The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-06-23
WEST POINT ACRc8ATs.
The Cadets Treat Their Visitors TO Circus
Show.

An interesting feature cf the West
Point Military Academy on Thursday
last was the mounted exercises of the
cadets in the riding hall. By the time
Secretary of War Endicott and party ar
rived, Capt. Augur had a lire of horse
men before him. The men wore then
gray fatigue suits and all SGT their horses
well. At word they started off one
after another and swept about the area at
GALLON. Then sabres were drawn and
the drill commenced. First the blade
was brought down upon an imaginary
foe at the right, then it was twirled III
air, next thrust forward, again backward,
and last sweeping slash was made to
the left. Once the horses were in line,
the men stood at their heads. ''Mount. y
In twinkGng, every cadet was in air.
In another, without touching a stirrup,
he was in the saddle Another COM
mand. The men were cn their feet
again, but only to vault clean over sad
die and all and stand ready at the other
side. Then up again in the saddle.
They twisted around, now facing for
ward, now backward and again side
ways. And while they SO drilled two
uprights were fixed at a distance of about
fifty feet from each other with a pad as
big as a cap fixed upon each with a han
die attached to il. At word the caval-
rymcn dashed of. Now one came along
at full gallop, leaned over as he reached
the upright till his hand WAS below the
level of the stirrups, and in full career
picked up one pad after another and
tossed it behind him. It was feat re-
curing coolness and address, but nearly
all executed it satisfactorily.
Next the pad was placed upon an up
right the height of a man, and at the
same distance as before another was
placed on Q lower stand. Between them
was placed horizontally beam resting
on two uprights-a good, stiff jump for
horse in such limited space, and one
requiring a rider to have his brain clear.
The word was given. 4 lorscman came
ganoping on. AS he reached the taller
stand he drew a revolver. 1t flashed, and
the pad, struck by the bullet, tumbled
of, while the horse dashing on was a
moment after lifted over the bar in a
flying jump. Round still the horseman
went: his comrades following one by one.
And now as he approached the stand on
which the pad is replaced he has his
sabre out. He slashes 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 up with a
great slash bunch of tanbark, and then
Just recovering in his saddle he brings
down the blade with sweep upon the
pad OF the second upright and tosses it
off.
In the next exercise the uprights and
pads are still there, but IN place Of the
Jump is high pole with a transverse
bar. from which hangs ji;sst within reach
of a horseman's sabre an iron ring only
few inches in diameter. And through
all this, too, the horses so around at tue
top of their speed. the feat repeated
again and again. a 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 steeds; some
with riders leaning over their shoulders
till their hands sweep the ground; some
lying ct full length upon their backs;
some facing to the rear, but guiding them
with spur and rein; some jumping on
and off, like circus riders, while the ami
NAL is going at The top OF his speed; and
some vaulting clean over them and keep
ing up the pace. 1t is a thrilling specta-
Gle, which burst Of applause rewards,
and then the men repeat their exciting
drill, training by couples on half the
number of horses. 1t would be called a
gallant equestrian show anywhere. An
old officers comment interpreted the
general opinion: II never saw better
riders.