Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-10-26
Company ga" at Independence Their
Hearty Welcome. The Contest.
From the vinton Eagle, 10th.

Hearty Welcome. The Contest.
From the vinton Eagle, 10th.
We started for. independence in the
midst OF the storm Wednesday after
noon, and arrived there about s o'clock
in the evening, cold and hungry. Be
fore we were fairly in the city we were
hailed by squad of Co. III" 4th Reg
N. G. S. |. (the Independence Company
sent to receive us. One of our party in.
quired where the boys were camped
Camp, said the squad, you aren't GO
ing to camp tonight, we've got rooms
were fairly pulled out of our carriage
overwhelmed with welcomes and hand
shaking, and while some took charge of
our horses and baggage the remainder
hustled us into the pleasant armory,,
where blazing fire awaited us. While
warming we were told that Company
II, OF our own Regiment, was quarter
cd in the room below us. We went
down to see them. They had travelled
across the country thirty-fve miles in
open conveyances, through the worst of
the storm, and having had no oppportu-
nifty to get anything to eat since an ear
ly breakfast, they were, when they ar
rived just at night, little the worse for
wear. But, thanks to the hospitality Of
their hosts, they were now quite COM
Portable. We'll show you where to get
your suppers," said our host, leading us
off to Tuck's, the frst-class restaurant
man. We've got some hungry men
here, said the, prince of good fellows
who led us. Are they hungry?" said
the proprietor. Il can fill EN- chuck
full" And he did with oysters). Sup
per being over we returned to the armo-
ry, where games were provided for our
amusement, and every attention shown
us. After enjoying ourselves until tired,
those OF us who were not playing check
ers with the good-looking girls in the
reading room, turned in, our rest only
being broken by the prodigous snores
OF Company III" in the room below,
snores which ranged all the way from
the music OF common, h fiat horse
fiddle to an elephant snort, or volcanic
eruption; SHORES which filled me with
wild imaginings"
During the following afternoon we
visited the Hospital for the Insane, and
were shown through the entire building
Except certain parts, from which the
public are excluded), by the very oblig-
ing and painstaking attendants. Of this
building and its management Iowa may
justly be proud.
At 4 o'clock dress parade was had,
and witnessed by large number of peo-
pie. In the evening the fremen's ball
was the main feature, and was well at
tended.
The next morning Friday) was spent
for the most part in drilling, preparato-
ry to the contest in the afternoon.
The contest began about 2 O'Clock, at
the fair grounds, and was witnessed by
a very large number of people, the
judges having been chosen by the off
GERS of the different Companies, and the
order in which the Companies should
drill was decided by lot. First came the
''Vinton Guards" We went in and did
the best we could, well knowing that the
other competing Companies were 8 foe
men worthy of our steel" Next came
the $ Independence Guards" who, in
spired with praiseworthy ambition to
keep the first prize at home, really did
some very fine drilling. They are
active, good sized, fine looking
men, credit to the city of Indepen-
dence and to the State of Iowa. Next
came the Paris Guards" presenting
no less soldierly appearance than the In
dependence Company, and drilling in
hard to beat. Next came the
I" Manchester Guards under command
Of Lieutenant Lilliger This is also
fine looking Company, and it did some
good work, but having been lately organ
lied under somewhat unfavorable cir
it is not, as yet, fairly I'M
der way The contest being over, dress
parade was had, at the conclusion of
which the judges announced their deci-
sion. The first prize was given to the
Vinton Guards, the second to Indepen-
lence and the third to Paris.
Free admittancc to the fair grounds
was granted to all Guards at all times
during our stay there. In fact, nothing
was left undone by the Independence
people which would enhance our enjoy
ment. The same evening occurred the
grand military ball, a very enjoyable af-
fair, which, unfortunately, only few of
our boys were able to stay to participate
in. In the course of lifetime many
things will be forgotten, but until the
earth closes over the last Vinton Guard,
the contest at Independence will be re-
membered with pleasure.
One OF THE Boys.