salutes, echoing from hill to hill, were fired by Williams, assisted by Isaac Smith. Both musicians and gunners were constantly cheered on by a large assemblage of Young America, and by some equally interested but not so young.

CHAPTER VII.

**TAKE THAT FOR THE MAINE!"-CAPTAIN CHARLES SIGSBEE AS HE FIRED A SHOT FROM THE ST. PAUL

66

THROUGH THE SPANISH TORPEDO BOAT

66

99
TERROR OFF SAN JUAN,

PORTO RICO.

IMPORTANT MORRISTOWN EVENTS.

Patriotic Young Men Organize a Military Company-Local Branch of the "Naval Aid Society" Organized-Local Branch of the "Red Cross Society" Organized.

THE

MILITARY COMPANY.

HE chief object as generally understood, of the war meetings held in the G. A. R. rooms, Washington street, on the evenings of April 23 and 25, 1898, was the organization, in Morristown, of a military company; but the attempt having failed, a few patriotic young men still desirous of "taking a hand" in the existing conflict with Spain, subsequently induced C. Allen Baker, a resident of this city, who, for several years had been identified with the Fifteenth Separate Company of the New York State National Guard, latterly as sergeant, to consent to put them through a course of military drill; and hence, early in the month of May they began to meet for that purpose in the McAlpin hall on Speedwell avenue, which had previously been offered free of charge. It was also hoped by some at least of these young men that the movement might result in the formation of a permanent military organization in Morristown which should eventually become at

tached to the State National Guard. The first drill was held on Monday evening, May 6, and among those who met for drill under Mr. Baker were: William S. Applin, George L. Berry, Edward J. Bradley, Charles W. Bodine, Clarence W. Byram, J. Fred. Colley, Albert M. Carrell, Fred. B. Cobbett, Herbert Evans, Thomas S. Head, Edward Hannas, James Heath, James H. King, Joseph K. Kronenberg, Raoul A. Lavalle, Charles E. Letcher, Harry P. Lindabury, William Lounsbury, Henry J. Mott, William Merrell, William Swick, George J. Sturgis, Allyn H. Thompson, Albert H. Totten, Robert Trowbridge, David C. VanGilder, LeClerc Vogt, J. Edward VanDyke, Rufus G. Whitehead, Fred. C. Willett, and David F. Williamson.

MINUTES OF MEETING FOR ORGANIZATION.

"On Friday evening, May 13, 1898, a meeting was held in the office of C. Allen Baker, McAlpin block, for the purpose of forming a military organization in Morristown. Frederick B. Cobbett was appointed temporary chairman, and A. M. Carrell secretary of the meeting. It was duly moved and seconded that all those who desired joining such an organization should sign suitable articles, and pledge themselves to attend all drills and meetings of the company in the future, and that a committee of five be appointed by the chairman (Mr. Cobbett) to draw up such articles or by-laws to form such an organization, and by which all members pledge themselves to be governed hereafter. The motion being put before the meeting, was carried unanimously. It was further moved and seconded that the committee of five secure the names of those who desired to join, and that in the future all new recruits be elected to the company by a majority vote; which was also put before the meeting and carried. There being no further business, on motion the meeting adjourned.

A. M. Carrell, Secretary.

Later in the evening the following committee of five was appointed by the chairman: C. Allen Baker, C. W.

Byram, D. F. Williamson, H. P. Lindabury, A. M. Carrell."

The young men already named met twice each week in the McAlpin hall for drill; but the prospects of a military organization from Morristown being received into any existing New Jersey regiments being far from flattering, several of them enlisted in companies already identified with the State National Guard whose ranks were incomplete, and, in the latter part of May, the drills were discontinued.

II.

"What I can't git thru my noddle," said a regular lounger in a country store, "is how none o' th' Spanish cannon balls didn't go right thru our boats at Manilar jest the same as our balls went thru their'n."

NAVAL AID SOCIETY.

On Wednesday morning, May 18, 1898, a meeting was held at the Y. M. C. A. rooms in Morristown to hear the plans of the ladies who had previously formed the local branch of the Naval Hospital Aid Society. About one hundred ladies were present. Mrs. Albert Erdman called the meeting to order, and in a short and very graceful speech presented the cause for which the meeting was called, adding that the names of those engaged should assure the success of the enterprise. Mrs. Erdman then presented the following list of officers previously chosen : Chairman, Mrs. Julius Catlin; Treasurer, Mrs. William Roscoe Lyon; Secretary, Mrs. Gustav E. Kissel; Executive Committee-Mrs. R. A. McCurdy, Mrs. H. McK. Twombly, Mrs. Marmaduke Tilden, Mrs. T. C. Bushnell, Mrs. W. M. Hughes, Mrs. James Lourie Bell, Mrs. Benjamin Nichol, Mrs. Archibald D. Russell, Miss Frances Sherman, Mrs. A. R. Whitney, Mrs. E. V. Thebaud.

Mrs. Catlin then took the chair and told the reason for the thought of forming the organization. "Most of us," she said, "should feel the tingle of the old war days, when