The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-17

mauhood-to repel rather than submit to
wrong. S. b. SPENCER.
Savannah, Ga, April 16. 1890.
From the atlanta Constitution.
The Atlanta Rifles have distinctly charged
that they were robbed of the first prize in
the recent drill at Jacksonville
That prize, they say, was wrongfully
given to the Southern Cadets of Macon.
The Atlanta Rifles have affirmed, and
now reiterate, that they won the first prize
fairly, and We're, therefore, entitled to. re-
ceive it.
That these propositions can be demon
strated by the strongest possible proofs
proofs based upon the admission of the
judges of the contest themselves.
The board of judges announced the per-
centage as follows: The Southern Cadets 95
per cent, the Atlanta Rifles "a per cent.
The jacksonville Times Union, of the
18th inst, after stating that the decision
was great surprise to every one, and was
received with universal dissatisfaction, as
all thought the Atlanta Rifles had won the
first prize, uses these words:
The officers who rendered this decision
admit that the Rifles put up better drill than
the Southern Cadets, and their movements were
very near perfection. They claim, however,
that Capt. Spencer overlooked two commands
on the programme, and the omission of these
brought the score down to 81 percent. II this
error had not occurred the Atlanta boys would
nave had an almost perfect score OF ~ per
cent
These statements must be accepted as
perfectly true because the judges of the
drills, who were still in Jacksonville when
they were printed, would certainly have
denied them had they been false.
Now, admitting that Capt. Spencer did
overlook two commands, still the Rifles
claim that they won the first prize fairly
and squarely, because Capt. Sims of the
Southern Cadets overlooked four COM
mands on the programme and omitted to
give them.
Here is the proof and it came from high
military authority-an accomplished officer
of the ssrictest integrity, who will give his
name if necessary.
He says:
81 was present and watched the drill Of
the Southern Cadets very closely. Capt.
Sims omitted to give four commands. |
| observed these omissions and distinctly
remembered the commands They were
first, left wheel. double time; second,
| oblique movement in column Of tours ;
| third, direct fire kneeling, and fourth.
breaking two fours from one flank to rear.
l am positive about this, and while l do not
wish to rush into print. l will give my
name if any denial is made
1.-THE omissions were not only made, but
they were discussed in the presence of the
| J"@e ~ SNN sAS JGASOS uAihAOeOo ShAe NAAO-
| were made.n
$50, from the standpoint Of the judges
themselves" said an officer Of the Rifles last
night, 1.-The first prize should have been
awarded TO the Atlanta Rifles, for it is clear
that II the two omissions Of Capt. Spencer
reduced their percentage only one point be-
low that of the Southern Cadets, the four
omissions of Capt. Sims would have brought
down the percentage of his company far
below that of the Rifes-giving them the
first prize. The inference therefore Is ire
sistible that the judges, in the light of their
own admissions. awarded the first prize to
a company which, in their own Judgment,
made twice as many omissions as the lat
lanta Rifles, which they stated had put up
a better drill than the Southern Cadets.
Here, thea, is the plainest possible proof
that the Atlanta Rifles were robbed of the
| first prize, not mere assertion, not wild
passion, but an unvarnished demonstration
that the judges at the Jacksonville drill,
under color of false authority, knowingly
and willfully ordered $4,000 TO be paid to
the Southern Cadets, which the Atlanta
Rifles had fairly and squarely won. not only
10 the opinion of all who witnessed the con-
test--not only in the opinion of the Jack
sonville papers of the morning before the
decision-but even in the judgment of the
| judges themselves