The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-16
COMPANY CS PRIZE DRILL
CORPL DRANE THE WINNER OF
TIE GOLD MEDAL.

Prize and Corpl. Graybill the Third
A Splendid CONTEST for the Com
pany's Eonors-rhe Drill Witnessed
by Crowds OF People and the Win
ners Stormed With Applause-Pres.
entation Of the Prizes.
The prize drill Of Company G Of the
Guards at Catholic Library hall last night
was brilliant event from every point of
view.
Fully 500 people witnessed the exhibition.
Every available foot OF room ia the hall
except that set apart for the company was
occupied by spectators. and the gallery was
filled beyond comfort
At 9:20 O'Clock the drum was rolled and q
moment or two later Capt. Reilly gave the
command stall in" Over fifty men stepped
into ranks and faced the large audience.
Capt Reilly put his men through short
drill in the manual, and then gave orders
for all those not entered in the prize drill to
step to the rear. All but about thirty-six
stepped back, and then the work OF the
night began in earnest
THE CONTEST on.
For ten minutes the commander drilled
the men, with and without numbers. Pri-
yate Bryant Williams was the first to step
out, followed in short order by Private Full
ton. Then the men went out so rapidly as
to make q record almost impossible. When
the order ''rest" was given about twenty-one
men were left in RANKS for Lieut.. George I.
Cam to handle. He drilled these for about
the same length Of time as Capt Reilly. He
put them through the manual with and
without numbers, alternating the commands
In rapid manner. The effect of this was
that when he brought the men to a halt but
eleven were left to battle for the prize.
Lieut.. ]. +. Cam took charge of the
squad next, and be gave his commands in a
similar manner to those of his brother.
Nine men went down before his onslaught,
aud when he commanded "restn Corpl.
Drane and Private Cunningham were the
only ones left to fight the battle.
NARROWED DOWN TO TWO.
The spectators applauded the young SOL
diers vigorously, aud many of those who
had dropped out early in the fight went up
and Congratulated the two men who were
fighting for FIRST place.
Whom Capt. Reilly stepped out to the
center of the floor few minutes later and
commanded Squad. attention. the excite
ment among the SPECTATORS, although sup
pressed, was intense. Every eye was on the
soldiers, and their movements were watched
as keenly by the spectators as the officers
who stood on either side as judges. For
four minutes Capt. Reilly drilled the two
men. They moved like machinery, and it
looked like the same power controlled the
actions OF each, so uniformly were the com
mands executed. With and without num-
bers, slow and quick, the commands were
given, but both contestants seemed impreg-
nable. When the captain commanded
REST, the big crowd applauded vigor-
ously.
STOOD SIDE BY SIDE.
The rest was Of short duration. In about
three minutes time Lieut.. George T. Cam
stepped forward and called the squad of two
to attention" for another test OF superior
ity. He consumed six minutes, and gave
bis orders in an alternating, catchy way,
but to no purpose. The first lieutenant gave
1t up, and the spectators grew more excited
and applauded long and loud. 1t looked as
If Corpl. Drane and Private Cunningham
were IN for an all night drill.
When Lieut. j. #. Cam took charge of
affairs the spectators were more excited
than ever. Many arose from their seats
and stood TO watch the contest Grim de-
termination was pictured on the counte-
naaces of the two soldiers battling for first
honor. Rapidly came the orders from
Lieut. Cam, and Private Cunningham be-
came perceptibly excited while his oppo-
nent retained the composure and GOODNESS
which had made him an object of interest
from the beginning. The loading and firing
maneuvers settled the fight.
CUNNINGHAM's FATAL ERROR.
Private Cunningham made an error in
coming to carry" after a cease firingn
order. He failed to close the chamber of
his gun. As he stepped back and left
Corpl Drane standing like a statue at a
carry arms, the crowd broke into a cheer,
mr. halls ,Ia
and, picking up the plucky corporal, car
ried him on their shoulders to the end of
the hail.
After few minutes rest Capt. Reilly Or
dered his company to again fall in after
which Corpl. Drane, Private Cunningham
| and Corpl Graybill, who was the last of
the nine 60 go down before Lieut.. J. F.
Cams first drill, were ordered to the front
and center 60 receive the rewards of their
hard work
THE PRIZES PRESENTED.
Ex-Capt. Davis Freeman of Company a
presented the prizes in an eloquent ten
minutes speech. in which he referred to the
wonderful success attained by Company C
| since Capt. Reilly assumed command.
Several years ago" he said, sit used to be
| said that Company c of the Guards was
composed of three officers and one private,
the latter from choice, in order to
keep all from being officers. To-day, how
ever, it is the strongest in the battalion in
numbers, and the peer Of both the other
companies in drill. say tins as a man
who is prond of his company. To whom
are are these great results duet To a man
| honest and plain spoken, with a heart
large enough to take you all in, and where
you can all be found. There is no necessity
to mention that mans name. Suffice to
let me congratulate you, members of Com
| pany G, on having him for your COM
mander.n Capt. Freeman then congrauu.
lated the victorious soldiers particularly
and the company in general on the fine ex-
hibition and entertainment it had furnished.
| He urged upon all the necessity Of striving
| as hard in the future as they had in the
past to become efficient in the military tao
| tics. He then presented the prizes. Corpl.
Drane. as the best drilled man, was given
| the company gold medal and $15 in gold,
Private Cunningham $40 in gold and Capt.
Graybill S. in gold.
WON THE TIN CUP.
After the prize winners had returned to
their positions Private Bryant Williams, the
| first man to drop out of ranks, was ordered
to the front and center" to get his prize as
the poorest drilled man in the company.
| Thomas s. Morgan, Jr., ESQ.,, made the
presentation speech in a humorous manner.
which Kept the crowd In an almost continual
roar of laughter. II came here tonight, y
I