The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-04
Annual rriZe Drill.

The annual prize drill Of the New
berry Rifles was held III the Opera
House on last Friday night. \ prize
drill is held annually and gold medal
given by the company IS awarded 10
the best drilled man III tie company ["
be decided by a committee, ana worn
for one year by the successful conles-
tant. The medal the past year has
been worn by W. w. Hornsby, but he
was sick this year and did not enter
the contest.
There was a good audience present to
witt ess the drill.
Twenty-one men Of the company
entered for the prize. They were COM
uandcd by Capt. McCaughrin, and tor
some time executed the various COM
mands with ease and precision. The
successful man was Prof. L. NJ. Hunter,
but he was given close race by w. A.
Fallaw, and L. +. Wright.
The committee to decide the question
was Lieut.. +. \. Darlington, Messrs.
O. L. Schumbert and R. D. Smith.
The beautiful gold medal was pre-
sented to Prof. Hunter by Rev. +. +.
McClintock who spoke in substance as
follows in making the presentation:
lam authorized by the committee to
announce that Prof. Il. NJ. Hunter IS
the successful competitor and to deliver
to him this prize. The committee was
fully competent to make the award
composed as it was of Capt. Schumpert,
Lieut.. Smith, and Lieut.. Darlington, OF
the =. S. Army. They watched every
movement Of every contestant with tie
greatest care. The competence and
carefulness of the committee makes
your prize, sir, very valuable. Inc
effort that it cost you also enhances us
value. 1t was not won without eXer-
ton; your competitors tested your
skill and thus made the prize much
more valuable than if it had been easily
won. It is your honor to wear this
badge for year as the best drilled
member Of the company.
l congratulate the company-eelHs- the
highly creditable drill Of the evening.
1t certainly reflects mitch honor on
you and your captain that you con-
tended so long and so we'll with one
who has enjoyed the extraordinary ad-
vantages OF the winner Of the prize.
Our community feels a just pride IN
you as company.
While we cherish confidence in the
government and its ability to secure
our protection and perform its other
functions through the courts and o1h-
GERS Of the peace, still the presence
among us of a volunteer soldlery great
ly increases our sense Of security. AS
a company you hold an honorable
place in the esteem Of the whole conf
munity.
The task assigned me is now per-
formed. I had no further instructions
from the committee. I will venture,
however, a word more, believing that
it does not violate the proprieties of
this occasion. Lieut.. Ernest CARING
ton is present and kindly served on the
committee to award the prize. will
say in the name Of the Newberry Rifles
and of my fellow-citizens of this town
and county, that it is matter OF just
pride to us that in the late engage
ments of the =. S. Army his courage
and gallantry kept the name OF the
South Carolina soldier in the high
place of honor that it has ever held in
the history of this country. When the
intelligence came that he was seriously
wounded every worthy son and daugh-
ter of Newberry felt for him deep per-
sonal sympathy, and when later on the
news came that, though serious, the
wound was not fatal, ,.all of US expressed
genuine relief. And this evening we
look on that wounded arm as badge
of distinction, rejecting bright honor
on Newberry, his native county.