Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-27

''on Army and the report that the Arm,
~ooid anpear with their drums, was the h.
ginning. 1t was the talk on the st,ae, al
oay long yesterday and long before the hon,
.or 'he appearance of the soldiers, men and
boys Anu
Began to Gather
In front Of the barracks. At 7.30 o,c,o.k
the street between the Cony House and Mao.
man Hall Block was packed. The entire M
ice force, with several special officer, ve,s
stationed in front of the entrance of the h.,.
racks. Calmly they waited. The crowd
'urged around, pushing and jostline. M.nv
specuiations arose. 1t was not eenerallv he.
iieved that the Army would come ont With
drums. Shortly after 7.3O O'Clock the van
guard OF the Army appeared. It was Mrs.
Capt. Thacher. followed BY long string of
soldiers marching in twos. Several rods he.
mind them came Capt. Thacher, the Cadet
and several soldiers
Bearing the Drums.
This was the signal for rush by the crowd
and the doughty warriors we're Obliged to ex.
ert themselves to make Roadway. The drum.
mers formed at the head of the column, and
the Army went marching on down Water
street; but at first the drums were not beaten.
The police force accompanied them, walking
in their midsl. The people who had come to
see the commotion also marched. From the
head Of the column to long distance in the
rear the
Street Wss Thronxed
from wall to wall. wi b a hootinp multitude
Cheers and jeers went up simultaneously,
At Winthrop street the Army turned to the
right to go up Winthrop Hill. Previous to
this the drums had not heen touched, but at
the railroad crossing Capt. Thacher sounded
his whistle and the drummers tapped their
drums lightly. This was the signal for q
rush.
Pandem0nium Reigned
for short time. The officers made a grab
for the drummers. The cadet who bore the
small drum passed it to soldier. The
drums were captured. and the men in whose
possession they were, Chas. E. Smith, who
is employed at Brooks furniture shop, and
E. c. Whitney, head porter at the Insane
Hospital,
Were Arrested.
Thacher was "wild" for few minutes,
At first he went into the air with his charac-
teristic catapult motion, shouting ''God bless
you; God bless you" The crowd was so
thick, however, that he had difficulty in per-
forming. After the arrest he moved abou,
collecting his soldiers, aud proceeded on up
the hill, the Army shouting, singing, leaping
and waving their arms. The prisoners were
taken towards the Jail, the rubble following
like pack Of sheep. The Jail entrance was
blocked that the prisoners were taken around
and through rear door. The drums were
also held in custody. The two men were
placed in a cell on the lower corridor and
locked in. They seemed to take things
calmly, and IN being question said they didn't
feel afraid; that it was the first time they had
ever been in Jail that they could serve God
in prison as well as elsewhere.
Marching On.
The Army continued marching on and as
they passed the Jail were more crazy than
ever, Jumping and leaping about, waving
their handkerchiefs and were cheered and
yelled at. They continued on down State
and Green streets and Rines' Hill. with the
rabble at their heels. As they came up the
street woman leaning from one of the win
dows said to companion, "Glory, the cap
tain is there" The Army and the crowd
went up the stairs with deafening clstter.
As Thatcher entered the hall he yelled at the
ton of his voice: "Glory to God, fire q vol
lev !" and banged his tambourine with all his
might. So great was
The Crush 1t tho Door
that all could not get in at once, At nrst an
attempt was made by the Army to stop the
rapid pouring in, but it was found impossi-
ble and after a narrow escape from row all
we're allowed to enter. Inside the hall was
turmoil for while. "Be seated, be seated
was Thacher's order. But the audience per-
s;sted in standing. The captain went upon
,o nreserve order. Once he attempted to
mil, . man down from of the gallery stairs.
The man rebelled. one of his companions
took his part, and
Geueral Scramble Ensued.
rhacher was nearly overcome before es-
Gaming. The services commenced amongst
,,rch excitement, the hall being filed with
neonle. After the opening, testi-
monies were given. A girl exclaimed 600
H.. ,he men on the hill. am sorry this
o;,v h.. been driven to defend the devi. We
.no~ all the church people are with US. The
Cadet prayed, God show the city marshal
,h., he has been doing wrong; bless the city
MAYOR One speaker cursed the mayor FOR
;..r;no the order in relation to the drums.
ca, Th.cber said: We will get the drums
back again and
neat Them ro-merrow Might.
rh;. !. the irst city in Maine, he continued
-h;ch has forbidden the Armv to parade
-;,h drums. long to march again to-mor-
80 NIGHT. One speaker styled Thacher as
...aoona Daniel" One man had come twenty
a.. miles to see the Army and another be-
II - 4 Es-