The Portland daily press., 1872-07-06

some devices. By far the best display was that
at Bishop Bacon's residence. In the centre on
large crimson ground was an eagle perched
upon Shield and this was flanked by two sim
liar squares of the same color, but without de-
vice. On either side of the bay window were
two figures of angels supporting huge vases of
flowers. On the terrace was row of twenty
five little girls, dressed in white and crowned
with wreaths of green. Every window was fill
ed with other children, similarly dressed, bear
ing flowers. When the procession passed down
Cumberland street these children were ranged
in front of the Cathedral and sang songs of re-
joicing, while the church bells pealed out their
notes of gladness. The Observatory was also
splendidly dressed with flags in its accustomed
manner. Mr.. Bean on St. Lawrence street
and Mr.. Sargent on Atlantic street, made quite
pretty display, as did Mr.. Burns and John
Dennis on Cumberland street, and Henry Fox
on State street. The Army and Navy Union
Hall was tastefully dressed with streamers aud
corps flags, and exhibited painting surmount-
ed by the words, Headquarters Army and
Navy Union" and the coat of arms of the
United States and State of Maine on either
side. The Morton Block was covered with lit
tie flags. A line of flags was stretched from the
Pension Agency on Middle street to the Lewis
Building The basin of the fountain of Mr..
Thomas o. Goold, corner of High and Deering
street was filled with choice flowers while a
by the water jets.
THE COMPETITION DRILL. -tI..
The programme for the afternoon was COM
petition drill for the State championship, open
to all companies, and three prizes for the best
drilled men. This was announced to come off
at o'clock on Western Promenade. Shortly
after two o'clock very heavy thunder shower
passed over the city, and this would have de-
layed proceedings even if there had been no loss
OF time in the morning. Four o'clock was
then announced as the time for the battalion to
form and escort the Governor to the field, but
at that time the threatening clouds betokened
the approach of another Shower, which soon
sprinkled the earth again. A consultation took
place at the Falmouth Hotel between the City
COMMITTEE, the Chief Marshal and umpires, and
it was decided to open City HalAf for the drilla
the most available place, and prevent, if posi-
BILE, the disappointment that would be felt by
those who had come from distance to witness
or take part in this portion of the ceremonies,
should they be indefinitely postponed The
galleries and the space under the galleries were
soon filled by the military and citizens holding
tickets. The lower corridor was crowded with
people anxious to gain admission, but the ca
pacity of the standing room in the hall was not
enough to accommodate one-tenth of the appli-
cants. About o'clock the Governor and suite.
the Mayor and Chief Marshal, and large num-
Der of ex-army officers entered and took seats
ON the platform. They were received with the
proper salute by the Infantry and Cadets, who
We're In line, and by appropriate music from the
Portland Band. The umpires, Major Sanger
and Lieuts. Ives and Dennison, u S. A.. had
places on the front of the platform Mayor
Kingsbury addressed the multitude, remarking
that the showers had necess'tated change of
programme. TWAS happy circumstance that
the entire military force of the State except one
company had gathered in the city. Many of
them were compelled to return home in the
evening trains, and the Committee were oblig-
ed to proceed with the order under the circum-
stances that were presented. He then read
paper signed by all the Committee, setting
forth that owing to the late arrival of some of
the companies and the impossibiity of report
ing to the judges at the hour specified, the
Committee had agreed, as q matter of courtesy,
to allow them to enter upon the competition, if
they chose. The Portland Light Infantry and
the Portland Cadets were the only companies
that had entered in season, and it was for them
to decide whether they would admit others to
competition Capts. Mattocks and Anderson,
responding for their respective companies, gave
their cordial consent, which was received with
cheers g. lsHttllE yF IL
Capt White, of the Jameson Guards, Ban
gor, returned thanks for the invitation extend
ed to his company, and was sorry that they
could noeaccept. They had just returned from
campaign and many of them felt unwilling
and unable to leave home again SO soon. A re-
port had gone out that the Guards were dissat-
isfed with the umpires. This was mistake.
The Guards were dissatisfied with nothing
He presented the name of w. II. latham,
private in the Guards, as a competitor for one
of the medals. (Cheers)
The Mayor responded briefly, land Lieut. Den
nison read the rules under which the drill was
to be conducted, and stated that the manual
was to be performed without the word Eleven
candidates presented themselves, and drew lots
for position. Their names, and the order of the
drill, are as follows: vaa BEL sv
Sergt Osgood, Cadets. sa'
John j. Lynch, do ... -
q. A. Williams, Infantry. iV -.. B.. f.t
Chas l.. Dow, do .t s.srif r-s.t.
j. Neal, b .l ,r Zoo do atla w s.I..4
Neal Winslow, Cadets. .l..i.b snnsl
G. w. latham, Jameson Guards. aal't
+. T.. Dow, Infantry.
Charles A. Derloo, Infantry. ag l.1I .7
Burnham Holmes, Capital Guards, Augusta
Serg't w. II. Thomas, Jr., Infantry.
The men advanced as they were called, sa-
luted, and stood at order arms. When the
Judge dropped his hand, the man began his
movements, first performing the manual and
ending with the bayonet exercise. The time of
each exhibition occupied about one and half
minutes, and each man, as he was dismissed
was rewarded with applause At the conclusion
and after moments consultation Major San
ger announced that the first prize was awarded
to Durham Holmes of Capitol Guards, not that
his drill was more perfect than that of the
others, but that he had gone through all the
manual while Others omitted some. To Neal
Winslow of the Cadets, was awarded the sec
ond prize, and to Sergt. w. HI. Thomas, Jr., of
the Infantry, the third The decision was re-
ceived with applause. Mayor Kingsbury pre-
sented the prizes according to the award, and
the companies advanced to compete for the
flag A description of the prizes was printed
in the PRESS of Thursday morning] Each
company had 80 privates. The Infantry took
the floor first and went through the company
movements, and the Cadets followed When
the Cadets formed company front from col
umn of fours and wheeled upon pivot, at
double quick, with admirable precision of align
ment, the enthusiasm of the audien ce burst out,
notwithstanding the previous request that per-
feet order might be preserved. Each comany
then went through the manuel and firing, in
turn, and at the conclusion the umpires
promptly decided the Cadets to be the cham
pions. The most tumultuous applause broke
forth from the audience, followed by cheers
from the rival companies They cheered fol-
each other, and for the umpires. The Cadets
| gave three and tiger for Capt. Mattocks, by
whose example and aid they had achieved vic
tory The Infantry gave fitting response. AS
| soon as order was restored Mayor, Kingsbury
presented the flag to the champions in brief
| speech. p
Mayor Kingsbury, in presenting the flag
said:
Capt, Anderson and GentleYnen of the Port
| land Cddets-The war through which we have
recently passed, has taught the people of the