The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-07-15

Wnsr PorNr, N. Y, June D.-Thsf drill
for to-day was aschool Of the s1bldier nsount-
ed, : which took place in the great riding hall.
As the title indicates, the drill - an exhibit
tion Of individual skill ID h~orsennanship. It
is said to be a great fayorite with the boys,
but 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 teach
ing at West Point. They don't do things
here for fun, and little sympathy IS wasted on
the unfortunate youth who in his early efforts
in the saddle comes to grief with q broken
bone. He is more likely to get reprimanded
for his awkwarkness than to be condoled
with. There was a great crowd present at
the 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 window-sills and the like
places, while other crowds besieged each of
the four large doors Of the building. This is
the one occasion on which the observer might
be justified in supposing that the work was
done a good deal for show, because here it is
that the excited spectators, applaud every boy
who goes through well. Let him take every
head, and he is certain of a hearty round of
applause. The comments Of the spectators
are very often amusing. When the boys com
mence to use their 'revolvers, some one in the
gallery anxiously inquired if they had "real
bullets f" in them, and seemed rather relieved
when assured that they did not, and there was
consequently no danger Of any stray lead find
its way upward. When the order was given to
dismount and mount at speed, the area of the
hall was instantly a scene Of galloping horses,
riders jumping of, others jumping on, some
down in the tan bark, others aclinging to the
name and bride desperately struggling to get
astride, horses rearing and plunging, and gen
orally a lively time for all; then the women
began to utter little screams, which increased
to a general shout when one of the boys made
a spring for the horses back (there were no
saddles), went clear over it, and plowed up
the bark in the middle of a rush of galloping
beasts, to the imminent danger of his brains.
why, this is quite dangerous ~ exclaimed
an individual in the gallery, indignant at the
idea of the boys being made tc run such risks.
The good gentleman seemed to suppose that
the services were merely for show. 1t is need
less to say that the boys did well; they always
do; but while one fall below a 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 a bare
backed horse as in a rocking-chair, while to
others it never becomes easy. They do the
work, but it is hard. The actual movements
OF the drill with sabre and pistol are few. |
The soldier is started from the company to
make the circuit Of the hall. Putting his
horse to a gallop, he begins by firing at a
head on a post, returning his pistol to the hol.
ster, draws his sabre, and at full speed makes
a thrust at another head on a post, then a cut
at one lying on the ground, then Jumps a hur-
die, and, in jumping, slashes a head from a
post beside it, or thrusts at a suspended ring
on a level with his own head and, lastly,
makes a right thrust at another head on a
post. To 60. through this performance on a
horse without a saddle, and a big pair of spurs
on ones heels, is not an easy task, and if any
one thinks it is he had better try it in theH
nearest riding-school. The different cuts and
thrusts, are, of course, as against infantry or
cavalry. ~ta|t VI