The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-19
THE RODMAN RIFLES.
A Large AssembIage Witness the Com
petftiye Drill Last Night.

The competitive drill of The Rodma
Rifles has been the subject ofconsiderahl
talk of late. and last night at the hou
appointed large assemblage had gait
cred 10 view the manoeuvers and marci
ing of the company The gallery wa
filled to overhowisg, and. seats were ar
ranged along the sides of the hall below
where the drill took place. There was
good sprinkling of the fais sex among Tia
au 1ienee, who appeared TO take an aeiiv
interest in the affair. Lieut.. Col Foster
OF Princeton, and Capt Ayers. Of Cam
bridge. were the judges.
/ The first event which came off was
/ COMPANY drill, under the efficient com
mand of Capt. Harry Abcil with Lieuts
Carter and Chnnnon as assistants. Tn,
drill occupied about half an hours tim'
and was watched with great interest, a
| the different movements were executed in
a manner that would have done credit tt
old s'vets, and we doubt whether they
could have done as well The company
fronts, alinements, marching. to the real
march, while in company rent was es
pecially fine The flank movements by
fours, aud right and left front into line
were executed without flaw, and elected
the warmest applause. Col Foster aad
Capt Ayers both unhesitatingly pro
nounced the company second to none in
point of drill, to any company they had
yet seen.
The company drill being over, an order
for place rest" for fifteen minutes was
given. during which time Captain
Abel thanked the company for
the creditable manner in which
they had acquitted themselves, and
begged to be excused for giving the or
ders in the s'indivIdnar drill, as hoase-
ness made it difficult for him to speak
First Lieutenant Carter, then took com
mand of the company, and called the men
up in pairs to compete for the prizes,
their names being drawn from hat.
There were thirteen competitors, all of
whom did their best TO win the laurels
Each motion of the manual and of the
march was recorded on tabula ted score
cards $50 represented correctness in
every movement. The judges decided that
l.. Z. Knocke was entitled to the first
prize, p. A Bloom the second and c. A
Stoddard the third, they having scored
283, 270, and 269 respectively VIM.
Rosine who, up to last evening was pos
SCISSOR of the first prize, did not arrive
from Des Moines and consequently for
feited his claim upon it Ii was quite
late when the drill was finished and on
their departure the audience were of the
opinion that Rock Island has as fine a
military organization as can be found
anywhere in the state
There seems to be an impression that
the wrong man secured the first prize at
the competitive prize drill last evening,
and those who witnessed the drill seem to
think that Corporal Fatspaugh should have
had the first prize. Be that as it may.
there certainly ought to be no blame at
Iached to the'judges, who are not only very
firm friends ofathe company, but who are
recognized as first class military men
There may have been (probably was) con-
usion in the commanding at the first, but
here should be no censure of the Judges,
who are upright, honorable men, who
gave their time from their business Solun-
arily, and purely as matter of accom-
notation The drill was in every respect |
success, and Col. Clendenin saws he is |
'roGd OF the Rodmans as company |
The prizes awarded last evening are 10 be |
gain competed for. a. an early day being |
otativc and no man 3 property permanent
y. This is a good incentive for the mem.
'ers of the company to strive to attain
Capt Abel says il will be no
anlt Of his if the company does not take
ank as the best in the state
Right here it might not be out of place
0 say that when AR Abel took charge of
he company it was in a very disorganzed
ondition, and little interest was mani
ssted in its welfare, bat by his strenuous
forts new life has been infused into the
rganization, until to-day it ranks among
ne FIRST companies OF the state