The Indianapolis journal., 1883-09-04

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town, the Argentine pass, the highest wagon
| road in the world and Green Lake. Through the
efforts of John Martin, of the "Bg Four, special
train was prOffered the commandery for this eX-
| cursion Another day was spent at Salt Lake
City and then the journey was continued straight
| through to san Francisco, which reached
| on Sunday night Returning, the party left the
Pacific coast last Tuesday evening and came
directly to Davenport Ia, where they rested from
| 8 o'clock on Sunday morning until midnight ana
| then concluded their journey home:
| Every possible comfort was provided fol Tue
| trip. The c., l., st. l.. & c. people provided a
| dining car and two elegant sleepers, under the
charge of accommodating and gentlemanly crews.
| MIR. W. .. DeVay had especial charge or the
| commiSsary department and did his work so
| admirably that not the slightest complaint was
| made. Three meals, and excellent ones at that,
| were served each day, besides such lunches as
] the ravenous appetites demanded. During the
! greater portion OF the trip the weather was oe-
| lightful.
THE TRIP FROM DAVENPORT.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Martin, passenger
agent of the Kankakee line, and Mr Perry Griffin,
| of the Rock Island route, representatives of the
| Journal, Sentine and News, and Mr.. Thomas
Taggart, went to Davenport to meet the com
maudery, via Chicago, the trip being made pleas
ant In every conceivable way. Davenport was
reached at o'clock on Sunday evening, and the
Indianapolis party was at that time enjoying a
trip down the Mississippi as the guests of Daven-
| port ana Rock Island communicates, whose
guests they had been during the day. The start
| home was made shortly after midnight. the party
| having retired to their berths shortly before.
| There was a general awakening and arising
| early yesterday morning, for all of the ladies
to Indiana eeG o1ee TDFS more. ana did not care
| to sleep. Seneca was reached at O'Clock
| and there the three cars were detached from the
Rock Island train and special made up. The
ride over the Kankakee to Indianapolis was de-
| lightful. But few stops were made and an av-
| erage speed of about thirty five miles an hour
/ Ithfa
demonstration in honor of Raper. The local
| cOmmandery was drawn up in line at the depot,
aud forty men in line, while the Home Star band
| played "See, the cOnquering hero comes" A
| special car was here attached for the Lafayette
| knights and the band, who Joined the party
! They had provided refreshments for the travel
ers and general good time was had to the city.
when both Communicates left the train at the
| Union Depot and joined in the procession.
| THE RECEPTION AT SAN FRANCISCO.
All of the knights, as well as their ladies' unite
in the most unqualified praise of the people of
! San Francisco. In the matter of elaborate dis
| plays, cordial reception and elegant entertain
menr, the knights and citizens of that western
metropolis exce!led any previous attempt
"They couldn't do too much for u.s." said Harry
| Adams. Before We got to Frisco we were met
at Newcastle by delegation with a car filled
with elegant fruits and wines, and these were
placed at our disposal. Did we tackle 'eml
| Well, you should have seen us. Our first hotel
accommodations were unsatisfactory, and the
next day, by instructions of the committee,
we went to the Grand an annex of the
| Palace, taking meals at the
| latter. We received a dozen invitations
| to visit places where we could accept one. Every
| arrangement had been made that could add to
| our comfort and enjoyment and the ladies of the
| party were likewise elegantly entertained by the
ladies of the city. On, it was just too gorgeous.
| Sonny, l am prepared To state TO you now. no
| other city in this country had ever made such
| elaborate ana extensive arrangements Tor any
| event as San Francisco had on this occasion,
and no other reception or entertainment on "a
big scale equaled it," Mr.. Adamss glow
ing description OF the reception and treatment
| at San Francisco was corroborated and elabO
| rated by the other members of the commandery,
and it is evident from all accounts that the
| knights enthusiastic anticipatiOns when they
| left here for the Golden Gate more than
| realized. Their railroad journey was made the
! pleasantest possible. They we're shown every
| attention In San Francisco, and the other
| hand it is equally evident that the representa-
| tives of HOOsierdOm made favorable impress
| sion there, as the local papers devoted much
| space in illusions to them, which we're invaria
| bly, complimentary. The Indianapolis ladies
| also received kindly attentions while their hus-
bands we're engaged in Templar business. They
| were shown about the city and invited to parties
| and receptions without end.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE DRILL.
SIT was decidedly the best drill Raper ever
put up" said Col Ruckle, "and I doubt if it
has ever been excelled by Knight Templar
| commandery. We were allotted forty
minutes to get through the programme
and we finished 1t in twenty-four,
| without a break. OF course there were individ-
ual errors, and probably one or two movements
! were executed IN bad form, but no serious mis-
| takes. We drilled first. Then came De Molay,
| and we started the cheering when they came in
and then came st. Bernard, which had taken
advantage of circumstances to go through the
| programme twice. The general verdict was
| that it was the loss of copper between US and
| De Molay for first place. There is little doubt
that we put up the best drill, but we had no
| platoon commanders, although our tactics called
| for them and were placed second for that
It was only bad luck, and that was all. WILL
Mckee ana s. l.. Morrison, the former a platoon
| commander and the latter guide, had made
arrangements to CO. but the failure of the Bank
ing Company r prevented bsd fa,n them; 50 SO we we
platoon commanders, in as guide, and we
| were marked down 1 understand fve per cent
| for not having platoon commanders. We feel
pretty well over the result, for we beat ST. Ber
| nard. and beat them badly. One of the judges
| said after the contest, that there was room for
| dozen communicates to be placed between
| us and st. Bernard lf there had been so many
competing. The judges were army officers
| and knew the difference between a So uad drill
and commandery drill, don't know what
| the markings were for they were not made pub
| lie, bnt ST Bernard was way down and Raper
and De M0lay were high up and close together
WHAT THE BOYS SAY.
r. L. Scarlet: ''We put up the best drill, there
is no doubt of that bus The absence
| of platoon commanders put us
back to second place. In the
matter of the prize, however. we got much the
best of it. 1 understand that our prize cost
| ST., 300 more than the one chosen by De Molay."
Charles H. Reynolds: 81 wish you could have
| seen il. 1t great drill, and had the
| best of it by long odds. The crowd thought we
| had won, and Commander Northrup, of De Mo-
| lay, acknowledged it,
| H. c. Adams: "After The drill was over one of
the judges said that Rucke decidedly the
best commander on the grounds, and Raper's
success is due principally TO him. BY the way,
| at the grand street parade, Nick hadn't got
| there yet, and Theodore Pfafflin in com
mand. Talk about your hustlers You
never saw such a street drill as he put
the boys through; and they didn't make a
break. They mashed the inhabitants cold, and
got more applause than all the other command
| cries put together. 1 occupied conspicuous