Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-28

O'Clock
Well, how did they do in Atlanta?
They carried of the third prize in the
interstate drill, and should have Rol
first.
The story is best told as Captain Ford
related it to a GAZETTE mau last night
after he had refreshed himself with
sumner and an artesan water bath.
we left Fort Worth on the morning
of Thursday, October l6, as you know.
We hau IA boudoir car to ourselves, and
the Cotton Belt provided everything es-
genital 10 our comfort. We were in
charge Of Travelling Passenger Agent R.
NJ. Carter, and / want TO say that he left
nothing uudone that would make our
trip enjoyable aud pleasant. The boys
of the company vote him tiptop chap
eroue, and we all acknowledge ourselves
under a debt of a gratitude TO him.
1--WE passed through Memphis, and
got to Nashville in time 10 see the big
penisentiary fire, which, though not got
up for our special benefit, interested US
very much while il lasted.
owe reached Chattanooga on the
morning of Saturday, Oct IS, and spent
the day visiting Missionary Ridge. Look
out mountain and other points of interest
in and near the city.
''It was in such cases as that that our
cbapernne, MIR. Carter, came to the
front nobly.
1--WE were royalty entertained by the
citizens of Chattanooga, and everything
possible was done 10 make our stay 10
that place pleasant.
"At6:30 Sunday morning we arrived
at Atlanta. The city was pretty well
crowded with visitors to the exposition;
but we proceeded direct to the camp
grounds, and at once pitched our tents
in the grounds of the exposition.
"There were eight other companies on
the grounds.
1.-the interstate drill was to have &C.
CURED at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morn
ing, October %; and according TO the
written requirements of those in COM
mand of the drill each company was to
have reported on the grounds ready for
drill at its allotted time, rain or shine,
dressed in full dress uniform.
''Iu the drawing for place the Fencl-
5les drew first place.
HWheu 10 O'Clock Wednesday morn
ing came it was raining in torrents, but
that was the hour allotted the Fencibles,
and they were on hand ready for drill.
But they received written orders to re-
port gain at o clock.
Al o CLOCK we
again and demanded that We be drilled,
but again received orders for postpone
meut.
eleven o'clock Thursday was the
next hour set, and at that time we pre-
eeuted ourselves again and again de-
manded TO be drilled, but were again re-
fused, as 1t wns still raining.
''On Friday morning the rain had
subsidized somewhat. but there was still
drzzle. The grounds were one sheet of
water and mud, but the FencIbles were
put through their drill.
at was as miserable a field as any
company ever had the misfortune to
march upon.
~ went 10 the officers in command
and requested that the drill be postponed
till noon in order that the mud and water
might pass away somewhat, but this was
refused, and We were ordered to pro-
coed.
We did so.
At $3.50 the drill bean.
The mud was so deep and the ground
so slippery vas almost impossible for
the boys 10 march.
"But we made splendid showing.
awe passed through an almost perfect
Inspection. received a perfect score on
the manual and put up creditable drill
in the field movements.
"The score allowed US was ~ out of
a possible 100.
1.-THE Judges were LieuIenants Lawton
of the Thirteenth Infantry, and McDon-
aid OF the Fourth Artillery, and Capt.
Lyman Hall of the Grady cadets, at one
time captain of one of the competing
teams in the Interstate contest.
''1he Gate City Guards of Atlanta got
I, - wE.N,-
The Mccarthy Light Guards of Little
Rock came In second.
1--WE drilled in the morning in the
rain. The other companies came out
after noon when the driZZle had ceased
and the grounds had cleared off, 10 our
evident disadvantage. Had we been al
lowed to drill on Wednesday morning as
at first ordered, each company would |
have labored under the same disad- |
vantsges; but Us il was we were for two |
days housed up in our tents without oD- |
portunity TO drill, while the other COM |
rsnies practiced continually in thfir |
large armory, the courtesies OF which |
they neglected TO tender us.
"When Friday morning arrived and |
we were ordered 10 proceed with our |
drill, i requested that 1t be postponed |
until noon in order that the ground |
drilled In the rain and mud. The other |
compah ies drilled on comparatively dry |
ground and without moisture in the air. |
"Now want TO tell you how We lost.
"You observe we are only ~ points
behind the winner. Twelve and q half
individual errors were charged against
the company, and ten points were de-
Quoted from the score on account of two
errors charged against the captain, as
each error of the captain counts FIVE |
points.
''One OF the errors charged against
me occurred this way: When the CON- i
pauy was turned over to the judges for
inspection, the command inspection
arm was not given by me. That was the
charge, but the command in fact was
given as can be proved by the affidavit
OF every member of the company; be-
side that, no army officer inspecting
company would proceed 10 inspect unless
the captain had given such command, as
otherwise the company would not be
ready for inspection until after such
command was given.
har oba /