laura T. Wood. STONINGTON GRANGE A. G. Wheeler, S. N. Williams, A. G. Hewitt. LADIES' CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION Mrs. J. H. Shackley, Mrs. Bessie O'Neil, Mrs. Dennis Danahy. LADIES' AUXILIARY. ANCIENT ORDER HIBERNIANS, DIVISION 97 Mrs. Dennis Danahy, Mrs. T. J. McCormick, Mrs. P. H. Coffey. NINA COUNCIL, NO 43, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Joseph Gilmartin, T. J. McCormick, J. A. Vargas, Jr. COURT GEORGE HOWE FELLOWS, FORESTERS OF AMERICA C. E. Shackley, J. H. Shackley, Joseph DeBragga. PEQUOT COUNCIL, NO. 442, ROYAL ARCANUM H. B. Noyes, Thomas Wilkinson. MYSTIC MEN'S CLUB H. J. Holdredge, B. F. Williams, Dr. W. H. Gray. PAWCATUCK FIRE DISTRICT A. G. Martin, H. A. Stable, James Shea. Later the following representatives were reported: ARION SOCIETY Henry Scholl. John Wenmaker. ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS Peter Flynn. Edward Barrett. W. J. Gilmore. 11 It will be seen from this list how general and representative a charac- ter the movement for the celebration had from the start. At a meeting on January 6, 1913, held at Borough Hall, a tentative plan for a three-days celebration, to occur on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 8, 9 and 10, 1914, was presented by the committee appointed at the previous meeting. This report was received and adopted, subject to amendments. It was voted "that the committee of three appointed at the last meeting, viz. Judge W. A. Breed, J. S. Anderson, Jr., and H. R. Palmer, together with C. B. Crandall, B. S. Cutler and Charles B. MeCoart, be named and constituted an Executive Committee, with power to appoint all sub-committees." The first meeting of the Executive Committee was held on February 2, 1913, at the residence of C. B. Crandall. The committee was en- larged by the addition of James H. Weeks and Everett N. Pendleton, and the following officers were elected: C. B. Crandall Chairman, James H. Weeks Secretary, Everett N. Pendleton Treasurer. It was voted that regular meetings of the Executive Committee be held in the Warden and Burgesses room on the first Monday evening of each month, beginning with March 3. It was further voted that a petition be presented to the General Assembly through the Representatives of the town, asking for the sum of five thousand dollars to be used by the town "toward the proper cel- ebration and commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the battle of Stonington. " At a meeting of the Executive Committee on February 10 it was estimated that the expense of the celebration would be $G500, exclusive of $2000 for a permanent memorial. How close to the ultimate cost these figures were will later appear. The records of the committee for March 12 read as follows: "The members of the Executive Committee, with the exception of the Treasurer, went to Hartford, Conn., on this date to appear before the Appropriation Com- mittee of the General Assembly on the bill to appropriate $5,000 to assist Ston- ington in the proper observance of August 9, 10, 11, 1914. 12 "Those who spoke in behalf of the measure were Judge W. A. Breed, Henry R. Palmer, Hon. Abel P. Tanner, Representative from New London ; Senator Fred- erick A. Johnson of Montville, Conn. ; George R. McKenna. "The committee was well pleased with its reception by the members of the com- mittee of the General Assembly." Meetings of the Executive Committee were held from time to time, and at more frequent intervals as the date of the celebration approached. On Julv 7, 1913, it was voted to ask the Mystic Fire District to appoint a committee of three to cooperate with the General Committee. On August 4 a meeting of the General Committee was held, at which the minutes of the Executive Committee to date were read and approved, and the following additional committees were appointed: FINANCE COMMITTEE Benjamin S. Cutler, Chairman; Miss Louise Trumbull, Secretary; Miss Jean C. Palmer, John H. Ryan, Nathaniel P. Noyes, Mrs. Charles H. Cowan, Miss Annie MeGrath, Judge Elias B. Hinckley, A. G. Martin, Henry A. Stahle, James Shea, Heraan J. Holdredge, Benjamin F. Williams, Dr. W. II. Gray. COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS AND SPEAKERS Henry R. Palmer, Chairman; J. S. Anderson, Jr., Secretary; Judge Gilbert Collins, C. B. Crandall, John W. Chamberlain, A. R. Stillman, James Cooper. "The tone of the speakers at the meeting," say the minutes, "showed that the interest in the celebration was increasing." Letters from Mrs. Clarence F. R. Jenne, President, and Mrs. Noyes D. Baldwin, Vice President, of the Connecticut United States Daughters of 1812 were read. These indicated a desire that the society should take part in the celebration. On September 8 the Executive Committee was informed that the Daughters of 1812 wished to provide a suitable permanent memorial for the occasion, and it was voted that a tablet on the site of the old fort be suggested to the society. James H. Weeks was appointed a com- mittee to obtain all the facts possible regarding the location of the fort, H. R. Palmer and C. B. McCoart were made a committee on badges and souvenirs. At a meeting of the Executive Committee, October 13, the fol- lowing votes were passed : "That the Committee on Invitations and Speakers be instructed to proceed at THK SUNDAY EXERCISES AT WADAWANUCK SQUARE Governor Baldwin delivering liis historical address ANOTHER VIEW OF THK SUNDAY GATHERING Speakers' platform at right, speakers facing toward Main street. Children's chorus on grand- stand near centre of picture PROFESSOR OTIS E. RANDALL Who delivered an address at the Sunday afternoon exereises MISS ROSAMOND SPENCER HOLMES Who unveiled the tablet COURTLANDT W. AND HARRY W. BABCOCK Colonial riders THE STONINGTON BATTLE FLAG William K. Holmes. Jr., holding it aloft. Ray- mond M. Holmes at right 13 once to invite special guests, particularly the representatives of the Army and Navy. "That Miss Grace D. Wheeler be requested to prepare a list of historical places in the borough to be suitably marked. "That the Stonington Historical and Genealogical Society be asked to take charge of the business of collecting and exhibiting historical objects in connection with the 1914 celebration, especially those of local interest. "That the committee adopt as the official emblem for the celebration a picture of the cannons and memorial monument on Cannon square. "That all bills shall be paid by the Treasurer on the approval of the Executive Committee." On November 17 it was voted "that it is the sense of the committee that the place for the memorial to be erected on the site of the old fort by the United States Daughters of 1812 of Connecticut is the corner leading to the breakwater." The Committee on Invitations and Speak- ers was instructed to inquire about a pageant, and the questions of a children's chorus and a flagpole were put in the hands of sub-committees. On December 1 it was reported that Mr. Eugene At wood had given permission to have the memorial tablet erected on the desired spot and that Miss Harriet N. Woodard of Westerly had accepted the invitation extended to her to direct the children's singing, and a special committee on pageant was elected as follows: Miss Louise Trumbull, Miss Anne Atwood and Miss Laura T. Wood. The pageant question was discussed at the meeting of January 5, 1914., with the members of the Pageant Committee in attendance. "It was found," the minutes say, "that such a venture would prove too expensive to carry out." C. B. Crandall was appointed a sub-com- mittee to ascertain the wishes of the officers of the Stonington Fire Department in relation to the celebration. On January 28 the Executive Committee reported to the General Committee at a meeting in Borough Hall, at which the minutes of the former body from August 4, 1913, to January 5 were read and ap- proved. Recommendations for the three-days celebration, in much the form finally carried out, were made and adopted. It was voted "that the sum of $900 be paid to Ed. P. Teed, Chief Engineer of the Ston- 14 ington Fire Department on or before June 1, 1914, for distribution to the several borough companies as they may designate." In accord- ance with the recommendations of the Executive Committee, propor- tional sums for the Pawcatuck and Mystic Fire Departments were appropriated and it was voted to purchase two flag poles, one for Station Plaza and the other for Cannon Park. The Executive Com- mittee was empowered to pay all current bills. No business was transacted by the Executive Committee between January 28 and April 6. On the latter date an offer of Anna Warner Bailey Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, to assist in the celebration was received and accepted. It was voted to ask the chapter to mark with appropriate signs the historic houses of the borough. A committee to have charge of the unveiling of the tablet on the site of the fort was appointed as follows: Mrs. C. F. R. Jenne of Hartford, Miss Ethel J. R. C. Noyes of Washington and James H. Weeks of Stonington. A prize of $10 was appropriated for the best essay on "The Battle of Stonington," not to exceed 1000 words, to be contested for by pupils of the Stonington High School; the essay to be read at the historical exercises of Sunday, August 9. On April 24 a cheque for $5 for a second prize was received from Miss Ethel J. R. C. Noyes, and Mrs. Courtlandt G. Babcock offered a prize of $5 for the best essay on the same topic by a pupil of the Stonington Grammar School. Benjamin S. Cutler announced a gift of $5 as a prize for the best original drawing of the battle, all the sketches to be- come the property of the Stonington Historical and Genealogical Society. Mr. Cutler also announced a gift of $100 from Mr. Chauncey B. Rice for the purchase of prizes for motor-boat races on Monday, August 10. The following race committee was appointed: Chauncey B. Rice, Charles T. Stanton, Edward F. Darrell, Lorenzo D. Fairbrother, Harry AW Babcock. At the Executive Committee meeting ot May 18 the question of policing the borough during the celebration was taken up and Judge Breed was appointed to consult with Deputy Sheriffs Broughton and Casey on the subject. It may here be said that the police arrangements 15 were under these officers complete and satisfactory. The State Police sent a number of men, the police forces of New Haven, Hartford, Nor- wich, New London, Westerly and Providence were also represented, and the town and borough constables and patrolmen were constantly on duty. A number of "crooks'* were rounded up, several were shipped out of town, and the great crowds were amply protected in purse and person. At this meeting of May 18 it was voted to invite Major H. A. Hull of New London to be Marshal of the parade of August 10, and Judge Gilbert Collins to be Chairman of the afternoon historical and literary exercises of August 9. Later the Fire Department invited Major Hull to be Marshal of the parade of August 8. The Marshal Aides for both parades as eventually chosen were also identical — Major Arthur N. Nash and Major Bourdon A. Babcock of Pawcatuck. Previous to this time it had begun to be evident that the parade of Monday as originally planned might not be as fully representative as had been hoped. The dispatch of the Army and Navy forces to Mexico rendered it impossible for the Washington authorities to make any def- inite response to the invitation that had been extended to them to par- ticipate in the celebration. Acceptances had been received from all the local and semi-local bodies invited, but it was felt that in view of the possible failure of the Government to send Army and Navy detachments to Stonington some additional features were desirable to make the pa- rade a success. Negotiations were therefore entered into with Miss Virginia Tanner of Dorchester, Mass. , a graduate of Radcliffe College in the class of 1905 and a director of pageants, whose work at the cele- bration at Machias, Maine, in 1913 had attracted the attention of the committee. The idea of a pageant, in the usual sense of the word, did not appeal to most of the committee, but when the desirability, not to say the necessity, of strengthening the programme of Monday became apparent, it was agreed that an infusion of the pageant quality into the parade would be an excellent solution of the problem. Miss Tanner visited Stonington on June 4 and met a number of Ston- ington people, including the committee, at the house of one of the com- 16 mittee members. Her tentative plan for a ' 'pageant parade" was approved and the sum of $800 was appropriated to secure her services for the term of three weeks in Stonington. An additional sum of .$200 was appropriated for the expense of the parade. Eventually $300 more was appropriated, making a total of $800 devoted to this purpose. Never was money better spent for an anniversary celebration. The Pageant Committee as newly constituted consisted of Miss Lou- ise Trumbull, Miss Anne Atwood and Miss Tanner. Miss Maria B. Trumbull was made the Treasurer of the committee. It was voted that this committee should arrange all the details of the parade and have power to choose all sub-committees, but the plan of the parade was to remain subject to the approval and oversight of the Executive Commit- tee. Happily no friction resulted from this dual arrangement. It seemed to be the desire of everybody to work for the success of the undertaking regardless of any access of personal authority. The Pageant Committee proved to be highly efficient, and it would be as diffi- cult as it would be ungracious to withhold from it unstinted praise. It combined industry with tact and ingenuity, while to Miss Tanner in particular earnest approval must be given for her demonstrated possession of initiative, courage and the quality of "born leadership." As week succeeded week, the gradual and orderly unfolding of the plan of the pageant silenced objections, over-rode criticism and inspired confidence; while it may be said, without derogation of any other worker for the success of the undertaking, that the consummation on August 10 was generally hailed as a personal triumph for the resourceful and versatile Director. Meanwhile (May 26) a committee on prize essays was appointed, con- sisting of Miss Louise Trumbull of Stonington, Rev. J. L. Peacock of Westerly and Rev. John Fleming of Mystic. The reports of various sub-committees showed the steady development of the celebration plans. These included the hiring of a tent 80 x 132 ft. in Providence, for use for the proposed luncheons to be served on August 8 and 10. (After- ward another tent section was found to be necessary.) Warden Crandall had direct charge of the tent and the serving of the luncheons. It was SHIPS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT STONINGTON Division of torpedo-boat destroyers at anchor in the harbor ON HOARD THE TERRY Many visitor-, inspected the flagship at the steamboat wharf START OF ONE OF Till', MOTOR BOAT RACKS CROWD ON BREAKWATER. WATCHING RA( ES 17 arranged, with Dr. Weeks as the sub-committee in charge, to entertain the Daughters of 1812 at luncheon in the Congregational church parlors. A plan for the special electrical illumination of the borough streets on August 10 was proposed, but afterward abandoned. It was also pro- posed to invite the British Government to send a warship to the cele- bration, but this suggestion was finally given up as impracticable. It would be tedious to follow the committee in all the minutiae of the preparations. Let it suffice to say that every member cheerfully bore the variety of tasks imposed upon him. As the anniversary ap- proached, these tasks of course multiplied, and for days in advance of the celebration required well-nigh constant attention. In the meantime the Pageant Committee and its several sub-com- mittees were busy and the firemen were actively preparing for their important share in the programme. At the Executive Committee meeting of June 26, the Pageant Com- mittee reported in favor of a costume dance for the evening of August 10, and this was sanctioned, the Pageant Committee to be in charge. From this time forward many details were settled upon. Bands for Sunday and Monday were contracted for, drinking fountains and other public conveniences were provided, two permanent flag poles were erected, painted and equipped with the national colors; State flags were hired, a town flag was designed and adopted, the transporta- tion of school-children to and from rehearsals was arranged for, fireworks for Saturday and Monday evenings were ordered (at an expense of $500), horses were furnished for all those requiring them in the parade of Mon- day, including the Marshals and the Army officers ; decorations for the cemeteries were prepared, badges for the specially invited guests and various committees, the sons and daughters of participants in the battle and indeed for every participant in Monday's parade were purchased ; souvenir buttons were bought, halls, rooms and vacant lots were rented; special train stops were obtained from the railroad authori- ties and orders secured for the slow running of trains through the town during the hours of the Saturday and Monday parades, public concerts were scheduled — in fact a thousand and one minor matters, 18 many of which could not have been foreseen, were debated and decided ; and all, it may not be superfluous to add, in unbroken good fellowship and harmony. Further meetings of the Executive Committee, at which final details were arranged, were held on July 9, 16, 23, 27 and 30, and August 3 and 6. With every contingency so far as possible provided for, it was felt that the one great requisite for the success of the celebra- tion was fair weather. The principal anxiety of the committee, the question of the participation of the Army and Navy, was happily relieved by announcements from the authorities that a detachment of Regulars from Fort AVright, Fisher's Island, and a division of torpedo-boat de- stroyers from Newport would be present. The success of the Monday parade was thus doubly assured. SATURDAY, AUGUST EIGHTH SATURDAY, August 8, the first day of the celebration, dawned amid fog, but before the hour set for the first feature of the pro- gramme, the sun had burst through the mists, and from that time onward till Monday night, when the celebration came to a close, fair weather continued. At eight o'clock in the morning the flags on the new poles at Cannon square and Station plaza were raised — the former by the Stonington Boy Scouts and the latter by the Stonington Tierney Cadets. The Boy Scouts marched from their quarters in the Potter Block with flags fly- ing and drums beating, Scoutmaster James H. Stivers in the lead. Upon their arrival at the square two members of the organization pro- ceeded to the home of Rev. Joseph H. Odell, D. D. , nearby on Main street and escorted him, as speaker of the occasion, to a position near the historic guns. Dr. Odell made a stirring five-minute address on loyalty, duty and readiness for service, the flag was raised amid enthusi- astic cheers, and wreaths were placed on the cannon. A large number of interested spectators witnessed this impressive opening exercise of the celebration. Meanwhile the Tierney Cadets had marched from St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church to Station plaza, where Captain Bernard Rose fastened the flag to the halliards, and Robert Shackley and William Farnan raised it to the masthead. The Cadets gave the Stars and Stripes a rousing salute and the brief exercise was at an end. For more than a week decorators from out of town — from New York, Hartford and other cities — had been busy beautifying the borough with American flags and variegated banners and streamers. Almost every house and place of business showed the national emblem, and some of them were literally covered with the colors. Never before had Ston- ington made so general a demonstration of patriotism. It was felt that this was the one greatest occasion in the town's history for displaying the flag. Not far from 10 o'clock, the torpedo-boat destroyer division ordered 19 20 to Stonington for the celebration by the Navy Department arrived off the town. Members of the Executive Committee in B. S. Cutler's power boat promptly visited the flagship and welcomed Captain A. W. Fitch and his squadron to the borough. The ships and their com- manders were as follows : Terry, Captain A. W. Fitch ; Walke, Lieu- tenant L. F. Thibault; Monaghan, Lieutenant J. F. Cox; Sterrett, Lieutenant H. B. Hird; Perkins, Lieutenant F. S. Hatch. During the early hours of the day many bands and fire companies, as well as thousands of sightseers, poured into the borough, until the streets and squares were lively with the great throng. Two o'clock was the hour set for the fire parade, the chief event of the day, and exactly at that time the fire alarm was sounded and the long procession started. The order of march was as follows : Marshal: Major Hadlai A. Hull. Marshal Aides: Major Arthur N. Nash, Major Bourdon A. Babcock. Stonington Fire Police, Captain Charles G. Cushman. Pawcatuck Fire Police, Captain William Snyder. Westerly Fire Police, Captain John M. Aimes. Chief Engineer E. P. Teed of the Stonington Borough Fire Department, Assistant Charles D. Main. Chief Engineer Charles Donath of the Mystic Fire Department, Chief Engineer Henry A. Stahle of the Pawcatuck Fire Department. Stone's Military Band of Providence. Pioneer Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1, Stonington Fire Department, Captain Raoul M. Delegrange. Konomoc Band of New London. Alert Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1, of Westerly, Captain George H. Williams. Wakefield Military Band. Wakefield Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1, Captain Charles J. Coggshall. Westerly Band. P. S. Barber Hose Co. of Pawcatuck, Captain A. R. Gavitt. Excelsior Drum Corps of East Greenwich, R. 1. East Greenwich Fire Co., Capt. E. A. Banning. Mystic Band. Rhode Island Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 1, of Westerly, Captain Frederick Barker. Chesebro F'ife and Drum Corps of Stonington. Stonington Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 1, Captain F. J. Ostman. East Greenwich Band. Cyclone Engine Co., No. 2, of Westerly, Captain A. D. Hill. Cataract Fife and Drum Corps of Lakewood, R. I. Cataract Fire Co., No 2, of Lakewood, Captain L. F. Howland. Coast Artillery Band, Bridgeport. B. F. Hoxie Engine Co., No. 1, Mystic, Captain Frank Kuppers. Governor's Foot Guard Band, New Haven. VIRGINIA TANNER Director of the Pageant-Parade STONINGTON Represented by Mrs. Henry Robinson Palmer WOMEN OF 18H Mrs. Frank 1). Stanton, .Marshal, at right of picture GALLUP FAMILY GKOl'P WHEELER FAMILY Ancient ox-cart with descendants of Thomas Wheeler 21 Mystic Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1, Mystic, Captain Frank A. Mabbett. Deep River Drum Corps. Noank Engine Co.. No. 1, Noank, Captain Charles E. McDonald. Tubbs' Military Band of Norwich. Neptune Hose Co., No. 1, Stonington, Captain James J. McCoart. Dreadnaught Hook and Ladder and Hose Co., Bristol, R. L, Captain Henry Gallinske. King Philip Drum Corps, Pawtucket. Westerly Veteran Firemen's Association, Captain George R. Haley. Warden and Burgesses of Stonington Borough. Guests of Chief Engineers in Automobiles. Officers of Connecticut State Firemen's Association. Visiting Chief Engineers. The line of march began on Main street with the right resting on Railroad avenue. Thence the route was up Elm street to Bay View avenue, to Elihu street, to South street, to Bradley street, to Bay View avenue, to Elm street, to Cutler street, to North Main street, to Trum- bull avenue, to North Water street, to Omega street, to Hancox street, to Diving street, to Main street and to Stanton field for lunch. The number of men in line was over 1400. The great tent on Stanton field was ample, however, to accommodate them. A New London caterer with a corps of 20 assistants was in charge, while Warden Cran- dall, as a special committee appointed for the purpose, kept a general oversight of the arrangements. The excellence of the parade was everywhere commented on. It was one of the largest fire parades ever seen in Eastern Connecticut, and certainly as attractive a one as could be desired. The various com- panies wore uniforms of gay and differing hues, and the Mystic organi- zations looked particularly spick-and-span in their new suits of white. The fire apparatus was beautifully decorated with flowers, and every bit of brass and nickel had been polished until it shone. The following editorial comment of the Mystic Times gives an impartial opinion of the event: "In the parade of Saturday we were most agreeably disappointed because we did not expect it to work out with such interest. And it would not have so done, had not the individual fire companies to a man made the occasion one of pride to himself, hence to his company. No greater compliment could have been paid the day than the painstaking effort of the individual to look and act his best." The New London Day in its account of the parade said : "The entire parade, including the 15 fire companies. Chief Teed and his guests, the assistant 22 chiefs, the fire police of the borough and Pawcatuck, and the bands, numbered over 1400. There was a certain uniformity of dress among the firemen of the borough, each of the three companies of the department wearing black trousers and black shoes; the Pioneers and Neps in red shirts with white monograms and blue dress caps; the Steamers with red shirts with blue collars and cuffs and white stars and blue cap9; the fire police in the regulation blue uniform and bearing clubs; Chief Teed in the regulation blue, with brass buttons and visor cap mounted with the insignia of his rank. "The chiefs of the companies bore trumpets with handsome bouquets. All along the line of march the firemen were greeted with applause and cheering. All the way out Elm and back and down Water and up Main street again, it was one triumphal procession. "The procession was concluded at the big tent in Stanton park, where a banquet was served. Thus ended one of the grandest parades by firemen that the State has ever seen. Never was Stonington borough so roused by sounds of music and cheering and applause, never have its streets presented so imposing a spectacle. All along the lino of march cameras clicked from sidewalks and grandstands." The Stonington Mirror said : "The apparatus of the firemen had been richly decorated and the effect was delightful to the eye, each company having attempted something quite novel in the way of ornamentation, and that they succeeded was plentifully evident. Miss Constance Delagrange, daughter of Foreman Delagrange, was seated on the Pioneer H. and L. Co. truck, while little Mary Kelley, daughter of William H. Kelley, a former member of the Steamers, held the long strings of white and blue ribbon that, running from the company's front, directed the course of the parade truck of Stonington Steamer, No. 1, on which she was seated holding a parasol of white. Including the Neptune's parade carriage, all of the local apparatus was plentifully decorated with flowers, and the fire engine, that had been prepared for the occasion by Engineer Charles A. Rix, by its appearance well repaid his efforts." Meanwhile, shortly before five o'clock, Hon. Simeon E. Baldwin of New Haven, Governor of Connecticut, arrived by train and was met with the automobile of Henry M. Canby, in which he was driven around the gaily decorated town and finally to the Congregational church parlors, where a special lunch had been prepared by S. H. F. Ross. At the table were seated, in addition to the Governor and members of the Executive Committee, a delegation of naval officers from the tor- pedo-boat destroyer squadron. After the excellent menu had been enjoyed, there were brief remarks by His Excellency and Captain A. W. Fitch, the senior squadron officer. Later there were impromptu band concerts on Wadawanuck square and elsewhere, and at 7.30 the Mechanics' Band of Stonington gave a formal concert at Station plaza, preceding the fireworks display, which occupied the time from eight to nine o'clock. The fireworks were fur- nished by the National Fireworks Company of New York and were beautiful in the extreme. They were set off on the railroad property 23 just west of the track leading from the main line to the freight station. It is estimated that a throng of five thousand persons saw the display. This closed the exercises of the first day. The weather had been perfect, the crowds orderly, the parade a great success, the fireworks exhibition a satisfying climax to the varied programme. The town went to bed well content with the celebration thus far, and hopeful that the good weather would hold over Sunday and Monday. SUNDAY, AUGUST NINTH THE weather proved as pleasant on Sunday as it had been on Satur- day. Every church in the town of Stonington — in Pawcatuck, the borough, the Road district, Mystic and Old Mystic — had been formally invited to hold services on Sunday morning appropriate to the occasion, and in nearly every instance the invitation was accepted. At Calvary Episcopal Church in the borough the service was distinguished by the presence of three high dignitaries of the Church, Bishop Davies ot Western Massachusetts, Bishop Howden of New Mexico and Suffragan Bishop Babcock of Massachusetts, each of whom made fitting remarks. At the Second Congregational Church the large congregation (265 in number) included Governor Baldwin of Connecticut and Dean Otis E. Randall of Brown University, the two speakers at the afternoon exercises. Rev. Dwight C. Stone, the pastor of the church, delivered a sermon in which the theological and ecclesiastical differences of 1814 and 1914 were pointed out and a brief address was given by Henry R. Palmer, as follows: ADDRESS OF HENRY R. PALMER "We are gathered in this old church of the old New England faith to celebrate a marvellous deed in the marvellous history of a great people, the repulse of an English squadron of five staunch ships and 160 guns by a handful of patriots with three small cannon and the desperate muskets of 100 years ago; to commemorate a defence unique, unparalleled, in the record of the nation — yet not in- credible, for we remember Macaulay's thrilling tale of Horatius at the bridge— Horatius who said: 'In yon straight path a thousand may well be stopped by three' — and the equally splendid story of Leonidas and his Spartans at the Grecian pass. "From these forerunners of ours, the keepers of the coast in 1814, these earlier lovers of this pleas- ant stretch of Connecticut shore, the sturdy men of Mystic and Stonington and the Pequot country- side, we may learn the lesson of the supreme emergency. They were the doers of their routine duty, the rank and file of the Army of Every Day. Their business was not the priming of guns and the repulse of navies, but the making of a living in the field and shop and on the sea. But all their lives had been a preparation for some climactic opportunity, some supreme success or failure. 'Our little. unremembered deeds,' our insignificant sacrifices or selfishnesses, our indistinguishable triumphs or overthrows, are the despotic shapers of our personal fates. Out of a thousand generations of the weeds springs the unguessed, unheralded, unanticipated flower, and out of a thousand obscure valors sprang the consummate valor of the men at the old fort that held them true to their task, that helped them to aim their cannon straight, and that gave them a victory inexplicable only when we forget the logical and comprehensible processes by which nature is forever moulding heroes out of common men. 24 CAPTAIN ADRIAN BLOCK AND HIS CHEW Pioneer Dutch Voyagers of Hilt SAMUEL CHESEBRO AND I'KISCILLA ALDEN Jesse B. Stinson and Miss Elizabeth Wilbur take the parts NAVY ON MAIN STREET MINER FAMILY GROUP D. W. Miner, on horse at right, as Thomas Miner PALMER FAMILY GROUP Stephen B. Palmer, on horse at right, as Walter Palmer 25 "How shall wa honor them, the men who fought for us, for us the unborn, the unprophesied, of their far day? Not by the blare of music alone, not by the magic shower of rocket and candle, not by the inscription of their deeds in permanent bronze, not by the winding of laurel in token of their laurelled names — by these, but by more than these: by honest emulation; by defending the old town anew; by saving it from its insidious modern enemies, saving it from its subtle bitternesses, little- nesses, factions, misunderstandings, jealousies; saving it to its larger and loftier possibilities of use- fulness and beauty. Then we shall have not merely a picturesque town by the sea, a town that is dearest to us of all towns because it is ours and was once theirs to whom we owe it and to whom we owe ourselves, but a town newly fortified, newly ramparted, newly transfigured by the light that never was on Fisher's Island sound or the shining surf of the ocean or these leafy streets and lanes — the light of unselfish service for our day and generation, of mutual helpfulness, of community co- operation. In that glad day, if any good cause calls or any enemy threatens, we shall stand united, not in this borough alone, but throughout the township, from boundary river to boundary river and from tbe hills to the sea; shall stand united, every neighbor a friend and every man a brother, shoul- der to shoulder and heart to heart; shall stand united for Stonington." HISTORICAL EXERCISES The main historical exercises of the celebration were held on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, a large platform having been erected for the speakers and the specially invited guests on the east side of Wadawan- uck square, just south of Temple street. It had been intended to assemble the audience on the square but the bright afternoon sun caused a quick change in tiiis plan and the speakers and guests were faced to the east, while the attendant throng promptly gathered in the shady street and on the private residential property beyond. The presiding officer was Hon. Gilbert Collins, a native of Stoning- ton and one of its most distinguished sons. Judge Collins's official residence is in Jersey City, but he spends a large part of the year at his Stonington home. The exercises opened with an invocation by Rev. Dwight C. Stone of the Second Congregational Church, after which a chorus of school children from all parts of the township sang "The Flag of Stonington," a new song, specially written and set to music for the celebration. The chorus occupied a grandstand which had been built across Temple street at its junction with Main. Miss Woodard of Westerly, who had trained the chorus, directed the singing, and a deputation from the Mechanics' Band, under the leadership of Charles G, Cushman, furnished the ac- companiment. 26 Judge Collins, in his introductory remarks, touched lightly upon various features of the celebration and in a more serious vein referred to the great war in Europe. He then introduced Governor Baldwin, who had been escorted to the platform before the meeting by the Execu- tive Committee and the Mechanics' Band. The Governor spoke as follows : GOVERNOR BALDWIN'S ADDRESS "Why ip it that State and town have united to celebrate this day? It is not an anniversary of any great military triumph. It doe9 not recall to memory a war in which our country reaped glory and greatness. The War of 1812 was one in which we had few successes and many defeats. We were beaten back from Canada. Several of our States and Territories were overrun by British troops. Our capital itself, after a resistance so feeble as to be almost ridiculous, was captured. Of the five thou- sand men whom Pennsylvania was called on to furnish from her militia for the defence of Washington. net nne could be obtained. We sought peace, although the objects for which Congress had declared war were not attained. We had demanded for our ships of war freedom from search by those of Great Britain, and we failed to get any promise of it. The treaty of Ghent was little more than the expression of an American wish for peace at any price, consistent with the substantial integrity of our territorial boundaries as they had existed before the war. "The representatives of Connecticut had voted in Congress against the declaration of war. She did not believe it would bring a remedy for our ills. She was not surprised at the outcome. She had anticipated no other. "She did not look coldly on the War of 1812 because her people were wanting in military spirit. From the earliest days of the colony of Connecticut they had always shown it as one of their settled characteristics. "They had to meet, in the very hours of the foundation of the commonwealth, hostile Indians pressing upon their borders. The Pequot War of 1636 showed that the colonists could fight as well as pray. Under the lead of John Mason, whose 9tatue overlooks the town of Groton on Pequot hill, they struck a blow — cruel, it seems now, but final — which assured unbroken peace for forty years. "The eighteenth century brought new dangers. The French were disputing with the British for the possession of the American continent. They had built at Louisburg the strongest fortress on the Atlantic coast. The people of New England, in 17i5, by a brilliant dash, captured it for England, and Connecticut troops bore an honorablo part in the achievement. "Ten years later, Phineas Lyman of Suffield, as major-general of the Connecticut militia, was commander-in-chief of the forces sent against the French fortifications at Crown Point; and our troops did good service in their capture and afterwards in that of Montreal. Israel Putnam was with him there, and with him again in the expedition against Havana in 1762. "The Revolution drew on. Among the first troops after the battle of Lexington in 1775 to march to Cambridge were the Governor's Guards of Connecticut, and those from Windham County led by General Putnam. "Connecticut planned and financed, a few days later, the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Her troops fought at Bunker Hill. A Connecticut general of our militia — Putnam — was in command, and two days later was made a major-general of the Continental army by act of Congress. "A greater man was made commander-in-chief, George Washington of Virginia, but Putnam ranked next. Nor did Washington's own State equal Putnam's in the men she sent into the field 27 during the Revolution. Connecticut was a small State and Virginia a large one, but Connecticut had more men in service in the Continental army. '•In all these operations of war, from century to century, Connecticut had fought in self defence, or iu the defence of her sister commonwealths. Again and again she had engaged in hard righting but always for a cause in the justice of which she thoroughly and honestly believed. "The War of 1812 came on and she believed it to be unjustified. She protested against it. She saw ruin in it for her commerce, gain for none. She had no heart in such a conflict. To the con- science of her people it made no real appeal. "Why then, I repeat, should we celebrate this centenary ? "It is not brilliant successes; it is not material gains; it is not days of triumph, only, that men think worthy of permanent commemoration. " 'Sweet are the uses of adversity.' "Stonington was the easy victim of a British fleet. They burned a part and could have burned the whole. But Stonington found her neighboring towns promptly rallying to her defence. The militia of Connecticut were true to their duty. They were aided by volunteers from among the citi- zens generally. They brought artillery, heavy for those days, to bear upon the enemy's ships, and served it with good effect. They came in numbers sufficient to prevent any land expedition into the surrounding country, and thus saved Norwich from attack, and our three men of war laid up there in the Thames from capture. "The troops of the United States did not come to the relief of Stonington. General Thomas H. Cushing of Massachusetts, then in command of the military district, with headquarters at New London, was appealed to but, wisely probably, thought the forces of the regular army were more needed there. He relied on the militia of the State to repel the threatened attack at Stonington point. Major General Williams, in command of a division of our militia, responded to his call by assembling one regiment here and other detachments at the head of the Mystic river, Norwich and New London. "Connecticut had protested originally against the war. Two years before, in August, 1812, at a special session the Legislature had made this declaration: " 'The people of this State view the war as unnecessary * * * A nation without fleets, without armies, with an impoverished treasury, with a frontier by sea and land extending many hundred miles, feebly defended, waging a war hath not first accounted the cost.' * * * 'By the constitution of the United States, the power of declaring war is vested in Congress. They have declared war against Great Britain. However much this measure is regretted, the General Assembly, ever regardful of their duty to the general government, will preform all those obligations resulting from this act. With this view they have at this session provided for the more effectual organization of the military force of this State, and a supply of the munitions of war. These will be employed, should the public exigencies require it, in defence of this State, and of our sister States, in compli- ance with the Constitution, and it is not to be doubted, but that the citizens of this State will be found, at the constitutional call of their country, among the foremost in its defence.' "The day of trial came. It was the day whose centenary brings us to this place. The militia of Connecticut were called upon to defend their State and country — to defend them alone, save for such patriotic assistance as could come from the voluntary efforts of their neighbors and friends. The authorities of Stonington, as they saw the danger near, had applied to Congress for aid, but in vain. They appealed to the commandmant of the regular army for the department, and he too had no troops to spare. They appealed to the commandant of the militia of their State, and with success. "A regiment was hurried to their relief. A landing was prevented, and the enemy at la9t forced by our heavy artillery to retire. "No man lost his life during the hostilities, though one was severely injured and died a few months later. "The day had nothing in it that was spectacular, except the bursting bombs as they fell upon the village roofs. There was no sacrifice of blood; no great sacrifice by fire. "The full story of the affair can be found in the account of the semi-centennial celebration in 1861, and in Palmer's Stonington by the Sea. "Originally it was feared that much of the village had been burned. The Connecticut Mirror of August 22, 1814, after recounting the attack and its repulse, proceeds thus: " 'The inhabitants, fearing another attack, have not returned to their dwellings, and their desti- tute situation calls loudly upon the philanthropies of their fellow citizens. If a brief should be granted for collections in the churches of the State, we trust very essential aid will be furnished. Nineteen-twentieths of the inhabitants, it is said, have no other property than their buildings.' "It will be recollected that in those days church collections for special objects could not be taken without getting the approval of the Governor and council, their license being called the allowance of a 'brief.'* "The losses proved less than was anticipated. The bombardment wa9 not renewed. "What there was that was memorable was the quick rally of our State militia, aided by volunteers coming individually to the field, and their intrepid service as artillerists against a formidable British fleet. "As Governor of Connecticut and commander-in-chief of her militia to-day, I am glad to look back a hundred years and see that, when my predecessor, then in office, Roger Griswold of Lyme, was charged with the duty of repelling an invading fleet which the United States could not meet on the sea, he found the militia of Connecticut quick to respond to his call, and able to acquit themselves like men in the day of peril. "'England,' Nelson had said, nine years before, in the famous signal flung to the breeze from every masthead in his fleet at Trafalgar, 'England expects every man will do his duty." Connecti- cut expected every man in the ranks of her citizen soldiery to do his duty a hundred years ago this day. They did it, and her citizen soldiery of to-day, if they were called upon to face the flame of battle and bombardment, would do no less. "It is the blessing of our country that, without a Btanding army adequate to her defence, her institutions secure her the quick aid, in time of peril, of a force of militia, brave a9 the bravest, and, during these last years, trained under a stricter discipline and to a higher point in the military art, than at any earlier period. It is this that keeps our taxes down, while all Europe is groaning under the load of excessive budgets. It is this which enables us to give our young men facilities for education which foreign conscription laws virtually preclude. It is this, and this only, which befits a free government, founded on the faith in that religion which teaches that, in the long run, right is stronger than might in the dealings of nations as well as in the dealings of men." *Stat., Ed. 1810, p. 121. Next on the programme was the prize historical essay chosen from a considerable number offered in competition by students of the Stoning- ton High School. It was by Henry M. Gardiner of the borough, the winner, who read it as follows : THE PRIZE ESSAY "Although on this occasion it seems appropriate to mention only the battle fought at Stonington CHESEKROl'GH FAMILY GROl'P WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH Dr. Edmund D. Chesebro of Providence takes the part of his ancestor, the first settler of the town INDIAN TEPEE STANTON FAMILY Charles Stanton and Mrs. James R. Carson next behind the standard 29 from August 9th to 12th, 18H, which we are now celebrating, nevertheless there should be a great amount of importance attached to the fact that the town has twice been visited by the lordly British. "In the spring of 1775, within a few weeks of Lexington and Concord, came the news to the ears of the peaceful inhabitants of Block Island that Captain Wallace, commanding the frigate 'Rose', was sailing toward their island with the intention of confiscating the best cattle and sheep to be found there. Hastily they prepared for flight, sending their cattle across to Stonington for safe keeping in the meadows around Quanaduck. "Wallace, finding himself foiled in this attempt, and hearing that the livestock had been sent away, directed his course toward Stonington, and came to anchor a short distance offshore. "The patriots, encamped in the field now north of the house of Mrs. Courtlandt G. Babcock, formed quickly and marched to the waterfront. The British tried to effect a landing, but afte* sev- eral attempts, routed by a hail of musket bullets, they at last withdrew. Only one American was injured. Thus ended the glorious victory of August 30th, 1775. "Alas, to the great grief of the British, Stonington once more met the sea forces of his Britannic Majesty in the second engagement, and most assuredly the worse, only thirty-nine years after, in the year 181*. "At 5 p. m. on Tuesday, August 9th, in this year, the people of Stonington were most unpleasantly surprised to see approaching the point, under full sail, foar vessels of the British navy, namely the 'Pactolus,' seventy-four guns; the 'Ramillies,' thirty-eight; the 'Dispatch,' twenty-two, and the bomb-ship 'Terror.' This fleet came to anchor a short distance inside Fisher's Island. Immediately a small boat put off from the side of the flagship and made its way toward the shore bringing a dis- patch from Captain Hardy to the townspeople. The import of the message was this: 'One hour will be given to the unoffending inhabitants to leave the town. If this request is not complied with I will commence the bombardment.' Captain Hardy's name was signed to this letter and it was a name to be respected, for Hardy was a famous sea captain and a close friend of Admiral Nelson, England's great naval hero. In fact, it was Hardy who embraced Nelson for the last time as the Admiral was dying. "The people of Stonington were naturally angered at this unprovoked assault and sent a decidedly negative answer back to the commander. Immediately preparations for defence were begun. A four-foot breastwork, manned by citizens of the town and defended by two eighteen-pounders and one six-pounder, relics of the Revolution, was hastily erected. Women and children ran hither and thither, carrying all sorts of household effects, preparatory to quitting the town. "Hardy, upon receiving the indignant message, showed great magnanimity and deferred the attack until evening. At 8 o'clock that same evening he ordered the firing to begin. A heavy bombardment lasted until midnight, answered frequently from the shore. At sunrise the next morn- ing the cannonading was renewed, more vigorously than before. Soon the cannon within the breast- work at the head of the breakwater were spiked because of the lack of suitable ammunition. A third requisition on New London for powder and shot having been successful they were unspiked and again directed against the fleet. General Isham of New London then took command. Soon the British sent a landing party in several barges around to the eastern shore of the point, about where Mr. Dunham's house or Mr. Broughton's barn now stands. The small six-pounder, in the hands of competent men, was dragged across to the threatened spot, one of the eighteen-pounders to the end of the point, and soon the British retreated under the galling fire. The ships then slipped their cables and advanced slowly toward the town. The people, alarmed at this move, sent out to know the reason, and word was returned that if the town would surrender Mrs. Stewart, wife of the British consul at New London, they would not be molested further. The authorities denied all knowledge of Mrs. Stewart, and also of the fitting out of torpedoes, of which they were also accused. Hardy 80 therefore continued the bombardment during the next day, the 11th of August. In the afternoon of this day a boat was seen approaching from the fleet, carrying a flag of truce. A small boat in command of my grandfather (Elisha Faxon, Jr.) met this boat. They parlied awhile and finally the British, trying to gain the shore, were repulsed by the hardy defenders. The 'Nimrod,' a twenty- gun brig, joined the fleet on this day, but did not help matters overmuch. Barges were sent in to force a landing, but were repulsed again and again by the gallant defenders of the breastwork. Finally the fleet, being in a decidedly crippled condition, weighed anchor on Friday, the 13th, vow- ing never to molest Stonington again. "Later reports from the 'Dispatch' placed the dead at twenty-one and the wounded at over fifty on that vessel alone. Truly the total loss must have been very great compared to that of the towns- people who, as far as accounts relate, lost only one, a victim of wounds received. Over sixty tons of metal were thrown into the town in the whole bombardment, and many tons were raised from the harbor, including two perfectly good anchors left by the retreating vessels. "Relics of the battle may be found to this day, and there are many cannon balls now in possession of the town and private families. One may see several of these at Dean's Mills or on the posts at the entrance to the Library. Not long ago a cannon ball was found in my own yard, the same being in our possession now; and one has recently been unearthed in the marsh to the eastward of the borough. The fireplace of the Barker house on Water street still contains a large cannon ball. "Truly we, the inheritors of this glorious history, should be proud to own Stonington as our dwelling place, and should always think with reverence and patriotism of the brave defenders of eighteen hundred and fourteen." The next number on the programme was "The Star Spangled Banner" by the chorus, after which Professor Otis E. Randall, Dean of Brown University, who was born in North Stonington and whose great-grand- father, Colonel William Randall, was the militia commander at the battle of Stonington, delivered the following address: DEAN RANDALL'S ADDRESS "You will forgive me, I am sure, if I yield for a few moments to sentimental feelings. These are the scenes of my childhood. These beautiful hills and valleys, these old attractive homesteads sur- rounded by graceful elms and shading maples, this glorious expanse of water, are just as familiar and just as dear to me to-day as they were forty years ago. I have spent the larger part of my life in another State and have visited many parts of the world, but I have never forgotten these beautiful spots, nor have I ever ceased to be proud of the people with whom it was my good fortune to associ- ate during my boyhood days. This is a beautiful place by nature, entirely independent of any sentimental feelings which we may have. A few months ago I met a professor at Yale who is to retire from active service in a few years. He told me that he had for some time been looking for a place on the shore where he might be willing to spend the remainder of his life. He had visited every harbor from Canada to the Chesapeake and had finally selected the borough of Stonington as the one desirable spot. "A hundred years ago this place was the scene of a great battle in which our forefathers made a heroic effort to defend their rights and preserve a heritage for you and for me. It is not necessary for us to dwell upon the details of the event or to review the history of the war with which we are all familiar. No words of ours can portray the hardships which our fathers experienced or the hero- ism and the patriotism which they manifested. How often we have listened with the keenest 31 interest to the story as it has been told to us by our parents and our grandparents, and how proud we have been to learn that some of our own ancestors were men enough to be actively engaged in the contest. It is a glorious history, and one which we cannot afford to forget or to allow our children to forget. We are inclined to live too much in the present. We have too little interest in that which has happened in the past. We are too little concerned about that which may take place in the future. So long as our present day needs are satisfied, so long as our environment is such as to interest and amuse us, we are content. The present, with its great opportunities for temporary material advancement, with its multifarious forms of human activity, demands so much of our thought and energy that we have little time or tendency to look into the past or to stop long enough to con- sider seriously the outcome of the future. "We little know how much the efficiency of the present depends upon a thorough knowledge of the past. No man can know his place in the world, the nature of the obligations which rest upon him or the proper methods of dealing with these obligations, until he knows thoroughly the life and experiences of those who have gone before. The great problems of our day concerning our social, political and economic welfare, the great problems arising in the fields of science and engineering, the great questions which are raised concerning international relations, etc., are in no sense new problems or new questions. They may have assumed new forms or may have been brought forcibly to our attention, but they are the same problems and the same questions with which our ancestors long ago had to deal. A thorough knowledge of the attitude of past generations toward such ques- tions and a full understanding of what has been accomplished by them in the way of solution of these problems is certainly essential before the men of this generation can safely and efficiently begin their work. "It is therefore fitting that we should set these days apart for an appropriate celebration in which we may properly recognize the great bravery of our ancestors, in which we shall show full ap- preciation of the sacrifices which they made for us, and in which we shall endeavor to learn and teach such lessons as shall be profitable for ourselves and for our children. "When our forefathers defended this place against the attacks of the British it was not simply for the sake of their own families and their immediate descendants. They were prompted by broader and nobler motives than these. They saw the injustice which their fellow men were suffering at the hands of the enemy. They saw the unnecessary obstacles placed in the way of those who were struggling to make the best of themselves and their opportunities. They saw the future of a great nation and a prosperous people. This is why they fought and bled and gave to us our independence, our rights and our privileges. Some of us can claim direct descent from those who participated in the war, but the benefits which have followed these heroic efforts were no more intended for us than for those who have since made their homes here, for those who abide here can desire no less than we to make every possible contribution toward our growth and prosperity. Therefore this is a celebration in which we are all to be interested, and in which we all should take part. "How shall we celebrate this great event ? What can we do at this time which shall be appropri- ate to the occasion, which would be in accord with the wishes of our forefathers, were they able to speak to us to-day ? Many generous contributions of money have been made, a great deal of time and thought has been unhesitatingly given in order to make this celebration a most attractive and impressive affair and one long to be remembered. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have worked so long and so faithfully for us. "Because of the many attractive and interesting features of our celebration, is it not possible for us to become so deeply absorbed in the details, so much bound up in the present, as to lose sight of that which we are trying to celebrate, as to miss in some degree the great lessons which we should learn and teach for the benefit of those who are to come after us ? If we do I am sure you will agree 32 with me that we shall fall short of the ideal celebration. That which has to do with the immediate present only with no bearing upon the future is of small consequence compared with that which shapes and controls the future, and we are not worthy of our noble ancestry if we allow ourselves to be so fascinated with that which for the time being is before our eyes as to forget our obligations to the future. "There are many profitable lessons which we may learn from the great event which we are cele- brating and from the lives of those who participated in it. We can touch only upon a few. "It is well for us to cultivate from our reflections the spirit of gratitude to God and man for our daily blessings. Our blessings arc so common and we are so often carried away by our greed for more that we are likely to forget the great source of all blessing and to remain in ignorance of the sacrifices which have been made for us by those who love and care for us. This is true of the young men and the young women of to-day. "We certainly ought to learn important lessons concerning the real meaning of perseverance and the part it plays in all important undertakings. The youth of to-day are apathetic in their attitude toward everything which calls for strenuous effort. They are unwilling to face hardships and make sacrifices. They are little inclined to meet and overcome the obstacles of life which we all must meet if we hope for any measure of success. We do too much for our children. We make life too easy for them. We take pains to relieve them of every burden, to give them the full benefit of every labor saving device, and to encourage them by our tenderness to pursue the course of least resistance. The same mistake is made in our modern system of education where our young men and women are led to believe that life is play, not work. A vivid picture of the struggles of our ancestors, of their great and successful effort against odds to protect their rights and their homes, ought to fill our youth with ambition and determination and to inspire them to more persistent effort in the face of difficulties. "We may learn much of the beauty of unselfishness, a virtue which is none too common in this age. We are so self centred, we are so greedy for the material things of life and so anxious about our own amusement, that we forget our obligations to those about us. We may greatly enhance our own happiness and teach our children most valuable lessons by imitating to some degree the unselfish lives of those whose memory we hold dear to-day. "Another characteristic of those early people which is worthy of our imitation was their genuine love of home, for which they would gladly make any sacifice, yea even lay down their lives. The home should be the nursery of virtue, the centre of happiness, the source of the nation's power, but it cannot be unless the members of the family make the necessary individual contribution. The growth of club life and the manifold organizations in which men are interested, the agitation among the women over suffrage and other outside activities, the careless attitude of husband and wife towards the marriage vows, the early age at which our children are weaned from the home ties and influences, show conclusively that the home to-day is not what it was a hundred years ago, and is not playing the part which it should in the nation's welfare. "In these days of strenuous living, when individual interests are paramount, there is danger of losing hold of that spirit of philanthrophy and patriotism which was so prominent in the lives of our forefathers. Wealth and power are of small consequence if they must be acquired through the advancement of the individual at the cost of the comfort and happiness of the mass. Our great armies and battleships mean little in the time of war if there is not behind them all that intense love of man and country which leads the individual to forget himself in his interest for others. "It is natural for us to regard hardships of every type as unfortunate and undesirable. As we look back upon the bitter contests of the past, with the consequent loss of life and property, our hearts go out in deepest sympathy for those who were called upon to sacrifice and endure, and we DENISON FAMILY Miss Phebe S. Denison, Miss Josephine B. Denison and Miss Elizabeth H. Robinson in the fore- ground. Miss Eliza F. Denison as Lady Ann Borodell, riding AMERICAN* VOLUNTEERS OF 1HU ( hie of the 1*H cannon in the foreground, with wreath jflki ^T J .^ $ : w ^fc ' 1 A ■ 1 r *■ 1 CAREY MAIM'. Veteran drummer from North Stonington. Dr. C. Wesley Hale as Haff-bearer LADY ANN BORODKLL .Miss Eliza F. Uenison of Mystic in the role of her ancestress REV. AM) MRS. JAMES XOYES Ira Hart N'oyes and Miss Ethel J. R. C. Noyes as the first Stonington minister and his wife COLUMBIA Mrs. Martha H. Miller S3 wish these things might not have been. Yet the richest blessings of life spring from trouble and suffering. Many a man has been saved from moral ruin or has been led from a life of carelessness and indifference to a life of usefulness solely because of personal misfortune. Many a homr- has been saved from rupture when trouble came. The people of the nation, widely scattered over the country, forget their feuds and become united by the closest bonds of friendship when they are called upon to face a common foe. Without any question the sterling qualities which we have been commending in the li%'es of our ancestors were aroused and stimulated by the hardships and misfortunes which they were obliged to meet. "We are therefore not celebrating simply a great victory over hostile forces but we are rejoicing over the great contribution to our success and happiness which have corneas consequences of the war. Let us then enter into the celebration enthusiastically, for in so doing we cannot fail to bring forcibly to our minds the high ideals and aspirations of our honored ancestors. Let us learn to the fullest extent the lessons which are intended for us to learn. Let us willingly shoulder the responsibilities which are plainly ours, and train our youth in such a way as to enable them to take up the tasks of life where we must lay them down. "If by our exercises here we can succeed in arousing in ourselves and in our children the spirit of gratitude, a greater appreciation of privilege, quicker recognition of obligation, truer notions regard- ing responsibility, and a greater effort toward the realization of those lofty ideals set forth by ou r ancestors, this great Stonington centennial celebration will be remembered in the distant future long after the splendor of the pageant has been forgotten." After music by the Mechanics' Band, the following poem, "Stoning- ton," by Miss Anne Atwood of the borough, was read by Rev. Charles J. Mason of Calvary Episcopal Church: MISS ATWOOD'S POEM : STONINGTON White houses dreaming in the dusk Of green old gardens where the rows Of lilies stand — while over them A little sighing whisper goes. The shadowed streets are aisles of peace Where gentle ghosts go up and down; Their light feet fall and make no sound In all the twilight-shrouded town. The quiet harbor lightly holds Winged ships upon her shining breast, From sailing over bitter seas They have come here at last, to rest. And at their mast-heads lamps come out Like starflowers in the deepening gloom, Swinging a little as they feel The shorewind sweet with lilac bloom. Or else before the Dawn's still rose, The little fishing boats steal by. Like wraiths into the trailing mists That drift along the Southern sky, Dropping below the silent town, Below the pallid harbor light And out across the silver tide, Beyond our wistful shore-bound sight, Until the day comes with a clear, Bright splendor, walking on the sea. And every wave is tipped with flame And pearl, and shines most gloriously. These are the dreams that come at night To exiles half a world away; These are the dreams that lead them back. Before such visions who shall say Ours is a barren heritage ? Beauty is ours in such largesse As rone can know who has not seen 34 Our seasons' changing loveliness. Bleak are our bare, unfertile fields. Wind-swept our hills and gray our skies. But when our winter sunsets flare, What flaming golden glory lies Upon our uplands; to our shores What wistful, tender colors come! And, oh, the air is bread and wine To us who call the stark hills Home! And when the blossom-footed Spring Runs over all the waiting land. She brings such radiance on her brow. Such wealth of beauty in her hand. That where her misty banners trail Across the meadows gemmed and bright With April, all of life becomes A delicate and gay delight. White gulls in crystal air, the snow Of sails upon an August sea Beyond the lowland pastures, rich With Summer's joyous pageantry, A pageantry that wears into Russet and amber, thin blue haze, On dim horizons, and the sweet Slow sadness of October days. And every field and wooded hill That sees the blazoned months go by Holds at its heart some memory Of prayer or song or battle cry. Ours is a strange inheritance, Sombre and glowing, ice and fire, Something of sadness, much of pain, Gray abnegation, hot desire. Beneath a harsh and sordid mask What passionate belief, what fine, High courage, what strong, splendid deeds. What soaring visions half divine! To every man upon this earth One spot of all the world is given Whereby the spirit that is hi3 Fashions itself a dream of Heaven. And we who watch the marching tides And know the great winds from the sea Keep in the dreams our hearts devise A certain fine austerity. Never for us the sensual Warm fragrance of the lotos-dream! Ours is a sterner Heaven, lit And splendid with the sea's cold gleam. Even in death we cannot lose Her spaces and her mystery, And Paradise will hold for us The sound and color of the 6ea. The exercises closed with a benediction by Rev. James E. O'Brien, pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of the borough. The band rendered another selection as the great throng dispersed ; and in the evening, at 7.30 o'clock, gave an attractive concert at the park. MONDAY, AUGUST TENTH T IKE its two predecessors, Monday, the last day of the celebration, -*— * proved perfect weatherwise. This was the more remarkable as for weeks before there had not been three pleasant days in succession. The crowds on Monday far outnumbered those of the previous days. They came by every conceivable sort of conveyance. The morning trains, the trolley cars, automobiles by the hundreds, country vehicles, bicycles, the Watch Hill ferry, yachts and motor boats all added to Stonington's unprecedented throng. The trolley company ran seven or eight cars, packed with passengers, on a trip. The great majority of the stores in Westerly and Mystic closed for the afternoon, as practi- cally everybody wished to see the pageant parade. Of this event, the climax of the celebration, a writer in the Norwich Bulletin, Leslie T. Gager of Stonington, said : ''Stonington's Battle Centennial, three days blessed with the rich fruitage of human thought and effort and crowned by nature's beneficence with blue skies and sunshine and Sound breezes, came to a grand and satisfying climax with the great historical pageant Monday afternoon. Ten thousand people flocked into the borough to see the portrayal by parade and pageant of the establishment and the growth and the successes and glories of the famous town by the sea. And they found a most wonderful spectacle carried out with a smoothness that was notable, with a wealth of detail that was amazing and with a vividness that made those scenes of days of yore strike home with a thrill to their descendants of to-day. This pageant was more than a show — a superficial representation of generations that are past and their ways of life and action — it was the past being lived out by the present in a virile, red-blooded fashion, it was the spirit of the men and women of the old Stonington, showing forth in those of the new. "It was a pageant unique, one that can rarely be held. Few places there are that can boast, like Stonington, of so many threads, and they of so many colors, as those that are woven into the web of Stonington's history. Exploration, conquest, settlement, defence, a call to adventure that led her mariners to scour every sea, a spirit of patriotism that brought her sons, followed by her daughters' prayers and hopes, to fight on the fields of every war, and in times of peace to bear a worthy part in public service — these are some of the things thus recalled once more to memory that made Stonington's pageant really great and worth while. Those sturdy men and noble women of colonial days and of war times, worthily represented by their descendants, arouse pride In the past, emulation in the present, ambition for the future. And thus Stonington's celebration reached the culmination of its true significance on Monday afternoon, after three days that have been really in themselves history-making in the old south county town." The Westerly Sun said: "An artist's brush could not paint, nor could an author's pen portray, a more pleasing and realistic picture than was presented yesterday afternoon in Stonington borough by the pageant parade which 35 86 was a part of the three days' celebration of the Battle of Stonington anniversary. In this wonderful, fanciful, yet realistic picture of two centuries of Stonington life, not a chapter was omitted. From the coming of Adrian Block, in 1614, to the time, in 1814., when the brave men of the borough pro- tected their families and homes from the powerful guns of the British fleet and ultimately drove them from the harbor, the principal periods were introduced. The costumes were unique and attractive and pictured in a true sense the dress of the old, historic time." THE MOTOR BOAT RACES During the morning the principal events of the celebration were a concert by Fairman's First Light Artillery Band of Providence at Wadawanuck park and the motor boat races from a line drawn from the head of the inner breakwater to a stakeboat anchored near the west breakwater. Thence the course was to the red can buoy on the north end of Middle Ground Shoal, and thence to the starting line. Silver cups were offered for boats in three classes: Class C, boats making less than twelve miles an hour; distance five miles. Class B, boats making from twelve to eighteen miles an hour; distance ten miles. Class A, boats making eighteen miles or more an hour; distance fifteen miles. A light fog delayed the start of the races, which had been set for nine o'clock, until about 10.30. There were no entrances in Class C. In Class B the following were the boats entered and their elapsed times for ten miles (twice over the course): No. 1— Aloah, B. L. Bristol, Jr., Avondale, finished fifth. Time 47.52. No. 2— Vida, E. F. Darrell, Stonington. finished first. Time 44.17. No. 3 — Dido, C. J. Mason. Jr., Stonington, finished sixth. Time 52.36. No. 4 — Lulu B., Herbert Brooks, Mystic, finished fourth. Time 47.36. No. 6 — Kanigo, Courtlandt W. Babcock, Stonington, finished second. Time 44.20 No. 7 — Rika, August Schnellen, Stonington, finished third. Time 46.20. This was a handicap race and Dido was the winner, with Aloah second. In Class A the following were the entries and their elapsed times for fifteen miles (three times over the course): No. 1 — Bull Moose II, Frank J. Gregory, New York, finished first. Time 36.13. No. 2 — Hare, Robert Moore, Jr., New London, finished second. Time 37.24. No. 3 — Eheba, Harry A. Darlington, Pittsburgh, finished fourth. Time 44.14. No. 4. — Hadji, Harry A. Darlington, Jr., finished third. Time 41.56. No. 5 — Minnehaha III, Harry McNutt, Mystic, was obliged to withdraw at end of fourth lap on account of being in a leaking condition from being struck by another boat. IWI.MKR FAMILY MARCHING CHORUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN INDIAN PRINCESS Mrs. Albert Wilson of Stonington SYMBOLIC FIGURE Miss Maud Cammon of New York WHALING DAYS Charles E. Staplin. -id. at left, William H. Hal- lett with harpoon. The whaleboat was brought expressly from New Bedford for the Pageant 37 Elreba was declared winner on time allowance and Hare second. The committee members were on the yacht Igloo, owned by Dr. F. T. Rogers of Providence. They were Chauncey B. Rice, Lorenzo D. Fairbrother, Harry W. Babcock, Theodore Dewhurst, Charles H. Simmons and Edward F. Darrell. The harbor was a gay sight during the races, with a large number of decorated yachts and motor craft at anchor. The bunting-dressed town in the background, and the torpedo-boat destroyer division in the offing — with the exception of the Terry, which lay at the head of the steam- boat wharf and was open to the inspection of visitors — added to the beauty of the scene. THE UNVEILING OF THE TABLET At noon a company of several hundred people gathered at the head of the old breakwater, near the corner of Water and Trumbull streets, to be present at the unveiling of the memorial tablet erected on the site of the 1814 fort. The tablet had been erected on the east side of the brick office building of the Atwood Machine Company, where a plat- form provided seats for the speakers of the occasion and a large number of invited guests. After music by Fairman*s Band, Rev. John O. Barrows of Norwich- town, formerly minister of the First Congregational (Road) Church, offered prayer and Dr. James H. Weeks, President of the Stonington Historical and Genealogical Society, holding up the battle flag of 1814, said: ADDRESS OF DR. WEEKS "By way of introduction let me present to your admiring gaze the old flag that waved over this 9pot 100 years ago to-day and extend to all a most hearty welcome to an occasion which has for its purpose the permanent marking of the place where the Stonington defenders of 1814 stood to battle a common foe. "Our exercises to-day are in a special manner such as will live in the memory of all here and we shall appropriately mark a place where heroism was displayed, for the men who stood behind the guns in the old redoubt fought for their homes and to bring an added honor to our commonwealth. "We have heard for a long time what the men did at Stonington, and it is right that we should. It is eminently fitting, however, that a body of women known as the United States Daughters of lrfl-2 of Connecticut should have a large part in our celebration, for did not the women of 38 Stonington in August, 1811. prepare the bread, corn and other food9 which enabled the men to retain their strength that they might hold out till the battle was won? Ye9, over the hot fires on many a hearth on those hot August days was prepared the food by wives, daughters and sweethearts which brought courage to the hard-struggling men and which also reminded them that the homes of loved ones must be preserved. This is not fiction, but hard facts which have been handed down to us. The women knew that the men were doing yeomen's service and they were willing to bear their share of the burden. "And my friends, your part in this centennial make9 for permanency; it is thus far the only feature which has, and as the fair hand of this young lady draws aside the colors which now hide the beautiful tablet, I am sure our people will take this gift and cherish it. "As we read its bronzed letters, may they ever be a reminder to us as well as to those who came after, that our borough, town, State and nation require our best service. Stonington had her defenders in the American Revolution, in the conflict of 1813, in the Civil War period and if I mistake not the signs of the times, they are with us still. "The lesson then for us is that the State and humanity demand our best service. Be proud of this history of your town and commonwealth. There was more than the saving of a few homes at stake in the Battle of Stonington, fought from this spot. There was that deep instinct bred of love for a country where God rules and every man is free. "Our assembly is made possible to-day by the quick work of the men who fought here 100 years ago to-day. We honor them and, as citizens, should make a much closer study of that conflict. Join then with us in a hearty manner in these very fitting exercises, thus honoring ourselves as well as those we seek to honor." "The Flag of Stonington" ' was then sung by the school chorus with band accompaniment, and Mrs. Clarence F. R. Jenne, President of the United States Daughters of 1812 in Connecticut, spoke as follows: MRS. JENNE'S REMARKS "The desire to perpetuate the memory of notable events is instinct in the human race. You will remember that it was Joshua, the warrior priest, who bade the leaders of Israel each to take a stone from the bed of the river Jordan and with them to build a monument to commemorate a crisis in their history. 'When your children shall ask, what mean ye by these stones? ye shall tell them of the marvellous parting of the waters of the river that your fathers might pass through on dry land.' "Thus you will see that it is right and fitting for us to gather here this summer morning to place and to dedicate a simple memorial which will serve for many generations yet to come as a reminder of the bravery and heroism displayed by those patriots who defended the town of Stonington against the British, one hundred years ago to-day. "It is the mark of affection to remember their deeds, and we place this memorial not in any spirit of boastfulness, but in the interest of history, and to preserve the memory of those heroes who were willing to do and to die, if need be, to protect their families, their homes and their country from the hands of the enemy. "This may not be holy ground upon which we have gathered, but it is certainly historic ground, and on this occasion we love to dwell upon the thrilling scenes which were enacted here so long ago. "We marvel at that brave garrison of about a score of men who fought so well that they not only kept the British from landing on this shore but nearly sank the whole fleet. "It is a tale of victory from the beginning to the close, and the repulse of the British at Stonington proved to be one of the most gallant affairs of the War of 1812. "At this time and in this place I desire to make mention of the own daughters and sons of the par- ticipants of this memorable battle; some of them are with us to-day. and we are honored by their presence. " We are glad to look into their faces and to grasp them by the hand, for they bind the past to the present, and we all join with them in honoring the memory of their noble fathers and mothers 'who have fought their last battle and sleep their last sleep.' "Now your honor. Warden of the borough of Stonington, I take great pleasure, on behalf and in the name of the National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812, State of Connecticut, to offer through you to the borough this completed memorial tablet and ask at your hands it3 accept- ance and formal dedication." At the conclusion of Mrs. Jenne's remarks, the tablet was unveiled by Miss Rosamond Spencer Holmes of Providence, great-great-grand- daughter of Captain Jeremiah Holmes, who commanded the battery during a part of the battle. One of the flags which had covered the memorial was given to her, while the other will be kept by the Stoning- ton Historical Society. Warden Cornelius B. Crandall accepted the gift in behalf of the bor- ough of Stonington. He said : "It gives me great pleasure to accept this tablet presented by the Daughters of 1812 to mark the spot of the old fort, and I assure you It always will be prized and kept in memory of the brave defenders of Stonington." The tablet is of bronze, 30x23 inches in size, and has the following inscription : "1814— 19H Near this spot was located the fort in which the defenders of Stonington, Connecticut, bravely battled and drove the British squadron from our shores ninth, tenth and eleventh of August, eighteen hundred and fourteen. Erected by the National Society of United States Daughters of 1812, State of Connecticut." Following the acceptance of the tablet by Warden Crandall and the singing of "America" by the school chorus and audience, accompanied by the band, a brief address was given by Mrs. William Gerry Slade, President of the National United States Daughters of 1812. Mrs. Slade put the stamp of approval on the work of the State Society and told how much the organization of which she was a member meant 40 to her. She spoke in defence of the War of 1812. She said that too many had the opinion that the war did not amount to much, that Great Britain had used all her power to get her colonial possessions back after the Revolution and at the outbreak of the second war looked upon the citizens of the United States as rebels. She gave a short sketch of the war and said that the battle at Stonington came at a time when the Hartford Convention had been in session — an assemblage embodying the dissatisfaction in New England with the war. As the British shots were fired at Stonington, the Convention was broken up and the ener- gies of Connecticut were given to the saving of home and country. By the breaking up of the Convention every thought that had not been in accord with the principle involved in the war turned into ardent patriot- ism and each man sprang to the task of defence. Had the people of Stonington yielded at this time, the Hartford Convention would prob- ably have resumed, and no one can tell what the result would have been. The courage of the defenders of this town obscured everything but the country's cause. To Stonington belongs the credit thus of being the turning point in the saving of the nation. Mrs. Slade spoke of the noble inheritance that the present generation in Stonington pos- sesses, and in conclusion paid a tribute to the women who played their part in the defence of the place. Governor Baldwin was next introduced. He said: GOVERNOR BALDWIN'S ADDRESS "Anniversary celebrations of great events have a high motive and a true use. "The tablet which we dedicate to-day commemorates one of the marked events in the history of Eastern Connecticut. A naval force under the command of one of Lord Nelson's greatest commodores and warmest friends. Sir Thomas Hardy, was driven back by a few gunners on this spot one hundred vears ago. Some of those who served the gunners so well came from Massachusetts, some came from the original militia of Connecticut, 'detached,' as the phrase ran, for such service, under an act of Congress passed April 10, 1812. Some of the men came from neighborhood volunteers. Part of these probably learned the art of gunnery as privateers; part in their younger days as soldiers in the Revolutionary army. A man who was twenty years of age at the close of the Revolution, we must remember, would have been about fifty-one years old in 1814. Wherever they learned it, they learned it well. "Since those days the use of heavy guns has become largely an affair of precise mathematical calculations worked out on paper. Electricity gives its aid: the man who fires is not the man who directs the aim. There is less of the human element in the business, and more of the mechanical. CAMP FIRE GIRLS FROM PAWCATUCK, MYSTIC AND STONINGTON STONINC.TON (URLS CARRYING AN AMERICAN FLAG CHILDREN OK 1775 AND isn 41 "The results are more certain, the work is more deadly. Thus we proceed in what, to me, seems the gradual progress of human society from organized war to organized peace. It is a gradual progress; but all too slow. It is a gradual progress, although it may be for a time interrupted, as at this hour, by war of the bitterest type between the greatest nations. "America this year will present a better record as to military affairs than does Europe. The quieting of Mexico by the Pan-American mediation will make it a year long to be remembered here- as making a new tie of Continential brotherhood with all our sister republics. "We of the United States are fortunate in having no neighbors strong enough to measure sword with us. We are fortunate in having no allies to call upon us to fight for them. We are fortunate that there is but one people between New York and San Francisco, for a stretch of three thousand miles. Europe is a complex aggregate of separate governments interlaced geographically, so as to give opportunity for frequent misunderstandings, and, we may frankly say, sometimes, for acts of oppression exercised by the greater powers against the lesser. "The great war which now darkens Europe and her Asiatic dependencies will be an object lesson showing the impolicy of risking such a state of affairs as now confronts those continents. "Surely the human race must eventually come to some better mode of adjusting internationa differences, than the rule of the stronger. This war now raging may hasten along that time. "Justice between nations is the only thing worth striving for by statesmen. Justice is bes administered by judicial authority. I hope that this very century in which we live will not close before there is a real judicial court of nations, authorized to decide controversies which diplomacy cannot settle. If that day comes it will cast no shadows over the past. The story of great action like Gettysburg and Waterloo, and of lesser actions like those whose centenary we are celebrating will be preserved in the pages of history and the hearts of men, and the defence of Stonington, wit nessed by this tablet, will still remain a treasured memory, forever dear to every son and daughter of Connecticut." The chief address of the unveiling ceremonies was delivered by Hon. Abel. P. Tanner of New London, who said : ADDRESS BY HON. ABEL P. TANNER "The circumstance that I was not born in this town and have not lived among you for a good many years — precludes the right 1 once had to address you as "Fellow Townsmen," and I must forego that salutation now. I am consoled, however, by the fact that there was a time, as your land records will show, when Stonington and my native town were one — when even my adopted city was in the same circuit, and all the magistrates sat side by side. "But Stonington has yet other claims to historic distinction. I will enumerate some of them, It was one of the first if not the first to suggest a convention of all the colonies, in the crisis imme- diately preceding the American Revolution; and, of that suggestion, in 1774, the first Continental Congress was born. In the next place, it raised by subscription, that same year, a substantial fund and sent it to the distressed inhabitants of Boston after that port had been closed by the king. And somewhere in its archives may be found, to-day, the acknowledgment of that gift, by the martyr. General Warren, in which he said: 'When liberty is the prize, who would shun war?' And, curiously, Stonington was invincible in war. It was the only town on the Connecticut coast to successfully resist invasion, in either war with England. Neither Commodore Wallace, in 1775, nor Commodore Hardy, in 1S1+, was able to reduce this Port. "We are concerned to-day with an incident in the second war with England, known as the War of 1812. I presume most of you are familiar with the causes of that war, and probably know that it 42 was due, mainly, to European complications. For then, as now, Europe was aflame with war. It is a condition it will always be subject to as long as conquest lures and men have lost their reason and a people can be swayed by the impudent assertion of the divine right of kings. "Great Britain, then in need of naval recruits in her continental struggle, was insisting on the right to search our ships, under the pretext of looking for British subjects. At that time she was in alliance with other great powers against the first Napoleon; and between her 'orders in council' and his continental system, and our own embargo, our foreign commerce was nearly destroyed. Our merchant ships were being condemned in foreign ports, our protests ignored and sailors impressed from under our flag. We bore it discreetly through many patient years until it became the boast of the British press that 'you couldn't kick the United States into a war with England." When, finally, Congress did declare war there were hundreds in this country who said it was premature. And they did what they could to embarass the conduct of the war, to discourage enlistments, and force a dishonorable peace. Still, somehow, we carried the war on; and when, at last, peace was declared it made no mention of the cause of the war; the treaty of Ghent was silent upon the question of search. And so peace was criticised, as war had been. Nevertheless, that martial enterprise stopped impressments, and the 'peace of a hundred years' attests the wisdom of its consummation. "We are commemorating, now, an event of that war, as it transpired here; and, thanks to the patriotic societies, you have set up a memorial — a bronze inscription that will be read in futurity when we have disappeared. And there is a kind of solemnity about it all. It reminds us that all centennials are sad. When one is observed, it is rarely met again by the same individuals, on this mortal journey; its greeting is 'Hail and Farewell.' A century hence, another generation will celebrate this day, we hope, with some measure of devotion, but we will not be here. Long ere that time we will have mouldered to forgotten dust. To-day we hold the centre of the stage in this pass- ing show; we drink to the memory of these heroes, dead. who. with sublime courage, faced the iron storm of war; but they who will gather here a hundred years to come will know us not. To them we will not even be a memory. Still, we are not cast down. We come not to exalt ourselves, but with grateful appreciation; and we aim to do justice to the dead. Historians have not always done justice to the event we celebrate. Most of them have given it but scanty mention in military annals; some, indeed, have affected to treat it with careless indifference. Yet, all things considered it was one of the most brilliant exploits in the course of that war. Recollect that no other defence was successful on the New England coast during the British invasions. Even the gallant Decatur was driven up the Thames river and couldn't get out. Consider, for a moment, the inequalities of the contest. On the one hand, five ships of war (including the Nimrod, on the second day) one of them among the largest in the British navy — an overwhelming marine force— with 160 guns, and mortars that threw 12-inch shells; the whole under the command of a brilliant naval officer. At that time Commodore Hardy was in the prime of life. He had fought gallantly at Copenhagen, at Gi- braltar, and the battle of the Nile; and the great Nelson had died in his arms amid the thunders of Trafalgar. And against this formidable flotilla was what:- A contingent of militia operating three pieces of artillery, with insufficient ammunition: scantily protected by a small redoubt in which but few could find shelter; yet so ably maneuvering as to thwart all attempts of the enemy to land, and finally compelling it to withdraw altogether. And when you remember that during that three days' bombardment over sixty tons of metal was thrown into this place, with every kind of missile, and that the defenders were continually under fire, you get some idea of the skill, the resourcefulness and the prodigious valor of the Americans engaged. "A concrete narrative of all that took place in this village a century ago. between it and a British squadron, would doubtless be of interest, if time and circumstance permitted. But it is obviously impossible in any address of reasonable length, and I shall not undertake it now. It is sufficient to say that Commodore Hardy drew near on the afternoon of the ninth of August, with five ships of war, including the bomb ship Terror, and at I o'clock he sent inland his grim despatch giving the •unoffending inhabitants' one hour to depart. Can we wonder that tradition says the people were horrified, or that leading citizens thought of compromise, in the town's defenceless condition? When eventually they were informed that no 'arrangement' could be made, they might then have fled with the 'unoffending inhabitants' and no court martial would have pursued them into retirement. In- stead they returned to the British commander that defiance worthy of Thermopylae: 'We will defend this place to the last extremity, and if it must be destroyed we will perish with it.' "The commander of the fleet, for some reason, presumably humane as became that chivalrous offi- cer, delayed the attack beyond the appointed hour, so that those who would could get away. But, at 7 in the evening, he began a furious cannonade which, for four hours, jeopardized life and prop- erty in this practically defenceless town. And may we conceive the effect of that scene, on a people unused to war, facing a hostile fleet, amid the roar of cannon; exploding rockets and bursting shells; the night made lurid by conflagration. A contemporary has said that there was nothing very spectacular in the bombardment of Stonington; that it was an insignificant affair. But the record does not sustain him. A chronicler, of the time, has described it as 'a grand and awful spectacle.' And we can assume it was spectacular enough to those who were actors in it; to the men who manned the defences; who patrolled the streets and shore, or waited, with alternate hopes and fears, on the neighboring hills. Three times, under the cover of their fire, the enemy sought to land marines on both sides of the peninsula, but they were as often repulsed by the fire from the re- doubt, and by musketry and cannon on the shore. In this repelling process, the youthful Jabez S. Swan, afterwards the famous pulpit orator, bore a meritorious part. Meanwhile, Colonel Randall, a brave and energetic officer, arrived with a portion of the Thirtieth regiment, which, after a brief pa- rade back of the 'York House,' marched to the rear of the redoubt, forming a line of support. This completed the affair of the ninth. "The morning of the tenth brought, among other volunteers, Captain Jeremiah Holmes of Mys- tic—a resolute man— who had acquired a knowledge of artillery practice while serving, involuntarily, a9 an impressed seaman in the British navy. It contributes to the irony of the occasion, that, by persisting in the offence which caused the war, England, in one instance at least, conspired to its own defeat. For Captain Holmes was given command of the redoubt; and, by his skillful manip- ulation of its guns, much damage was done to the fleet. Unfortunately, at this point the ammuni- tion failed, and for nearly three hours the little garrison was obliged to remain inactive under a galling fire. It was during this period, when the village seemed at the mercy of the enemy, that some one suggested lowering the flag, disabling the guns, and abandoning the defence. But Captain Holmes declared with emphasis that the flag should never come down while he was alive, and he ordered it nailed to the staff. At 1 o'clock, a new supply of ammunition having arrived, firing from the fort was resumed, and with telling effect. Captain Holmes now double-shotted his guns and sighted them so accurately that the Dispatch, which had ventured nearest the shore, was 'hulled' at each discharge and soon compelled to retire. The bombardment continued, at intervals, for some time longer, until the arrival of General Isham from New London with a strong force made further demonstration by the enemy useless; whereupon its baffled commander reluctantly with- drew. And thus ended the battle of Stonington. In alluding to it afterwards. General Root said in Congress, in 1817: " 'There was one achievement that sheds lustre on the American character, the defence of Ston- ington. A more brilliant affair did not take place during the late war. It was not rivalled by the defence of the Sandusky, the attempt at Niagara, or the victories of Erie and Champlain. The whole was achieved by men who covered themselves with unfading laurels.' 44 "In conclusion, one incident remains to be told — a tragic incident, that reveals and accents the pathos of war. The casualties of this midsummer campaign were few; perhaps less than a hundred, all told. But they included some whose names have lived. Among these were two amiable young men, barely nineteen years of age, who fought on opposite sides. One was a commis- sioned officer— a lieutenant of marines, perhaps an only son who would see the hills of Old England no more. He was killed in one of the earlier clashes along this coast and his body lies not in his native land. Yet, thanks to a chivalrous foe who understood, it abides in hallowed ground. To-day, 1 commend the thoughtful tenderness with which the people of Stonington have remembered the lonely grave of Thomas Barrett Powers. The other was a Mystic boy, the lamented Frederick Denison, who. left at home by his older brothers during the main attack, could not appease his martial spirit, in the echo of battle, but seized a musket and hastened after. Later, while acting as an aide outside of the redoubt, he was struck by the fragment of a rock splintered by a cannon shot, and mortally injured. As his comrades sought to remove him to a safer place, he begged them to leave him and continue the defence. Thus perished these gallant young men in the carnage of battle, each for a separate Cause. We do not now ponder their opposite views. Their differences seem less consequential, in the retrospect of a hundred years. We forget to-day on which side they fought or what uniforms they wore, and remember only their courage and their sacrifices. They spoke the same tongue; they belonged to the same race; and the soil of one country holds them both." The next number on the programme was a poem by Miss Grace Denison Wheeler of Stonington. MISS WHEELER'S POEM One hundred years ago to-day Our fathers stood upon this soil. And heard their English cousins say, Our guns will soon your homes despoil. But brave of heart and strong of hand Their homes so dear they must defend. So here the guns were brought to stand. And here they worked until the end. Within this Battery's little space. Stood fourteen men that August day; Then fourteen others took their place To drive the British ships away. Right here our rlag was lifted high, And out upon the wind that blew, Where it was seen by every eye, Old Glory its brave challenge threw. And when at last 'twas seen to fall, Determination filled each eye, George Fellows grasped Dean Gallup tall. And with a Chesebrough lifted high, Till on their shoulders straight he stood, And raised the Hag, so fresh that morn. Fast to its staff, as best he could. He nailed our colors, pierced and torn. Those men were heroes, bold and true. Who fired the guns and chalked the plank. And worked unceasing, though but few, Without regard to file or rank. The names of Holmes and Fellows play Important part, as do they all. We honor every one to-day, As here their work we now recall. And so the Daughters Eighteen Twelve, Who glory in their father's creeds, And in the records as they delve, Delight to honor their brave deeds. Have placed this Tablet here to Bhow Where stood the Battery and where fought The men who hastened then to go Where love of liberty was wrought. COLONIAL DAYS IN STONINGTON A' ■ ANOTHER COLONIAL GROUP CAPTAIN KIDD T. Whitriilge Cutler as the Pirate-in-Chief. The pirate's chest may be seen just behind him. borne bv two associate buccaneers 45 And too this Tablet marks the place Our fathers" fathers' worthy deed Where, later, men were wont to meet, Should in our hearts a zeal inspire And tell how in this little space, To emulate and far exceed The British met their just defeat. In Patriotism's holy fire. At the conclusion of Miss Wheeler's poem, Rev. George B. Marston of the First Baptist Church pronounced a benediction, and the band rendered a final selection. The Daughters of 1812 were entertained at luncheon in the Congre- gational Church parlors. THE SITE OF THE FORT Following is the report of the findings of Dr. James H. Weeks, who was appointed by the Executive Committee to determine the site of the old fort: "It becomes my duty to report to you my findings in relation to the location of the old fort used by the defenders at Stonington in August, 1814, when they drove Commodore Thomas M. Hardy and his fleet of British ships from our shores. "All vestige of the fortification having been obliterated years ago, it was only possible to reach my conclusion from the interviews had with a number of persons who have lived for many years in Ston- ington and who have heard their elders talk of the location. "There can be no question but it was located just south of the east or shore end of the inside breakwater, which was constructed by the United States Government and commenced about 1826, and in the building of this no doubt part of the earthwork was torn away. This would locate it in a definite manner on the land now owned by the Atwood Machine Company, of Stonington, on which is at present located the company's office, as well as the Brown house, so-called, and on a portion of the land of Mrs. Henry L. Teed. "Some of those interviewed do not just put the location on the same spot, although within the same radius. They all agree as to the main points. Edward H. Sheffield, who has a good memory of early events in Stonington, said (Sept. 10, 1913): *My father, Staunton Sheffield, had a shipyard on the lands now occupied by the Atwood Machine Company's office and lands adjoining to the south, and it covered quite a piece of ground. About where the present shore line is was located the sawpit, and the workmen would tell the boys if they would dig out the accumulated sawdust they would find the bombs and cannonballs used by the British in the battle of Stonington. This, he said, was the method used to get the pit dug out at little expense. I always understood that the fort was located on the shipyard land.' "Judge Gilbert Collins of Jersey City said: 'The space between the Atwood Machine Company shop and the lands of Mrs. Henry L. Teed was always pointed out to me as the exact location of the old fort.' "Postmaster Nathaniel P. Noyes, a lifelong resident of Stonington always interested in matters of a historic nature, said: 'My father always pointed out to us boys that the fort stood where the Atwood Machine Company's office building now stands.' His father, Franklin Noyes, was nine years old when the battle was fought and saw many of the bombs fired at the defenders. For many years he 46 owned a heavy shirt which was thrown overboard from the bonibship Terror during the engagement, which had on it in large letters the name of the ship. Mr. Noyes further said the spot he showed his sons was at one lime the shipyard of Staunton Sheffield and just at the shore end of the breakwater. "Charles B. States said: 'When I was a boy, there stood a stump of a flagpole on the land now occupied by the frame structure of the Atwood Machine Company, north of the present entrance to the breakwater.' He does not think the flagpole the one used at the time of the battle but always understood that the fort was just southwest of the location given above. This would place it on the land already cited by those previously named. "Mrs. Harriet Dennett was seen and said: 'My mother always said the fort, which was thrown up hastily when the Stonington people drove Hardy away, was at the point on which now stand the Brown and Teed houses.' She well remembered the old shipyard and the building of the lightships by Staunton Sheffield and helped to make a set of colors for the first one constructed. She agreed with the others and thus we may feel that we have good evidence as to the location of the redoubt." THE PATRIOTIC AND PAGEANT PARADE During the early hours of the afternoon the crowds from the neigh- boring towns and countryside were busy choosing points of vantage from which to watch the coming parade, while the participants in the parade could be seen, in all sorts of picturesque costumes, making their way by hundreds to the assembly point — the Atwood lot on Elm street. To the casual observer it might appear that these variegated units in the great show could never be brought into a congruous relationship. Pequot Indians, Revolutionary maidens, Dutch voyagers, British sol- diers, American militiamen and seventeenth-century pioneers, parsons and pirates struggled up the hill in seemingly hopeless confusion. Yet out of these diverse elements was woven a pictorial drama consistent from start to finish, with a fine thread of vigor and patriotism running through it and a telling consummation in the "Victory" float. No one who witnessed this fine series of "moving pictures'* will ever forget the beauty and sentiment of the scene. A few minutes after three o'clock the long procession, composed of 1400 costumed or uniformed participants, started down Elm street in the following formation: Eleventh Coast Artillery Band. Battalion of United States Coast Artillery from Fort H. G. Wright, Major E. L. Glasgow in com- mand; (211 men, including band). Sailors from the United States Torpedo-Boat Destroyers Terry, Walke, Monaghan, Sterrett and Perkins. Captain A. W. Fitch in command; (about 150 men). Members of the Grand Army of the Republic, J. F. Trumbull, Hancock. Williams and Budlong Posts. The Pngeant-Parade of Stonington. (The pageant-parade in detail will be found beginning on page 49). Real Sons and Daughters of 1814. Westerly Band. Marching Chorus of School Children. Boy Scouts of Stonington, James H. Stivers, Scout Master; W. F. Broughton, Jr., Assistant. Westerly. Silas T. Nye, G. Benjamin Utter. Scout Masters; D. Harold Rogers, Charles Fowler, H. Russell Burdick, Assistants. Mystic, Flavius Cheney, Scout Master. Tiemey Cadets, Bernard Rose, Captain. Music was furnished by the Coast Artillery Band, the Mechanics' Band of Stonington, Fairman's Band of Providence, the East Hamp- ton (Conn. ) Fife and Drum Corps, the Chesebrough Fife and Drum 47 48 Corps of Stonington, the Westerly Band and the drum and bugle corps of the Boy Scouts and the Tiemey Cadets. The line of march was down Elm street to Main street, up Main street to and around Mathews Park, down Water street to Omega street, through Omega street to Hancox street, up Hancox street to Diving street, through Diving street to Main street, up Main street to Cutler street and to the tent in Stanton Field, where luncheon was spread for all those in line. It is impossible to say how many persons saw the parade. The estimates run from ten thousand upward. There were great masses of spectators along the shaded sections of the streets, particularly on Elm street above the railroad crossing, in the neighborhood of Wadawanuck Square, around Mathews Park and on parts of Water and Main streets. Many of the photographs of the parade give a wrong impression in this respect because the photographers naturally chose places where there were few onlookers and plenty of sun. A special effort has been made, therefore, in compiling this book, to secure photographs which give some idea of the density of the throng, and some of these are printed in spite of the fact that, being taken in the shade, they are not as clear as most of those taken in a strong light. It is unfortunate that, so far as known, there is no picture in existence that shows the solid wall of automobiles and spectators near the railroad station and Mathews Park. The number of motor cars along this portion of the route of the procession is estimated to have been several hundreds, all vehicles having been barred from entering the borough limits during the hours of the parade. Following is a detailed record of the pageant. It is taken directly from the official programme, which while approximately correct could not foresee the dropping out of a promised performer here and there, and was printed too soon to include a few of the latest comers. An effort has been made to correct the record, but it remains possibly here and there incomplete. As it stands, however, it is practically an exact report of what may fairly be called a fine historical spectacle. THE OLD STACK COACH Colonial relic from Farmington COLONIAL SCHOOLMASTER AND SCHOOL Re\ . Dwiffht C. Stone as Schoolmaster WOMEN OF THE REVOLUTION By North Stonington, Mystic and Stonington AMERICAN CAVALRY OF 181 I Citizens of the Road District in battle array THE PAGEANT-PARADE OF STONINGTON 1614-1814 Virginia Tanner. Director of Pageant. Introductory Figure Symbolic of Stonington — Mrs. Henry Robinson Palmer. Banner— "Stonington Celebration. 1814-1914." Flagbearers -United States Flag, Edward T. Dennehey; Connecticut Stats Flag, John W. Chamber- lain; Stonington Flag. William E. Rose. SECTION I The Coming of Adrian Block [Adrian Block and his Dutch crew explored the southern coast of New England in 1614 just 300 years ago Fisher's Island was named for one of his crew, and Block Island for the commander of the expedition himself. Block was sent out in the ship Tiger from Hoorn, Holland, (from which Cape Horn was named), in 1613 by the Dutch East India Company, whose colors are displayed in this sec- tion The Tiger was burned, and he built the Onrust or Restless, 44 feet in length, one of the first vessels— if not the first— built by white men in America. Block probably dropped anchor in Stoning- ton harbor; at any rate he sailed into the Pawcatuck river, a fact that made it fitting that his voyage should be commemorated by Pawcatuck in the parade.] Banner— "Dutch Explorer, Adrian Block, 1614." In the Restless: Adrian Block, Eugene B. Pendleton. Standard Bearers, John Longhead, Neil McKenzie. Sailors, John Tanner, Earle Babcock, Charles McSparren, Charles Andrews. Mechanics' Band of Stonington. SECTION II The Pequot War [In 1637 the Pequots, a warlike tribe that had driven the milder Niantics from what is now south- eastern Connecticut and southwestern Rhode Island, was practically annihilated near the present site of Mystic by a Colonial force under Captain John Mason, to whom Mason's Island was given for this service. Some TOO Indians perished in the battle, while the English loss was insignificant.] Banner — "Pequot Indians." Indian Braves. Warriors, Wounded Indian. Medicine Man, Riders, etc. Pequot Warriors. By Red Men of New London. Marshals, William Greig. James P. O'Connor. Roy C. Barker, John M. Cook. Michael Glynn. Thomas B. Terson, William H. Damon, E. M. Hayes, Samuel Prince. Christopher Beebe, O. F. Andrews. Morris H. Treadway, John Baratz, George H. Reinacher, Benjamin N. Rose. Charles H. Rose, E. N. Rose. Indian women, girls and boys. By Pawcatuck, Mystic and Stonington. From Pawcatuck. Marshal. Miss Natalie Hazard. Winifred Casey. May Lahn, Edith Givin. Priscilla Main, Anna Schuze. Mary Casey. Jeannie Smith, Gladys Brown, Florence Watrous, Gertrude Lahn. 49 50 From Mystic. Marshal, Miss Joanna Burnet. Indian princess, riding. Mrs. Albert Wilson. Indian brave, riding, Fred Noyes Wheeler. Florence Brown, Blanche Burrows, Esther Barnes, Priscilla Dickenson, Mildred Gray, Marian Gray. Marian Lamb, Bertha Lamb. Ida Maynard, Barbara Macdonald, Marian Prentice, Cora Rogers, Marshal. Miss Edna Wheeler. Indian princess, Rita Denison. Almeda Haley, Rachel Edgecombe, Walli Hochchild, Beatrice Wylie, Maria Cooper. Frances Trevena, Florence Crary. Elizabeth Cheney. Esther Denison. Violet Adamson, Margaret Galvin. Float : Tepee. From Stonington and Mystic. Marshals. Mrs. Charles H. Davis. Miss Loui9e Trumbull. Josephine Stevenson, Elizabeth Adamson, Margaret Scheller, Elsie Hauschild, Coretta Pollard, Tillie Fritz, Esther Bindloss, Prudence Fairbrother. Geraldine Joseph, Marguerite Chamberlain, Catherine Dickenson, Florence Thompson. Indian boys, George Darrell, Herbert Simmons. Banner — "Pequot War."' Narragansett Warriors. By Red Men of Westerly and New London. Marshals, William E. Saunders, Walter Knight. Robert Knight, Otis N. Chapman, Walter Nash, Rowse L. Clark, William E. Saunders, Ralph Kinney, Albert Young, Harold Maine, Fred Boulter. Raymond Stillman. Marshals, Alfred Chapman, E. M. Hayes. James Vozella, Charles Austin, John S. Chappell. John T. E. Morrison, Francis Jordan. John T. Bentley, Charles B. Field, John J. Lawless, J. Arthur Colpas. By Stonington and Mystic descendants of John Mason. Rev. Charles J. Mason, representing Captain John Mason and carrying his sword; Charles J. Mason. Jr., Ralph Crumb, Harry Morgan, Clarence Coogan. Henry Coogan, Arthur Coogan. soldiers. Fairman's Light Infantry Band of Providence. SECTION III The Settlement of the Town [The first white settler within the limits of the town was William Chesebrough, who came from Rohoboth in Plymouth Colony in 1649 and built a house at Wequetequock. Thomas Stanton, who first landed in Virginia, came to Pancatuck in 1650 and established a trading post on the shore of the river; later he was interpreter general of the New England Colonies. Thomas Miner, who had lived in Charlestown, Hingham and New London, settled at Wequetequock in 1622 and afterward moved to Quiambaug. Walter Palmer, the first of the founders of the town to emigrate to America, came to Wequetequock from Rehoboth in 1653, purchased Thomas Miner's house and acquired the land on the east side of the cove. Captain George Denison, famous as an Indian fighter, settled near Mystic in 1654, and Captain John Gallup and Robert Park established themselves in that part of the town in the same year. Thomas Wheeler came from Lynn in 1667 and settled in the northern sec- tion of the town.] Banner— " Early Settlers, 1649-1666." Chesebro family. By descendants of William Chesebrough from Stonington and Mystic. Marshal, Dr. Edmund D. Chesebro of Providence, representing William Chesebrough. 51 Orville Chesebro, who carries the Chesebro coat-of-arins; Gilbert H. Chesebro, Mrs. Gilbert H. Chesebro and daughter Helen (riding), Mrs. William C. Thompson and daughter Grace, Miss Mabel E. Ingraham. Henry Chesebro, Lucy Chesebro, Leon Chesebro. Walter Chesebro, Miss Priscilla A. Billings, William H. Peckham, 2d, Benjamin F. Cutler, Cutler Chesebro. Jesse B. Stinson of Mystic as Samuel Chesebro. Miss Elizabeth Wilbur of Mystic as Priscilla Alden. [In 1698 Samuel Chesebro was attacked by robbers while in Duxbury, Mass. His arm was broken defending himself, and Priscilla Alden nursed him, married him, and rode to Stonington behind him on a pillion, holding his broken arm.] Banner — "Association of Pawcatuck People." Stanton Family. By descendants of Thomas Stanton from Stonington, Mystic and New London. Marshal, Donald P. Stanton. Charles Stanton, representing Thomas Stanton. Mrs. James R. Carson, Miss Esther G. Perkins, Miss M. Louise Thayer, Miss Katherine Thayer, John W. Thaver, carrying the Stanton coat-of-arms; Henry D. Stanton and daughter, C. F. Stanton. M". B. Stanton. Miner family. By descendants of Thomas Miner from Quiambaug and Mystic. With ox-cart and family possessions. Marshal, D. W. Miner of Providence, representing Thomas Miner. Cornelius Miner (driving ox-cart). Miss Grace Palmer Miner. Mason Manning Miner, Mrs. Henrietta Miner Stanton. Miss Hannah Miner, Stephen E. Jennings, Mrs. Stephen E. Jennings, William Russell Jennings, Harry Miner, carrying the Miner coat-of-arms. Miss Edith Rathbun, Miss Phoebe Stinson, Miss Annie Rathbun, Alexis Taylor, Content Miner, Nellie Hobart, Ernest Gledhill. Armed escort, James Higgins, Ellsworth King. Palmer family. By descendants of Walter Palmer from Stonington and Mystic. Marshal, Stephen B. Palmer, representing Walter Palmer. William E. Palmer, carrying the Palmer coat-of-arms; J. Culbert Palmer, Jr., banner bearer; Miss Sally W. Palmer, Albert M. Palmer and daughter Julia, riding; Miss Laura S. Palmer, Miss Helen Koelb, Milton Koelb, Howard Koelb, Joseph H. Hammond. Norton Hammond Brain- ard, William N. Palmer, Lewis B. Palmer. Denison family. By descendants of Capt. George Denison from Stonington and Mystic. Marshal, Harry S. Babcock, representing Captain George Denison. Miss Eliza F. Denison (riding), representing Lady Anne Borodell; Miss Josephine B. Denison, Mist Laura T. Wood, Albert Denison, Oliver Denison, Jr., carrying the Denison coat-of-arms ; Miss Eliza Anne Denison, Mr. and Mrs. John F. York. Miss Elizabeth H. Robinson, Miss Phoebe Denison. Banner — "Southertown." Gallup family. By descendants of John Gallup from Mystic. Marshal, Amos Gallup Hewitt. Amos Gallup, representing John Gallup; Moses Gallup. Mrs. J. W. Gallup. Miss Lillian Gallup, Miss Martha Gallup Williams, Miss Maud Pettigrew, Herbert E. Wolfe, banner bearer: Mrs. George W. Tingley, Miss Juliette Haley. Banner — "Establishment of Stonington, 1666." 52 Wheeler family. By descendants of Thomas Wheeler from Stonington and Mystic. With ox-cart and family heirlooms, horses and pillions. Marshal. Fernando Wheeler. Ralph Wheeler, riding as Thomas Wheeler; Ralph C. Wheeler, Farnsworth Wheeler, Mrs. Arthur G. Wheeler, Mrs. Fernando Wheeler, riding in ox-cart; R. C. Wheeler, Thibeau, driver of ox-cart; Miss Grace D. Wheeler, representing Mme. Mary Sheppard Wheeler; Ralph, Marian and Richard Wheeler, Dorothy. Donald and Mary Wheeler, children; Harry Wheeler, banner bearer; Alton Wheeler, Miss Ella Wheeler. Armed escort. Charles O. Ryon, Burrows Perry. Dr. Ira H. Noyes as Rev. James Noyes, the first minister of the town. Miss Ethel J. R. C. Noyes of Washington, D. C, as the minister's wife. SECTION IV King Philip's War [King Philip, younger son of Massasoit and chief of the Wampanoag Indians, was for some years a friend of the English, but, angered by their encroachments, he formed a confederation of tribes (including the Narragansetts) against them. In 1675 war broke out. The Indians destroyed 13 towns and killed 600 colonists. In December of that year, Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connect- icut troops to the number of 1,000 invaded the Great Swamp in South Kingstown, R. I., burned the Narragansett fort and killed 600 warriors and 1,000 women and children; the English loss was 30 or 40 slain. The Connecticut troops in this campaign rendezvoused at Stonington. Canonchet, chief of the Narragansetts, has been called "the brains of the war on the Indian side." He was captured in the Swamp fight and brought to Stonington, where he was tried and put to death. His bearing in confinement was worthy the best traditions of Indian dignity and stoicism.] Banner — "King Philip's War." Float: "Trial of Canonchet." Canonchet, Irving W. Congdon; Indians. Stephen Congdon, Luther Symonds. (These three part- taken by men of Indian blood). White men, E. Frank White, Lyle Gray, Benjamin Peas body. SECTION V CAFrAiN Kil>d ix Stonington [William Kidd, famous in the annals of piracy, was born in Scotland, probably at Greenock, about 1675-1701. He is supposed to have been the son of a worthy Covenanting minister. Young Kidd went to sea as a lad, privateered against the French and won a high reputation for stubborn courage. In 1691 the council of New York city awarded him 150 pounds for his services. In 1696 he was put in command of a ship with orders to seize the pirates that infested the Eastern Seas, and in 1697 reached Madagascar. In 1698-99 reports came that Kidd himself was playing the game of pirate. He was finally arrested in Boston and sent to England, where he was tried for piracy and the murder of one of his men, found guilty on the latter charge and hanged (at London) in 1701, protesting his innocence to the last. Kidd often sailed in these waters. A store of his buried treasure was found on Gardiner's Island and there is a tradition that he concealed other treasure on the shore of Lam- bert's Cove in Stonington. He was an occasional visitor on friendly terras in this town.) Banner — "Captain Kidd." Captain Kidd, Thomas Whitridge Cutler; pirates, Edward A. Staplin, William Clay, etc. AMERICAN REGULARS OF hll ONE OF THE 1814 DEFEND! RS GB \N1J ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC THE CROWD ON MAIN STREET This 1 1 u tun- u'lvt-^ n yon, I i (lf;i of the throng of spectators during the parade of Monday 58 SECTION VI The Colonial Peuiod [Life was not all difficulty and struggle in Colonial New England. There were neighborhood jollities, "training days," quilting bees, tea-drinkings. husking bees and dancing parties. The dances of the time suggest those of the present period — by their unlikeness. It is a long- waj from the minuet and gavotte of the eighteenth century to the tango and maxixe of the twentieth.] Banner — "Colonial Days in Stonington." Gaily dressed men and women walking as to a gavotte. By Stonington and Westerly. Miss Anne Atwood. Miss Constance Atwood, Miss Blanche Mason, Miss Harriet Mason, Miss Marguer- ite Smith, Miss Virginia Mullins, MissElla Perkins, Miss Dolly Whaley. Miss Marjorie Odell, Miss Clarice H. Loweree, Mrs. Horace N. Trumbull; Harry W. Babcock, rider; Courtlandt W. Babcock, rider; J. Edward Fairbrother. Harold D. Livingstone. Frank F. Dodge, Horace N. Trumbull. Colonial Coach. This coach is over one hundred years old and ran between Farmington and Hartford, Connecticut. It was loaded with ancient bandboxes and trunks from the Historical Society's exhibit, and decorated with flags and coats-of-arms of the period. In the Coach: Mrs. Christopher Morgan, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. L. H. Smith, Miss Caroline A. Smith. Mrs. Charles P. Trumbull. Driver of Coach, John Holland. Footman, William E. Ryon, Jr. Outriders, Frank Vargas, Joseph A. Vargas, Jr. Bugler. SECTION VII The Revolutionary Period [Stonington bore its full part in the Revolutionary War, as well as in the Second War with England. On August 20, 1775, it repelled an attack by the British frigate Rose, a 20-gun ship which had been harrying the southern coast of New England in search of food for the British gar- rison besieged in Boston. Captain Sir James Wallace of the Rose learned that the people of Block Island had sent their cattle to Stonington for safe keeping. Accordingly he attempted to land here, but the "Long Point" patriots, armed with muskets only, refused to let him come ashore. Captain Oliver Smith gathered his Long Point musketeers and Captain William Stanton hurried down from the Road district with his company of militia. The defenders assembled in the Robinson pasture, about where the residence of Mrs. Courtlandt G. Babcock now stands, just north of Wadawanuck Square. From there they marched to Brown's wharf, and kept back the small boats sent from the frigate. The tenders were sent back to the frigate with heavy losses. Captain Wallace thereupon began to bombard the place. The firing was maintained for several hours and nearly every house was damaged. But only one man on shore was wounded — Jonathan Weaver, Jr., a musician in Captain Smith's command, who received from the next General Assembly a grant of IS pounds, four shillings and fourpence. Banner— "The Revolution, 1775." British Soldiers. By Stonington and Mystic. Marshal, Frank V. Mathews. Duncan Carson, Joseph Coffey, Manuel Pont. Albert Fort, Raoul M. Delagrange. Hubert Zeller, Roy C. Whitall, J. Sherman Hammond, Walter E. Hammond, Frank R. Muller. Thomas Spears, James L. Leahy, W. Fred Wilcox, Ernest T. Dollbaum. rider; Horace Durman. Wil- liam Noyes. Clifford Watrous, Calvin Harvey. Albert G. Randall, Joe Law. Group of young girls carrying an American Flag. Helen Hobart, Georgianna Holland, Alice McGowan, Mary Robinson. Helena Olsen, Ida Holland. East Hampton Fife and Drum Corps in Continental uniforms. 54 American Minute Men. Marshal, Charles D. Main. Andrew W. Perry, Edward W. Northup, S. J. Swallow, George A. Hallett, Thomas Coughlin, Max Killars, Harry Scheller, Theodore Dewhurst, Fred Dollbaum, George W. Dunham, Asa C. Wilcox. Leander Parks, Irving C. Eccleston, Ellery York, Charles Hillard, Ripley Park, Amos P. Miner, Jr., Ansel Pendleton, George Pendleton, Herbert Main, rider; Reuben Cook, rider; Floyd Main, Richard B. Wheeler, Jr., Philip Grey, James Frank Brown, Richard Darrell. With large Revolutionary flags, Pine Tree, Rattlesnake, etc. Women Descendants of the Revolution from North Stonington and Mystic. Misses Louise Merrill, Ethel Hull, Ruth Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Lila Thompson, Mary Bissell, Alice Avery, Grace Main, Ruby Park, Marion White, Catherine Wheeler, Edith Hewitt. Ella Wheeler, Josephine Dickenson. Geneva Rathbun, Mildred Chapman, Edna Chapman, Cora Clark, Mrs. Edgar Chapman, Mrs. John D. Avery, Mrs. George W. Tavlor, Mrs. A. O. Colby and daughter, Mrs. Walter T. Fish, Miss Louise Fish, Miss Fannie Fish, Miss Jessie Fish. Miss Ellen T. Holmes, Mrs. Irving C. Eccleston, Miss Dora Thompson Maine. Women and Girls from Stonington. Miss Barbara Muller, Miss Maud Spencer, Miss Tanner, Mrs. Luella T. Gager. Schoolmaster, Rev. Dwight C. Stone. Childken: Minnie Derricks. Alice Powers, Marjorie Ferris, Helen Miller, Edith Lathrop, Myrtle Wilkinson, Josephine Delegrange, Lillian DeMaura, Leonora DeBragga, Emily Robinson, Mary Clark, Margaret Clark, Catherine Levens, Elsie Morrison, Marjorie Fort, Genevieve Lynch, Constance Fort, Emma DeMaura, Anna Garity, Viola Reid, Myrtle Vennard, Frances Joseph. Constance Delegrange. Thomas Reid, John Culligan, Maurice Roux. John Chevalier. Lawrence Gilmore, Fred Buck, Stiles Gilmore, John MacDowell, Frederick Cushman. SECTION VIII Whaling and Sealing Days (Whaling and sealing were carried on by Stonington vessels from early times. In the middle years of the nineteenth century the whaling interests of the port employed many ships and represented a large investment. Fortunes were made in this industry. It was from an anchorage in the South Shetlands that a Stonington sealing squadron in 1821 descried the peaks of West Antarctica. In the Hero, a mere shallop of 45 tons. Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer of Stonington sailed to examine the region and find, if possible, new sealing grounds. The result was his discovery of the land after- ward named Palmer Land in his honor, which was, until recently, the most southerly known territory on the globe. Captain Palmer has a rightful claim to be known as the discoverer of Antarctica.] Banner — "Whaling and Sealing Day9." Float: Whaling boat. By Stonington. Suioks: Benjamin C. Cheaebrough, W. Averill Pendleton, William H. Hallett, Harry F. Chese- brough, George C. Pendleton, Charles E. Staplin, 2d. SECTION IX Wae of 1812 [On August 9, 18H. during the Second War with Great Britain, a hostile squadron under the com- mand of Commodore Thomas Masterman Hardy made its appearance off Stonington. The vessels were the Ramillies, 74 guns; Pactolus, 45; Despatch, 22, and bombship Terror. The Nimrod, -20 guns, was afterward added to this formidable quartette. Commodore Hardy sent word ashore as follows: 55 "Not wishing to destroy the unoffending inhabitants residing in the town of Stonington. one hour is given them from the receipt of this to remove out of the town." The place was made ready, never- theless, for defence. Behind a four-foot breastwork near the present entrance to the inner break- water three guns, (two 18-pounders and one 6-pounder), responded gallantly to the fire of the 160 English cannon. The attack lasted from the evening of the ninth to the twelfth of August, when the enemy sailed away, discomfited and crippled, having failed either to destroy the town or to effect a landing. The Despatch alone lost 21 killed and 50 wounded, and when she withdrew with the rest of the squadron was in a half-sinking condition. "It cost the King ten thousand pounds." wrote the balladist Philip Freneau, "to have a dash at Stonington." Two of the defenders were wounded, one of them so seriously that he afterwards died. Many houses were struck, but none were destroyed.) Banner— "War of 1812." American Cavalry. By the Road. Marshal. Seth N. Williams. Charles Mell. John Williams, Joseph Noyes, Herbert West, Edward Geer. George Pendleton, Varien York, Noyes Farnell. Charles Bennett. Jr., Harry Rhoades Palmer. James E. Lord. American Regulars. By Stonington. Marshal, James J. McCoart. Charles Miller, Charles Barnes, Clark Barnes, Ernest Nippers, L. Koehler. Henry Burback. Eugene Olsen, Timothy Donahue, John Chevalier. M. Maxwell. Arthur Birchall, Philip McCormick, William Schribner. Chester Miller, John Shackley, Fred Holland, Walter Reed, Frank Brier. Edward James Welsh. Richard E. Fritz, E. A. Burdick, E. M. Delagrange, Austin Young. Roy Harper. Cannon used in the defence of Stonington in 1814. American Volunteers. By descendants from Stonington, Mystic, Old Mystic and North" Stonington, August 9, 10, 11, 1814. Marshal, Charles P. Trumbull, Jr. Professor Otis E. Randall of Providence, great-grandson and representative of Lieutenant-Colonel William Randall. Carey Maine of North Stonington. drummer. Mr. Maine's father and grandfather went to the de- fence of Stonington in the hurry call of 18H. His uncle was a regular soldier and his great- grandfather served in the Revolution. Vernon D. Clark, Ralph Koelb, Clifford Denison, Henry M. Gardiner, William Noyes, Clarence Shay, Herbert W. Rathbun. Marshal, R. B.Wheeler, Jr., rider. Allen Coats, B. P. Wheeler, rider, carrying old sword and pistols; Frank Wheeler, rider; Frank Thompson, George Thompson, Herbert Maine, Edgar W. Chapman, carrying old brass knuckers; John D. Avery, Wilfred N. Nye, rider; Harry Merrill, Chester Merrill, Merton T. Webster of Westerly, carrying musket and powder horn used in the defence; Fred Sted- man. rider; Ernest Grey, Leon Pierce, Theodore Perry, Elwood Davis. James Whitney. Elisha Davis, William Marchand. Charles C. Grey. William Grey. Morris Wyley, Ray A. Gardiner, Dr. C. Wesley Hale. Float: Captain Jeremiah Holmes, holding flag of 1814. William K. Holmes, Jr., a great-grandson, representing Captain Holmes; Raymond Holmes. Chesebrough Fife and Drum Corps of Stonington. Women of 1814. By Stonington. Marshal. Mrs. Frank D. Stanton. Misses Grace Muller. Sarah Graham, Rose Studley, Jennie Spears. Annie Graham, Emilie Florup, Mary Chamberlain, Katherine Coffey, Cecilia Gilmore. Florena Thompson. Elizabeth 56 Adamson. Helene Vargas. Ella Graham, Helen Cleveland. Ida Thompson, Marcella Mennier, Teresa Weisemeyer. Gertrude Burbach. Agnes Killars. May Brightman, Miss Comstock, Miss Hodge, Mrs. Riith Lee Adams, Mrs. Elsie Killars. Mrs. Dwight C. Stone. Miss Grace Bright- man. Children of 1814. By Stonington. WiUiam Florup, Adolph Lucker. William Taggart, Mary Taggart. Josephine Lucker, Ora Vincent, Bertha Winkler, Catherine Lehman, Anna Schmitz, Edward Vennard. John Wilcox, Eugene Holland, John Tanner, Raymond Olsen. Henry Morrison. Norman Wilcox, Waldy Morrison, Catherine McGowan, Violet Duke. Jack Rhodehouse. Margaret Monjo, Ethel Rhodehouse. John MaeDowell, Paul Pampel, Florence Buck, Anna Farnan. Anna Robinson. Anna Morri- son, Jennie Spears. Alma Spears. Ruth Spears, Wilfred Spears, Courtlandt P. Chapman, riding a pony. SECTION X The Victory of 1814 Banner — "Victory of 1814." By Stonington. Rider, symbolic of "Columbia"' — Mrs. Martha H. Miller. Float : Victory. Figure sj'mbolic of Victory — Miss Ethel Simmons. Symbolic figures on float and walking. The Misses Leah Connell. Vera Bradley. Pauline Spargo, Ethel Pollard, Anna Vargas. Mary Hunt. Alma Killars. Thelma Hinckley. Symbolic figure, riding — Miss Maud Cammon. While the luncheon tent was filled with the pageant paraders, a com- pany of specially invited guests, including the officers of the Army and Navy, were entertained at Brayton's Hall. After an ample menu, there were several toasts with brief responses, and a spirit of good will pre- vailed. The tone of the speeches was one of mutual felicitations. At seven o'clock in the evening the Mechanics' Band gave a concert at Cannon Square, and Fairman's Band rendered another at 7.30 at Mathews Park. By this time most of the visitors had gone home, but still there was a throng of several thousands in the neighborhood of the station to hear the Providence musicians and watch the second display of fire- works. The list of fireworks was the same as on Saturday evening. BRITISH SOLDIERS OF BOY SCOITS James H. Stivers. Scout Master, at right, and \V. F. Brougliton. Jr.. Assistant, in centre GOVERNOB BALDWIN SPEAKING AT THE UNVEILING OF THE TABLET GOVEBNOB AND WABDEN Simeon E. Baldwin. Executive of Connecticut, and Cornelius B. Crandall, Executive of Stonington Borough HON. ABEL P. TANNEB Delivering his address at the unveiling of the tablet THE CENTENNIAL BALL The final event of the celebration was the costume ball at the Wequetequock Casino, arranged by the Pageant Committee and a number of other ladies. The ball was open to the public, on the pay- ment of one dollar. The attendance was large, and the various dances, by costumed groups taught by Miss Tanner, and by Miss Tanner herself, a skilful dancer, were thoroughly enjoyed. The special dances were followed by general dancing, which continued until nearly midnight. Following is the programme of the dances arranged by Miss Tanner: 1. Indian Dance (Indian melodies), the Misses Rita Denison. Gertrude Lahn, Catherine Dickenson, Marguerite Chamberlain, Geraldine Joseph, Esther Denison. ?. Classic Dance (Schumann, Dvorak), Virginia Tanner. 3 A Rigadoon (Grieg), the Misses Anne Atwood, Harriet Mason, Blanche Mason, Constance Atwood, Virginia Mullins, Marjorie Odell, Clarice H. Loweree, Marguerite Smith; Messrs. J. Edward Fairbrother, Frank F. Dodge, Harold D. Livingstone, William E. Palmer, J. Culbert Palmer, Jr.. Charles J. Mason. Jr., Harry W. Babcock, Courtlandt W. Babcock. *. Orientate (Delibes, Grieg), Virginia Tanner. 5. The Sea (Tschaikowsky). the Misses Vera Bradley, Pauline Spargo, Alma Killars, Leah Con- nell, Mary Hunt, Mrs. J. Frank Durgin. Virginia Tanner. The Pageant Committee received $500 from the Executive Commit- tee and $396.18 from other sources, a total of $896.18. Its expenses were $816,18, leaving a balance of $80, which was turned over to the Historical Society. The receipts from the centennial ball were $289, showing that nearly 300 persons were in attendance as paying spectators, in addition to the dancers, musicians and other persons present. 57 THE COST OF THE CELEBRATION It will be seen from the financial report of the Executive Committee on page 59 that the amount expended on the celebration by that com- mittee was $6,897.27. The Pageant Committee spent .$316.18 in addition to the .$500 received from the Executive Committee, bringing the cost of the celebration to $7,213.45 and the total balance to $103.04. As the Executive Committee voted to turn over its balance of $23.04 to the Stonington Historical Society that organization received from the two committees the entire balance — $103.04. In estimating the whole cost of the centennial it would be necessary to add perhaps $4,000 expended by the fire companies of the town and their guests, for music, badges, entertainment and transportation. Thus the figures go above $11,000, to say nothing of the many thousands of dollars spent by individual participants in the celebration. The great celebration came to an end without any untoward happen- ing, beyond an unimportant roof fire caused by a stray rocket during the fireworks display of Monday evening. The three days' crowds had been handled without accident or difficulty, and no accident had occurred to any of the thousands of participants. As the people of Stonington look back upon the celebration they realize that it served not only to make them newly conscious of their rich historical heritage, but to weld them more closely in sentiment and sympathy than they had been before. 38 THE FLAG OF STONINGTON Words by Henry R. Palmer Music by Alfred G. Chaffee Where foams the blue Atlantic, By rocky Napatree, And twilight's friendly towers Shine red and gold to sea, Great Hardy of Trafalgar, With all his ships in row, Came flashing down to take the town A hundred years ago. Chorus : But in our smoking ramparts Were daring men on guard, And high above them fluttered The striped flag and starred, The flag of our affection That still adorns the sky — Where'er we be, on shore or sea, We'll love it till we die. II Roared eighty guns to starboard, Roared eighty guns to port, And hid the starry standard That flew above the fort. But when the fight was finished, It showed its colors fair, The victor-tints the sunrise prints Upon the morning air. Chorus : For in our smoking ramparts Were daring men on guard, And high above them fluttered The striped flag and starred, The flag of our affection That still adorns the sky — Where'er we be, on shore or sea, We'll love it till we die. Ill A hundred gracious summers Have decked New England's shore, And Britain's hostile squadrons Go up and down no more. The heroes, too, have vanished Who held the coast of old, But where they fought our hearts have wrought Their victory in gold. Chorus : And when our country summons Her loyal sons on guard, They'll rally round her banner, The striped flag and starred, The flag of our affection That still adorns the sky — Then three times three, where'er we be, We'll love it till we die. 59 FINANCIAL REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RECEIPTS Appropriation from State of Connecticut Town of Stonington " Borough of Stonington 200 Subscriptions ..... Subscription for Prize Essay (Stonington Grammar School) " Drawing (Stonington Schools) Proceeds from sale of Buttons " Flags " Grand Stand Seat9 " Programmes Spoons Race Cup 81,000 00 1,000 00 1,000 00 3,513 50 5 00 5 00 5+ 65 5 00 81 00 215 16 9 00 32 00 86,920 31 DISBURSEMENTS Appropriations — Stonington Fire Department $900 00 Mystic "".... 250 00 Pawcatuck '* .... 250 00 Pageant Committee .... 500 00 Virginia Tanner and expenses 342 15 Boat Race Committee .... 150 00 Historical Society (by request of donors) 75 00 1st Prize Essay (High School) 10 00 2nd ( •• ) • 5 00 Prize Essay (Grammar School) 5 00 (Stonington Schools) . 5 00 $2,492 15 Flag9 and Flag Poles ..... 401 64 Centennial Oak ..... 18 70 Fireworks ...... 500 00 Transportation of Children .... 57 60 Flags for Children ..... 17 15 Tents, tables, grandstands, etc. 857 89 Drinking Fountains ..... 13 42 Crockery, food and service .... 911 79 Police service and expense .... 244 55 Rent of rooms, chairs, etc. .... 98 04 Rental of State flags .... 400 Decorations (grandstands, cannons and cemeteries) 20 20 Music, etc. ...... 672 50 Horses for Marshals and Army Officers 20 00 Buttons, badges and pins .... 273 04 Printing, etc. ...... 198 00 Miscellaneous ...... 96 60 $6,897 27 Balance cash on hand .... 23 04 $6,920 31 EVERETT N. PENDLETON, Treasurer. This is to certify that we have carefully checked over the accounts of the Treasurer of the Cele- bration Committee and examined the report of the Executive Committee, both of which we find to be correct and in good form. FREDERICK DENISON, A. R. STILLMAN, Auditing Committee. 60 VICTORY OF isii FLOAT Miss Ethel Simmons as Victory ANOTHER VIEW OF THE VICTORY FLOAT This picture show- some of the tlirony al Wadawanuck square EDWARD H. SHEFFIELD I'ustiidiiin of the Stonington Historical Society exhibition; at doorway of the exhibition hull STONINGTON HISTOKK'AI. SOCIETY KXHIB1TION THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXHIBITION /^NE of the most successful features of the celebration was the loan ^~^ exhibition under the auspices of the Stonington Historical Society at Ryon's Hall, formerly the First Baptist Church, on Water street. The exhibition opened about June fifteenth and closed r/oout October twenty-fourth. The committee appointed by the Society to have the exhibition in charge consisted of Cornelius B. Crandall, Miss Gertrude Palmer, Mrs. Nellie P. Trumbull, Miss Anne Atwood and Dr. James H. Weeks. Miss Palmer, who had been a devoted member of the Society for years and had taken special interest in the plans for the exhibition, was stricken with a fatal illness a few weeks before the opening day and died on June thirtieth. The committee did not fill the vacancy caused by her death. Much of the success of the exhibition was due to the fact that Edward H. Sheffield was secured as the custodian. Mr. Sheffield gave the committee his unremitting assistance in the gathering of articles for dis- play and was not only faithful in his attendance during the more than four months the doors of the exhibition were open but tireless in his courteous attention to visitors. As he could not be prevailed upon to accept any money compensation, the committee presented him, at the close of the exhibition, with a gold watch and chain in partial recogni- tion of his services. The main floor of the hall, as will be seen from a picture in this book, was occupied with a great variety of interesting historical relics, most of them of a local character. It would be impossible in any brief space to make even the barest catalogue of them. Never has so remark- able a collection of such articles been seen in this neighborhood. The number of visitors during the season is estimated at 3000. More than 1500 persons registered their names and addresses, and it is thought that as many more visitors omitted to do so. The receipts from admis- sions were $048.09, and as the price of individual tickets was twenty-five cents, it is evident from a simple mathematical computation that the number of persons in attendance was at least 2592. But the admittance 61 62 fee for children was only ten cents, and season tickets were sold for one dollar, so that the attendance in all probability ran several hundreds higher. The estimate of 3000 appears well within the facts. The receipts of the exhibition for admittance tickets were, as stated, $648.09, while the expenses were $451.78, leaving a balance of $196.31. The committee made this up to an even $200, which was turned over to the Historical Society. So complete was the success of the exhibition that a great impetus was given to the proposal for a suitable home for the Society, in which a permanent collection of historical objects might be displayed. At the time this book goes to press, the Society has seven hundred dollars in hand towards a building fund, and hopes to secure enough additional money to carry the project through. It may be added here that the work of marking the older houses of the borough with the dates of their construction and the names of their original occupants was done by the Anna Warner Bailey Chapter of Stonington and Groton, Daughters of the American Revolution. The officers of the Stonington Historical Society are President, James H. Weeks; Vice President, Elias B. Hinckley; Secretary, Miss Laura T. Wood; Treasurer, Dr. Charles M. Williams. As Dr. Williams was absent in Europe during the summer of 1914, Benjamin S. Cutler was elected Assistant Treasurer and temporarily performed the duties of the Treasurer's office. COMMITTEES EXECUTIVE Cornelius B. Crandall, chairman; James H. Weeks, secretary; Everett N. Pendleton, treasurer; Wurtem A. Breed. Jerome S. Anderson. Jr., Henry R. Palmer. Benjamin S. Cutler. Charles B. McCoart. INVITATIONS AND SPEAKERS Henry R. Palmer, chairman; Jerome S. Anderson. Jr.. secretary; Gilbert Collins. Cornelius B. Crandall, John W. Chamberlain. Alberti R. Stillman, James Cooper. FINANCE Benjamin S. Cutler, chairman; Miss Louise Trumbull, secretary; Miss Jean C. Palmer, John H. Ryan, Nathaniel P. Noyes, Mrs. Charles H. Cowan, Miss Annie McGrath, Elias B. Hinckley. Albert G. Martin. Henry A. Stahle, James Shea. Heman J. Holdredge. Benjamin F. Williams, Dr. William H. Gray. SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF DEFENDERS Jerome S. Anderson, Jr., Dr. George D. Stanton, Elias B. Hinckley. BADGES AND SOUVENIRS Henry R. Palmer, Charles B. McCoart. OFFICIAL PROGRAMME Henry R. Palmer, Mrs. Henry R. Palmer, Jerome S. Anderson. Jr. STONINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXHIBITION Cornelius B. Crandall, Miss Gertrude Palmer, Mrs. Nellie P. Trumbull. Miss Anne Atwood, James H. Weeks. Edward H. Sheffield, custodian. CENTENNIAL OAK Cornelius B. Crandall. MUSIC BY CHILDREN Wurtem A. Breed, Miss Harriet N. Woodard. FIRE PARADE Chief Engineer Ed. P. Teed, Stonington, chairman; Assistant Chief Charles D. Main. Neptune Hose Co., No. 1, Stonington— James J. McCoart, J. J. Young, Manuel Joseph, George G. Francis, John W. Chamberlain. Stonington Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 1, Stonington— F. J. Ostman, James Dally, J. Benjamin Adams, Jerome S. Anderson, Jr., Charles A. Rix. Pioneer Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, Stonington— Raoul M. Delegrange. James Duke. W. F. Broughton, Jr., treasurer; Robert L. Burtch, secretary; George W. Haley. Stonington Fire Police, No. 1— Patrick Fitzpatrick. Chief Engineer H. A. Stahle, Pawcatuck; Assistant Chiefs F. R. Dawley. H. C. Reynolds, P. F. Casey. P. S. Barber Hose Co., Pawcatuck— A. R. Gavitt, P. Morrison, Thomas Donahue, Charles J. Norris, William Crandall. 63 64 Pawcatuck Fire Police — Andrew Fallon. Chief Engineer Charles Donath, Mystic; Assistant Chief Mason Manning. B. F. Hoxie Engine Co., No. 1, Mystic — George H. Foley, Herbert Gledhill, Henry Lankes, Ru- dolph Donath, Edward McKone. MOTOR BOAT RACES Chauncey B. Rice, chairman; Lorenzo D. Fairbrother, secretary; Edward F. Darrell, Harry W. Babcock, Charles H. Simmons, Theodore Dewhurst. TABLET UNVEILING EXERCISES Mrs. Clarence F. R. Jenne of Hartford, Miss Ethel J. R. C. Noyes of Washington, James H. Weeks. LOCATION OF OLD FORT Jamea H. Weeks. PAGEANT Miss Louise Trumbull, chairman; Miss Maria B. Trumbull, treasurer; Miss Anne Atwood, secretary; Miss Virginia Tanner of Boston, director of Pageant. CAST Mrs. Dwight C. Stone, Mrs. Frank D. Stanton, Mrs. Asa C. Wilcox. Miss Barbara Muller. COSTUMES Mrs. Edward P. York, Miss Sally W. Palmer, Miss Priscilla D. Loper, Miss Blanche Mason, Miss Blanche Collins. BANNERS Miss Harriet Mason, Miss Dolly Whaley, Miss Prudence Fairbrother, Miss Geraldine Joseph. PROPERTIES Miss Anne Atwood, Miss Laura T. Wood, James H. Stivers, Theodore Dewhurst. CHILDREN'S COSTUMES Mrs. J. Benjamin Brown, Miss Jennie Trumbull, Miss Dolly Whaley. Miss Janie L. Gates, Miss May Louise Pendleton, Miss Josephine B. 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