 Presentation
of Historic Silver Service
December 3, 1932, U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS, Vol. I No. 2, Navy Yard,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Today our ship receives the silver service
of the old battleship INDIANA. The presentation party includes the Honorable
Reginald H. Sullivan, Mayor of the City of Indianapolis, and Miss Lucy M.
Taggart, daughter of the late Honorable Thomas Taggart, United States Senator
from the State of Indiana, who also at one time was Mayor of the City of
Indianapolis. Both Mr. Sullivan and Miss Taggart were members of the official
party present at the launching of the Indianapolis a year ago. Miss Taggart
acted as sponsor and christened our ship by breaking over the bow a bottle
containing water from the White River and Fall Creek, both of which
flow through the City of Indianapolis. |
| Following the ceremonies the party will be conducted by Captain
Smeallie and a committee of ship's officers on an inspection tour of the
ship. A feature of this occasion will be the introduction to the party of
fourteen members of the crew who are from Indiana. |
| After an early luncheon the delegation is to proceed to Franklin
Field where, as guests of the ship, they will witness the gridiron class
between Army and Navy. In the evening they will be entertained at dinner
at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. |
| The silver service will remain on display for a brief period following
the morning's ceremonies. After that it will be placed in the Admiral's cabin,
in a case specially made for it. This handsome service consists of thirty-six
pieces. It was subscribed for by the citizens of the State of Indiana and
presented on September 21, 1896, by a delegation representing that State.
The delegation was headed by Governor Matthews and included ex-President
Harrison. The INDIANA was attached to the Training Squadron under Admiral
Bunce and all ships present fired the usual Presidential salute of 21 guns.
Captain Robley D. Evans commanded the INDIANA at that time. |
| During the Spanish-American War the silver was not landed but
was carried in its usual location, the Captain's Cabin. On July 4, 1898,
during the second day of the engagements off Santiago, Cuba, a mortar shot
his the quarterdeck of the INDIANA, and exploded inside. A fragment of this
shell passed thought the forward bulkhead of the cabin, then the entire length
of the cabin and into the silver cabinet, and later was discovered embedded
in the side of the punch bowl. The dent then made is still there and the
shell fragment has been preserved with the service. |
| After the INDIANA was finally decommissioned in 1919, the service
by act of Congress was returned to the State of Indiana and since that time
has been in use at the Governor's Mansion in Indianapolis. When the new cruiser
was given the name of INDIANAPOLIS, the citizens of that City and of Indiana
decided to present the service to her as the successor to her illustrious
predecessor. |
| The above information and photo from "U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS Memorial
Dedication" |
