Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-09-18

The Agricultural FaIr-The Com
Petitive DriIl-The O.. q. G.s
second Hest.


Or Friday, the 10th, this editc
founo himself in Bowling Green i
company with the GAINESVILLE Cit
Guards, and a number Of visitor
from Tennessee and Kentucky, al
tracted by the annual agriculture
fair Of Warren county and its vari
Gus objects of interest, such as priz
bulls, Kentucky farmers and thei
blooming wives and daughters
wheels OF fortune, Sells Brothers
circus, and, above all, the competi
tive drill of three military compa
mics.
The arrival at Bowling Green wa
signalized by the order "falI in =
sharply spoken by Commodor'
Couts, whereupOn G. &. G.s from al
parts of the train formed in the cen
ter aisle, we making our exit before
military movements should com
mence. Exhilarating strains from
a fine Grassland, the shouts of an
innumerabIe crowd around the de.
pot and the presence of the Bowling
Green Guards were sufficient proof
that our boys were not unexpected.
They were escorted up to the Mer-
chants Hotel by their Bowling
Green friends, and, after a plentiful
meal there, proceeded to beautiful
grove in the suburbs, where they
pitched their tents.
We found that the town was so
full that it was doubtful whether a
roosting-place could be found, but
under the guidance of a young
friend we succeeded in obtaining a
shake-down at the Girard House,
under the hospitable care of Mrs.
Peenik.
Next morning we visited our mill
itary friends at their camp, where
we found them giving an extra pol
ish to their guns in preparation for
the drill, which was 20 come off at
the fairgrounds at II a. m. 1t was
2 p. M, however, before the Bowl
ing Green Guards marched into the
ring. They have been drilling a
much shorter time than either of
the other competing companies, but
they made an excellent record, and
certainly assumed a smart soldierly
aspect. They were repeatedly
cheered by the vast crowd, and,
after an hours drill, marched out
and the G. G. G.s marched in. They
had had preliminary drill in the
public square the evening before,
and acquitted themselves so well
that bets were high in their favor.
The drilling was by written pro-
gram, which was handed to the
captains on their appearance on the
ground. 1t was the first time that
Capt. Howard had drilled in this
way, and the distraction Occasioned
by his having to look at his program
aad his company at the same time
will possibly account for a single
break which married the perfection
of an otherwise perfect drill. This
alone probably accounts for the G.
G. G.s coming off second best, which
they did by very few marks.
The Porter Rifles now drilled
with equal skill and better luck and
obtained the first prize, amid the
acclamations of a vast crowd, in
which, by the by, their defeated
competitors heartily Joined. The
actual score was as follows, the
marks attainable being 213: Porter
Rifles, 30; Clarksville City Guards,
BOG; Bowling Green Guards, 100.
No jealousy or ill-feeling exists,
and we are specially requested by
our own boys to acknowledge the
liberal hospitality and kind treat
ment they experienced at the hands
of the B. G. G.s and especially the
courtesy and impartiality of the
United States officers who acted as
judges. Il
Many GAINESVILLE and Montgom-
cry county men were at the fair,
among whom we came up with Mr..
Jesse Bailey, who was endeavoring
to purchase blooded stock for his
farms in Montgomery and Sumner
He says the Warren county
farmers have as fine stock as any in
but they don't want to
sell. They have only recently be-
gun and have not yet enough for
their purposes. Through his intro
we formed the acquaintance
of Mr.. Hill, an extensive stock
farmer, from whom and from the
ladies of whose family we received
Of the true Kentucky
stamp.
At night we attended the splendid
circus of Sells Brothers. We have
never seen such a circus or such a
crowd in attendance. The unpre-
cedented appearance of two living
in the ring, the vast
two-hOrned rhinoceros, the long
train of elephants and eamels in
procession, the daring and brilliant
riding of Mr.. Robinson, and all the
other manifestations of skill, cour-
age and strength, ELECTED reiterated
shouts of applause from an audience
numbered by thousands.
Late to bed and early TO rise, for
we had to start for Nashville at five
in the morning, that we might help
to put John House through for con-
gress. l...- l.- .t... ..-
AmuSements.
EIder.,S ODny.a HOuSn will no alive