The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-07-31
HOW THEY RIDE AT WEST POINT

The drill for Tuesday was the school
the soldier, mounted, which took
!siace in the great riding hall. As the
ts3e indicates, the drill is an exhibition of
idividual skill and horsemanFhip. Il is
ssid to be great favorite with the boys,
bpt the severity OF the training they have
to undergo before attaining the degree
of skill deemed necessary for an officer
is something they never forget. The
record of broken arms, strained wrists,
| dislocated shoulders, fractured legs and
days spent in the hospital by reason Of
limbs rubbed raw, attests the fact that
| there is no child's play in the teaching
OF West Point. They don't do things
here for fun, aud little sympathy is
wasted on the unfortunate youth who in
Lis early efforts in the saddle comes to
grief with broken bone. He is more
Ekely to get reprimanded for his awk-
wardness than to be condoled with.
3
hall when the drill began, too large, in.
deed, to find places in the small galleries
of the place; so, when these were full of
ladies, the more agile among the male
spectators climbed up on the window
siIls and the like places. while other
crowds besieged each OF the four large
doors Of the building. This is the one
| occasion which the observer might be
Justified in supposing that the work
! done was good deal for show, because
here it is that the excited spectators APP
plaGd every boy who goes through well.
Let him take every head and he is sure
of round of applause. The comments
OF the spectators are very often amusing.
When the boys commenced to use their
reyolvers, some one in the gallery anx-
iously inquired if they had ''real bullets"
in them, and seemed rather relieved
when assured that they did not, and
there was consequently no danger Of any
stray lead finding its way upward. When
the order was given to dismount and
mouut at speed the area of the hall was
Instantly q scene Of galloping horses,
riders jumping off others jumping on,
some down in the tan bark, others cling
ing to the name and bride desperately
struggling to get astride, horses rearing
and plnnging and generally a remarkable
lively time for all; then the women began
to utter little screams, which increased
to general shout when one of the boys
(tllere was no saddIes) went clear over
and plowed up the bark in the middle of
r1lsh of galloping beasts to the imminent
danger of his brains. "Why, this is
quite dangerous - exclaimed an individ
as.in the gallery, indignant at the idea
risks. The good gentleman seemed to
suppose that the services were merely
for show. 1t is needless to say that the
boys did well; they always do: but while
none fall below certain level, there are
vast differences between them above that
level. Some of the boys take wonder
fully well to the work, and feel as much
at home cutting and slashing about on
bare backed horse as in a rocking chair,
while to others it never comes easy.
They do the work, but ii is hard. The
actual movements of the drill with sabre
and pistol are few. The soldier is start
ed from the company to make the circuit
Of the hall. Putting his horse to gal
Iop, and he begins by firing at the head
of a pos, returns his pistol to the holster,
draws his sabre, and, at full speed, makes
thrust at an other post, then a cut at
one lying on the ground, then jumps
hurdle, and in jumping slashes a head
from post beside it, or thrusts at sus-
pending ring on level with his own
head; and lastly, makes a right thrust at
another head on post. To go through
this performance ON horse without q
saddle, and big pair of spurs ones heels
is not an easy task, and if anyone thinks
it is, he had better try it in the nearest
riding school. The different cuts and
thrusts are, Of course as against infantry
and cavalry.