Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-13
The Drummers' Tournament.

SassRcus of New Haven Takes the Prize
 as the Best Drum Corps.
 DERBY, Aug. 12.
 To-day the drummers' convention, under the auspices of ''The Derby Thunder drum corps,'' was held at Croffutt's Grove, Derby. The captains of the different drum corps drew lots for position in line, the Excelsior of Bridgeport securing the right of line. At Il o'clock the command was given to "fall in" and position was taken in line as follows:
 Dr. Frederick Hall Marshal on Horseback. Excelsior Martial Corps Bridgeport, E. A. Lacy lead woloott Corps, WoicOtt, Levi A. Atkins leader, wolcottville Drum Corps, Wolcottville. H. w. Huke
 leader. 15 men.
 Sassacus Drum Corps, New Haven, H. L. Nichols
 leader, g men.
 George w. Broadwell leader. Wm Smith captain.
 Dreadnot Drum Corps.
 The Derby Thunder Drum Corps, Derby, L. B. Joy captain, Charles A. Marvin leader, 10 men.
 The line was from the grove through Derby. up Derby avenue to Rev. J. B. Thralrs, from there to Birmingham, up Main street to Elizabeth, up Elizabeth to Fifth street, entered northwest corner of the green to soldiers monument, where the col umn rested few moments; thence across the green down Minerva street to Main street, across to Derby, down Front street to ner was served. A dinner was served by the ladies and there was an abundance of good things which were dealt out very literally and the drummers did full justice to the spread. At about 1:30 p. n. the drum corps again assembled on the platform at the grove, where the captains drew lots for choice of playing They then formed and marched on the platform as they were called by William J. Clark, president of the Derby Thunder drum corps. Seated on | the platform visitors, were I. H. Farrell and A. c. Van Slyck, of the Fourth ward GAL l ing's drum corps) Waterbury. The choice of playing first piece fell to the Wolcottville l drum corps, who played Marching Through Georgia Next came Sassacus, of New Haven, who played ''The Old Mans Clock. ' Then the Wolcott drum corps played and next the Excelsior, Of Bridgeport. | The several drum corps played three diff ferent pieces each.
 | During the competition quite number of people congregated in the grove and applaud | ed the different drum corps as they finished I their pieces.
 The contest for single drummers was start | corps, and then the following played:
 l.. c. Kiefer, of Bridgeport. A. F. Lave, of New Haven (Sassacus). Eddie Lockwood, of Wolcottville. Charles Futile, of Wolcott. Yale Lacey, of Bridgeport. Arthur T. Harrison, of Wolcott. Homer Atkins, Wolcott.
 The judges were l.. B. Joy, Charles A. Marvin and William Crowthea, of the Derby Thunder; William Smith and Washington Broadwell, of the Dreadnots, of Wallingford. They decided by ballot that the prize for the best drum corps should be awarded to the Sassacus drum corps, of New Haven, gold lined silver goblet, and the prize for the best single drummer to Homer Atkins, of Vol cott, gold-1ined silver cup.
 The awarding of the prizes met with the best satisfaction. Eddie Lockwood, of Vol cottville, as single drummer, was applauded by the assemblage every time be came upon the stand and had some votes for the prize. In future competitions he will make it lively for some one The drum corps and single drummers all did well. It was nearly dark when the people dispersed.
 The Wolcottville drum corps has been or ganized but one year and most of them are quite young men, and did well.