The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-24
WEST POINT ACROBATs.
The Cadets Treat Their Visitors 10 dir,
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An interesting feature of the West
Point Military Academy on Thursday
last was tho mounted exercises of the
cadets III the riding hall. BY the time
Secretary OF War Endicott and party or
rived, Capt. Augur had line of horse
men before him. The men wore their
gray fatigue suits and all sat their horses
well AT q word they started off one
alter another and swept about the area at
gallop. Then sabros were drawn and
the drill commenced. First the blade
wac brought down upon an imaginary
toe at the right, then it was twirled in
ar next thrust forward, again backward,
ana last sweeping slash was made to
the left. Once the horses were in line,
the men stood at their heads. "Mount. -
IN twnkllng, every cadet was in air.
In another, without touching stirrup,
he was IN the saddle. Another com
lnand. The men were on their feet
again, but onl y to vault clean over sad
dlo and all and stand ready at the other
Sdc. SIDE. Then up again in the saddle.
lhey twisted around, now facing for
ward, now backward and again side
ways. And while they so drilled two
uprlghtS were fixed at u distance Of about
nifty feet from each other with a Dad as
Dlg rs cap fixed upon each with n han
die attached to it. At word the caval-
rymen dashed off. Now one came along
at 1llll gallop, leaned over rs he reached
the upright till jIis hand was below the
level OF the stirrups, and i'll full career
picked up one pad after another and
tossed 1T behind him. 1t was n feat re-
qulrlnS cOOlnCSS and address, but nearly
all executed It satisfactorily.
Next the pad was placed upon an up-
right the height Of man, and at the
same distance as before another was
placed on II lower stand. Between them
Was placed horizontally beam resting
on two uprights-a good, stiff Jump for
horse III such n limited space, and ono
requiring rider to have his brain clear
The word was given. A horseman came
9alloplng on. AS he reached the taller
stand he drew revolver. 1t flashed, and
the pad, struck by the bullet, tumblcd
Oil, while the horse dashing on was q
moment after lifted over the bar in q
lying Jump. Round still the horscman
went, his comrades following one bv one.
And now as he approached the stand on
which the pad is replaced he has his
sabre ont. He GipShes at it, hits it fairly,
and almost before it reaches the ground
he Is over the bar; his sabre cuts an arc
through the air as he leans over his
horses shoulder and tosses ND with n
great slash bunch Of tanbark, and then
Just recovering il his saddle he brings
down the blade with n sweep rDon the
pad OF the second upright and losses it
off.
In the next exercise the upmgnts and
pads are still there, but in place Of tho
Jump IS high pole with transverse
bar, from which hangs just within ycacl
OF horScman's sabre an iron ring ONLY
few inches i'll diameter. And through
all this, too, the horses go around at tho
top Of their speed, the feat repeated
again and again, few failing, but nearly
all successful.
Next saddles are removed and the men
ride bareback at will. There is no circus
performance like this spectacle. The
place is full of bounding tccds; some
with riders leaning over their shoulders
hll their hands sweep the ground; some
lying at full length upon their backs:
some facing to the rear, but guiding them
with spur and rein; somo jumping on
and off, like circus riders, while the ami
mai IS going at the top of his speed, and
some Vaulting clean over them and keep
ing up the pace. 1t is thrilling specta-
Gle, which Il burst Of applause rewards,
and thcn tho men repeat their exciting
drill, training by couples on half the
number of horses. 1t would be called n
gallant equestrian show anywhere. An
Old officers comment interpreted the
general opinion: 'I never saw better
riders"