The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-07-14
The Fourth at Fort Assinaboine.
Fort AssINABoINE, July 5, 1885,

FORT AssINABOINE, July 8, 1886.
Editor of the River Press
In a soldiers life there are but three
days in the year which he can lay claim TO
as holidays, and very often circumstances
occur which deprive him Of at least one OF
these. The red letter days are Christmas,
the Fourth Of July, and Thanksgiving.
This year fortune, or rather the command
ing officer, favored the garrison at this
post by granting them full holiday on
Monday, the 5th inst, and in order not 20
be outdone by any other point in Nom
tana, a considerable sum of money was
raised by subscription from the officers
and men to be offered as prizes in Il series
of athletic contests and exhibitions of skill.
The day was opened at revelle by the reg
mental band of the 20th infantry, making
the rounds of the post playing national
airs. Immediately after guard mounting,
at s: 80 a. m., a asweepstake shooting match
took place upon the post range. A strong
wind, blowing at the rate of at least forty
miles an hour, interfered greatly with the
marksmen, and the scores were much be-
low the average in consequence. The en-
trance fee was placed at 50, open to all,
with five shots at 200, 300, 500 and 600
yards distances. Twenty-eightc contestants
entered and the following were the lucky
winners: 1st prize, SO per cent. of en-
trance fees, Sergeant Sam. Grow, Co. O.,
Goth inf, aggregate score, "A; "a prize, 80
per cent, Private Loubiski, Co. "A, 10th
inf, 81; Sd prize, 20 per cent, Corporal
Boyle, Co. /, Goth inf, 66.
A national artillery salute was fired at
u m, after which all adjourned to their
respective quarters and partook of excel
lent dinners, limited in their menu only
by the scarcity Of the market.
Att o. M, the following programme
was enacted upon the garrison parade
ground:
/. Flat race, 200 yards. First prize,
So, Trumpeter Rhinehart, troop l., 1st
cav. I'd, So, Sergeant Grow, Co. c, 20th
inf
2. Sack race, 100 yards. First prize, So,
A. J. Foley, Co. B, Goth inf; I'd, So, -
Snyder, Co. E, Goth inf.
3. Tug Of war among the infantry COM
panies Of upper and lower garrison, l6
men on a side; prize S24; won by the
team from the lower garrison.
4. Hurdle race. 800 yards, over five hur-
dies, First Prize, So, won by Trumpeter
Rhinehart; I'd. So, won by ~ Holmes.
5. Hop, skip and jump, three trials;
prize So; won by Private Maher, Co. !,
2Oth inf.
s. Potato race, twenty-five potatoes set
one yard apart. First prize, So, won by
Mcintosh, Co. H, 10th inf; ID, So, won
80 Snyder.
Z. Wheelbarrow race, 100 yards, blind
folded; prize So; won BY = Martin, Co.
K, 2Oth inf.
5. Go as you please, once around the
parade ground. First prize, 81, won by
Trunpeter Rhinehart; %, $3, Sergeant
Grow.
| 8. High jump (running1, three trials
prize, 81; won by ~ Wyneland, Co. H,
Goth inf.
| 10. Three-legged race, 100 yards. First
prize, 81, won by Miller and Clabor, Co.
FL, Goth inf. !; I'd, So, won by O'Brien, Co.
H, and - Stufdeman, Co. <, Goth inf.
| III. Tug Of war between winning in
fantry team and cavalry team; prize, S24 ;
won by the infantry team.
Every thing passed of without the slight
est jar or unpleasantness and will be day
long remembered - tthose who, through
the mandates OF duty, are compelled to
remain at this frontier post. -