Morris tribune., 1889-02-13
The "Kids" on Deck.


The Flambeau Club has at last COM
pleted all arrangements and have def
nitely announced their Intention OF
visiting Washington to represent Min
nesota at the Inauguration. OF course
the Flambeau Club has become a
household world, but u brief resume
of its history may not be out of place.
Tt was organized in August, 1888, ana
commenced active drilling. IN less
than six weeks il appeared iii pub
lie parade and astouished the public
generally by the remarkable precision
it had attained. There Was all at
tempt to explain This by the statement
that the Club was made up of militia
men, but this is not true. There were
only six men in the Club Inclusive OF
the captain Ga member or Go. II who
had ever stood in line. The only ex-
PLANTATION of their progress is in the
intelligence, pluck and persistence
they possess in u remarkable degree.
So popular did the Club become that
all through the campaign Their SerN-
ices were in constant demand, and
not only were they called upon almost
nightly to visit outlying towns, but
they appeared in every procession
given in Minneapolis aud all of the
Important ones in st, Paul as well.
They particularly won the hearts of
the Old Soldiers Club, who invaria-
bly, demanded that the Fiambeau Club
should precede them, aud whose de-
sire now Is that they appear together
in the inaugural parade. After the
election the Club held Il meeting aud
decided to go into Il permanent otssstIi-
ization on strictly military basis.
Each member was SeQuire'j Ia tax" ii
solemn obligation upon honnr thai he
would serve for the tern uE lwn years
and to sign Il regular muster r"it 10
that effect The Cab is IL ~ formed
as an independents military company,
composed exclusively OF Republicans.
They retain their flambeau torches
that made them famous, but have
mounted them on handsome walnut
gun stocks of the regular Springfield
model, with brass trigger guards and
an entirely martial character, delin-
quent members being called before
regularly organized court martial,
which passes sentence upon all who
violate any article of the constitution,
But it is not only in marching and
appearance that the Flambeaus have
earned an enviable reputation. Upon
election the members were assigned
posts, with specific duties, at nearly
every polling place in the city, while
some of them, provided with carria-
ges, patrolled certain wards. 1t is
stated as low estimate that over one
thousand votes were influenced by the
Flambeau Kids" This shows that
they are useful as we'll as ornamental.
The new uniform of the Club is de-
cidedly unique. 1t consists of red
fatigue cap trimmed with gold lace.
A short blue jacket deliberately EN-
broidered in cream silk. Red vest
embroidered in cream. Cream sash
with heavy tasSels. Blue pantaloons
with wide spring on the bottom and
slashed in red, the sides being caught
with lacing of gold thread, termi-
mating In two heavy gold tassels. This
is wbat--k Hown as the Mexican uni
form. Tue suits are ordered and be-
ing made by Bentson, the local tailor.
The Club will undoubtedly have the
finest uniform of any political clubln
the country and it is the first military
company that was ever completely
equipped in Minneapolis.
With commentaries enterprise it has
decided to make itself independent of
hotel and boarding house keepers i'm
Washington, and has, by paying down
a heavy cash forfeit, secured space for
a number of cars in the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad yards, just one block
from the. Capitol. This was the last
available space In Washington and
there is no more to be had The Club
will leave Minneapolis on or about the
first of March in solid special train
of vestibuled coaches. It will retain
its sleepers while in Washington, IT
has engaged cooks and walters for its
commissary department, who Will al
so be retained in Washington. All of
these advantages of elegant quarters
and board will be sharedby those who
go with the Club on this excursion.
Already large number from all parts
of the state have applied for space.
and it is recommended that all those
who desire to go commanicate ut once
with the captain, John N. Harris. 2SO
Boston block, or J. f. McEIroy. agent
Chicago, Burlington & Northern Rail-
road, Bank of Minneapolis Building,
Minneapolis, or any of the members.
as tickets are now on sale.