The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-17
THE FIRST DAY.
Splendid Drilling for State Prizes
by State Companies.
The Grandest Display of Fire
Works Ever Seen in the
South.

The drill week opened inauspiciously
yesterday morning. Clouds were thickly
strewn around the horizon and covered
the heavens. Some rain fell, and discom-
future was endured for while. But the
storm was soon over, the sun came out
and while some mud on the drill grounds
rendered walking unpleasant, yet the day
closed gloriously and was by all pro-
nounced grand success. The great
number of military companies entered for
the different prizes made it necessary to
commence the competitive drilling at the
very early hour of $50. Three com panies
drilled in the morning and three in the
afternoon. In the morning the compan-
les were the Victoria Rifles, the Sealy
Rifles and the Fort Worth Fencibles. In
the afternoon the three were the Austin
Greys, the Washington Rifles and the Dali
las Rifles. All of these companies con-
tested for the state infantry prizes and all
of them put up excellent drills, the hon
ors, perhaps, being in favor of the Sealy
Rifles, Dallas Rifles and the Austin Greys.
The judges were kept constantly at work
and proved to he experts in that line
All three of them are courteous, elegant
gentlemen, and have won the hearts of all
who have met them and are connected
with the management of the drill.
At O'Clock the call sounded for dress
parade and the five regiments soon came
marching on the grounds. 1t was a
grand-an imposing sight. The troops,
by regiments, came into position with
clockwork precision. Every movement
uas nuickIv opd DarfaotIy axaoutad Tha
United States band took part in
the parade, but the United
States troops did not participate
last evening. This was through
some misunderstanding of orders and
not Intentionally done. Hereafter the
United States troops will always take
part in the evening dress parades that
will begin at O'Clock and close at $3.50.
But without these troops yesterday fully
l,50O soldiers of our state militia took
part in the parade. General Stoddard
was, of course, in charge, and Adjutant-
General King received the review. To-
day and from this ON there will be over
1000 troops in the dress parade, and this
will include 200 of Uncle Sans cavalry,
Never in the history of Texas
have there been such SPLEEN
did and magnificent parades as will
be seen on the encampment grounds for
the rest of this week. 1t will be worth
double the price of admission simply to
see these reviews without counting the
excellent competitive drilling that is con-
family going on. All the companies
that have been drilled either in the com
petitive drills or in short exhibitions
,i,n 10 Ill
previous work done by them. The state
militia for members aud excellence in
military proficiency to-day ranks far ahead
of the militia of any state in the Union.
After the dress parade several COM
panies gave practice exhibitions, and
notable among these were the famous
Houston Light Guard and the San Antonio
Rifles.
THE FIRE WORKS.
Fully eight thousand people we're on the
grounds last night to witness the wonder
full fire works exhibition, given by that
great artist, James Pain, of London. To
say that all were delighted with the exhi-
bition is to but poorly describe the en-
thusiasm of the immense throng of peo-
pie. From the time the monster balloon
went skywerd with its changing pendant
light until the closing scene of a
flight of two hundred interiaclng
rockets, the applause was hearty and
the enthusiasm unbounded. Rockets were
shot in midair and bursting threw flood
of different colored balls of fire that
streamed the heavens, serpents Kissed,
parachutes of Lilliputian size lowered in
the air and the set devices of strange
aud grotesque desiga held the
audience spell bound. The Texas
seal and the state capitol build
ing shone out resplendent and
we're indeed wonderful pieces of
mechanism. Taken as whole the exhi-
bitiOn was the most marvellous display of
fireworks ever witnessed in the south,
and lucky will those be who having missed
it last night avail themselves Saturday
night of the opportunity of seeing the
second exhibition given by this skilled
London expert. New devices have been
chosen for that night, and the display will
be even grander than it was last night.
The rain soaked the drill grounds yes
terday morning, but during the afternoon
it was in fine condition.
Uncle Sans officers are a courteous
g entlemsnly set of soldiers.
General Stoddard and staff are carry
ing out things we'll and are very popular.
The Sealy Rifles put up splendid drill
yesterday.
The Montgomery True Blues, of Mont
gomery, Ala, arrived here yesterday after
noon. The boys, though somewhat weary
from their long ride, were in fine trim.
They express themselves perfectly salts
fed with their quarters, and thank the
management for their convenient 10
cation. OF course some few little things
remained to be done, which the men, like
Old veterans, Immediately set about, and
are now, at this writinRn c,mfortably
ensconded, ready for visitors and business.
When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria
When she was Child, she cried for Castoria