The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-10
THE TROOPERS DRILL.

MILITARY ACADEMY PLAYING SOLDIER IN
GALLANT STYLE.
correspondent of the New York World
writing from West Point under date of the
Sth instant, says:-
yesterday the Secretary of War and Mrs
Belknap, with the sister of the latter, Mrs.
Bowers, arrived on the steamer Chauncey
Vibbard. General Michler, whose son gra-
duates this year, was of the party, who landed
in the midst of rain that continued until
after nightfall. General Belknap comes to
study the academy and its system, and will
probably remain until the examinations are
closed, when he will distribute the diplomas
to the graduates. 1t may be welcome news
to these that the speech on that occasion will
not be long, though they will perhaps regret,
when they have heard it, that it was not
longer. The Secretary is, however, too
sensible to signalize the performance of any
duty by ostentation, and too much of
genuine man and boy both in feeling to stay
a week. at West Point without being
thoroughly liked. AS the bad weather pre-
vented any outdoor review in honor of his
advent yesterday, trooper drill was ordered
at the riding school at p. nj. To that build
ing quite a number OF visitors, including
most of the distinguished guests at the Point,
repaired in hacks and omnibuses, and as
cended to the rough galleries overlooking the
interior. The hall is oblong in shape, laid
with sawdust, and rooted with an arch span
ming the whole structure from sidewall to
wall. Around the sides below wainscot of
boards on end is constructed, slanting down
and inwards, thus preventing horse from
siding against the wall and crushing his
riders legs. On either side of the hall three
posts are set-one opposite the centre, under
the gallery, the other two near the angles at
the ends of the apartment They are set
about six feet from the wall, leaving
Just room enough for horse and rider to
pass between. On the top of the first post,
near the angle, is laid stuffed leather pad,
of about the size and consistency of boxing
glove. Midway between that and the middle
post, on the ground, lies similar pad. From
a light gallows-beam at the summit of the
higher middle post depends an iron ring, like
that at which the knights tilted at the recent
Brooklyn tournament Midway on again,
between the middle post and the post stand
ing near the farther angle, lies another pad,
and still another is laid on the farthest post
The pads represent the heads or hearts of
imaginary enemies on foot or kneeling the
ring the head of an enemy on horseback
So, while making the circuit of the hall, a
rider encounters no less than four supposable
foes on foot, four kneeling with the bayonet
or lodging his onslaught to the very ground
and two on horseback-ten in all. This, as
shown by the exercises yesterday, keeps a
cavalryman lively.
The cadets, forty or fifty of them, seated
on their horses in two ranks facing each
other from the opposite ends of the hall,
presented, clad all in grey, fine but rather
Confederate appearance. They wore sabres,
! revolvers and spurs Their horses, freshly
| groomed and oiled, showed glistening hides.
A young cavalry lieutenant, on a distracting
| grey charger, directed them with clear, ring
! ing commands. Twos at a time-one riding
out to an angle of the hall, another to the
opposite angle-they rode at gallop around
the building, 'going for" the pads aud rings.
At the first pad on the first post every caval-
ryman fired with his pistol Sheathing that
in it's holster, he then drew his sabre and
trusted to cold steel, Whack went the
blade against the pad on the ground at the
feet of the galloping horse. Cling! rang
the blade against the ring, carrying it away
Thud upon the next pad. Ping and the
pad on the farthest post was spitted
aloft on the point of the cadets
sabre. So on around SO rapid was the
riding that soon the reports of the revolvers
and the clang of steel became incessant
The atmosphere became impregnated with
powder-smoke. The riders rode through
smudge- Hurdles were brought in. Over
| them they went, carrying away the rings as
reeking with sweat which, mingling with the
oil of their toilets, made them as slippery as
creased pigs. The order to dismount was
| given. Off came the saddles and saddle
cloths. The animals were naked to the
brides. Mount" and like Indians the
cadets sprang up into the air, and came
down sans saddles, sans stirrups, on the
horses bare backs. ''It felt" said one
Of them afterwards, ''as if l had strad-
died an enormous eel" Again the order
to ride was given; the pistols rang
out steel clashed; the hurdles cracked under
rushing horses hoofs-the horses going at
their utmost speed-their riders keeping
their seats superbly and cutting, thrusting,
and banging away. The horses, excited to a
degree not surpassed even in actual battle by
this rack and running, got so restiye at last
that some of the cadets had opportunities to
display their very best horsemanship. To the
ladies in the galleries the rearing and plung-
ing of the steeds, one or two of which tried
the experiment of falling in order to unship
their clinging freights, were especially pleas
ing. l suspect, by the way, that it is sheer
nonsense, the idea of American women being
any less ''cruel, as we call it, than the
Spanish. Neither are really fond of blood
shed or fatal accidents at shows;s sit is the gal
lantry displayed in the encounters of the
ring or the tournament, the courage which iu
the worst dangers ennobles the person in the
plight, that has the enthusiastic, not to say
hysterical, sympathy of lovely woman in al
lands
While on a Sunday-School excursion neal
Lanesyille, Ohio, lately, little two-year ole
girl strayed upon a railroad track and in spite