National Republican., 1883-07-26

people up ana uOWu, cross lOlS, auu Iouuu
corners. u is satisfactory to add that swift
as the explosions were the Rifles were switter.
It was with u thrill Of pride their friends at
distance observed how marvellous and per-
feet was the discipline of the company. The
bombs had no show at all but in few sec
onds gave up the chase, and vented their dis
gust very noisly, but wholly undisturbed
by horse, man. wOmOn, or National Rifle.
After the roman candles had all exploded
and the band and the company could be
picked up and reformed, they pursued their
march up tho avenue, followed by greatly
diminished crowd though the multitude
began to gather again, and before reaching
Fifteenth street was almost as great as IL was
before At Drivers summer garden there
was an immense Welcome" " worked IN
flaming gas jets, and hundreds of roman
candles and red and blue lights were sent up
- the outside balconies, making the broad
street rs light and brilliant rs if che sun had
suddenly appeared from midnight sky.
The procession continued up the avenue,
by the Riggs house, where splendid
pyrotechnic exhibition awaited 1t, and dense
crowd that gave dcafcning shout ofwolcome
Down New York avenue and to G street, be.
tween Ninth aud Tenth, brought tho head of
the column to the beautiful new armory,
where banquet was in readiness for the VIC
torious warriors.
Here hundreds of people were also congre-
gated to witness tho grand entry of the mill
tary companies. The new odiico was
magnifcently illuminated inside and
out and the doors and windows were
fcstooned with tasteful display of national
bunting reception committee of Messrs.
Geo. NJ. Oyster, jr., II. S. Hutchinson, and
Frank Miller was in waiting in the grand
hall TO receive the guests, and do the honors of
tho occasion. When tho soldiers marched in
they were greeted by score of beautiful
ladies who filled the galleries overhead, and
waved their handkorchiefs in greet
N,A aII TVal
three sides of tho immense hall
and wero elaborately decorated with
n choice assortment of cut flowers and pottod
plants After all were seated Col. Il. s.
Davis delivered q brief but happy speech of
welcome in which he recountcd the credita.
bio conduct of the Rifles at Cape May and
congratulated them for the honor they had
shed upon themselves and the people of
Washington. An hour was then spent at the
banquet, which had been prepared by Abner.
The only formal toast of the evening was
proposed by COL J. o. p. Burnside, "To our
wives and daughters" and was drank stand
ing
Mr.. L. q. Davis announced that during the
absence of. the Rifles their lady friends had
made q beautiful silk flag, which had been
hoisted ON the flag staff at noon yesterday,
and now waved proudly over the armory.
Col. Burnside said that the Rifles were so
much indebted to the blessed ladies for their
friendship that they had determined that the
first social entertainment given in the new
building should be in their honor, due an
nouncement of which would be made.
After an hour or so spent in social inter-
course, during which the utmost good humor
prevailed, the delighted crowd dispersed
after pronouncing the verdict that it was the
most successful entertainment ever given to
military company in Washington. Zoo
much praise cannot be awarded the gentle
men composing the committee who had charge
cnl1 ante ton tha n,1 hn
reception. These were: Gen. d. S. Walker,
chairman, Col. Robert Boyd, L, l.. johnson,
G.. c. Duncanson, w. II. Bailey, Thomas
Brown, DR.. r. Reyburn, jr., Edward Abney,
C. W. Thorn, J. c. Hardness, f. G. Davis, III.
c. Bowers, II. d. Boteler and A. T. Johnston.
The new armory which was occupied by
the Rifles last night for the first time, is a
building of which they and the city may we'll
be proud. 1t stands on Il street, next to Car
roll hall, aud prc'ents handsome and i'm
posing appearance The front is broken by
bay projections with square tops, while at
either end are turretcd towers, which add to
the grandeur of the architecture. In the
center, between the main entrances, is 0
large plate, on which the words ma
tiona Rifles Armory" will be in
scnbsd. The monogram of the company
/ carved in the keystone Of the arches Over
the main entrances. Beneath the east and
west projections there are two wide door
ways which give entrance on the ground
floor into two large halls, from each of which
broad staiIcases lead up stairs The from
of the building, between the en-
trance hallwaysis occupied by three spacious
rooms, having large windows Looking int
the street. The center room is the library
and reading room, which will have an oper
CRATE fire and will be handsomely furnished
The rooms on each side are for the use of TIN
commissioned and non-commissioned officers
These rooms will be fitted up with all tn
necessary conveniences, and there will b
bells connecting them. BY this means tn
commissioned officers can inform the non
commissiened officers to prepare the men +
fall in for drill. The room of the tnon-com
missioned officers will communicate with tn
privates' room in the rear of the building il
the same way.
The drill room occupies the entire center {
the ground floor, and is 81 by so feet in tn
clear. Largo windows on each side Civ
plenty of light and air. The flooring,
North Carolina pine, is laid on joists whic
are imbedded in solid concrete, atlording
firm and unyielding surface, admrabl
adapted for drilling purposes. In the rea
is large locker room for the use of the pr
Yates with bath and wash rooms connecting
There will be 100 lockers with sufficient rool
for every portion of the uniform. To tn
right is u room which will be used by tn
janitGr as his bed room, and there is also
room for the quartermaster On the oUht
side of the locker room is staircase whc
leads up to the hall above and down to til
basement.
This basement, under the locker room, O.
tends the entire width of the building. 1t
IL feet deep, 25 feet wide, and 81 feet Ion
and has a concrete floor. In the main part
the basement there will be a kitchen wit
range hot and cold water and all the modeI
improvements. One of tho four furnace
which will heat the building is placed at oil
end, the other three being in the front bas
ment, which is of the same size. A dun
waiter will connect with the upper floor,
At the further end of the basement is
good sized room which will be used for sto
ing all the ammunition, and is called IL
arsenal room. There is also placed
terra cottG, pipels inches in diam
-- ter running 10 an iron target
the front basement and giving
rifle range of 11O feet in length, which wi
be used for practice shooting.
The second story is occupied by hall
most spacious proportions, being ~ by 30 fee
with lofty ceiling, oval in shape, render!:
the acoustic properties admirable 1t
lighted from the top and special provisiC
has been made for II full and free ventilatic
from all the sides and from the top. At ii
south end graceful arch forms an alcov
where when needed portable stage can
placed A room at the right furnishes dres
ing facilities for the actors. Around the u