The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-20
THOSE RIFLE TROPHIES.
The Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Presented Them.
CAPTS. FORSYTH AND ROSE.
A Large Number of Military Guests Take
Part In the Festivities mt Tiliinghast's
and Speeches and Congratulations
Precede and Follow the Presenta-
tions.

Last evening, was held at Tillinghast's,
the annual reunion Of the Officers Rife
Association Of Rhode Island. The Off
GERS, together with their guests, met in
the reception rooms and it was $50
o'clock before they had all assembled.
Previous to the banquet came the busi-
ness meeting of the association, adjourned
from the regular annual election and
business meeting the evening be-
fore, when the candidates were
nominated, was held with Presi-
dent Ely in the chair. The nomna-
tions were declared acceptable to the asso-
citation. One office, that of recorder, had
not been filled and Capt. Rose was nomi-
mated but said he had not the time to
give and respectfully declined. Lieut..
Price being nominated also respectfully
declined and the selection was left to some
future time The meeting then adjourned
and short time after the members filed
down stairs where the banquet was spread
as the dining hall was in use.
When the company was seated, divine
blessing was asked by Chaplain Woolley
and the viands, were disposed of in the
most approved manner. Seated at the
tables were: His Excellency Gov. Ladd,
Lieut.. Gov Stearns, Gen. +. IL. Rhodes,
Gen. Dennis, Surgeon Gen. Budlong,
Capt. John Greer and Lieut.. Drake of the
ordnance department u. ;. A, Col. Thorn
ton, First Regiment; Col. Moran, Second
Quartermaster John Jenckes, Signal Off
Ger Rittman, Capt. Burt, aide e-de-camp on
the governors staff, Capt. William Hodg-
kinson of the Naval Reserve, Capt. Cole
man; Company ID, First Regiment; Capt.
Rose, Company b, First Regiment; Capt.
Forsythe, Capt. Brown, Capt. Thompson
Of the First Regiment, Capts. Rowland,
Sweeney, Boeher, Blunt, Capt. +. A.
Brown of the Second Regiment, Major
Warfeld. Lieut.. Conley of Warren, Lieuts.
Weaver. Brown, Mckay, Robbins, Bowen,
Minton, ex-Lieut. Col. Brown of Westerly
and number of other officers past and
present
After the banquet had been disposed of
President Ely appointed Gen. Rhodes
toastmaster, who on rising to respond
said he would delight or disappoint his
hearers by not making speech, but could
not refrain from saying few words in
commendation of the interest taken in
rifle practice, as evidenced by the excellent
scores made in the contest for the
Governors trophy. He then called upon
Gov. Ladd to respond to the toast :
Rhode Island and its Governor"
Gov. Ladd said he had taken much in
terest in the craftsmanship contest and
was sorry that the association had to fur
nish it's own range, and it was this that
a trophy to the winner of the matches.
He was glad to see that the offer was ap-
preciated and that the craftsmanship of
the association has received so great an
improvement He congratulated Capt
Forsyth in that he had won in so close n
contest so fairly and called him forward
to receive the prize, a beautiful silver cup,
which was before Gov. Ladd on the table.
Capt. Forsyth came forward and received
the trophy and responded briefly, saying
that he valued il the more because it had
been so difficult to win; il it had been
easily won he would not have priced it so
highly, even though the chief executive
was the donor.
Toastmaster, Gen. Rhodes. then called
unon Capt. Greer, of the ordinance depart
ment, United { ties Army to speak on the
arms and ammunition of the army. Cap I.
tpreer gave a very interesting account OF
the progress in the manufacture OF large
rifles and of the superiority of our guns as
proved by practical tests at Sandy Hook,
over the arms of European countries.
Lieut.. Gov. Stearns was next called
upon and he made a brief speech COM
mending the association for its work and
closed by presenting the trophy, which he
had offered as second prize, to Capt. Rose.
This trophy was beautiful Winchester
rifle of the latest improved magazine pat
tern, and would be valued by anyone as n
magnificent gift. Capt. Rose responded
in n feeling manner, showing that he APP
preciated the prize which he had won and
said he regarded the honor as very high
one.
Lieut.. Drake, u. s. N, was the next
speaker, and occupied his time with an
account of the advance in efficiency of the
militia of to-day, which was equal to that
of the standing army in some countries. :.
Gen. Dennis, Col Moran of the Second
Regiment and Col. Thornton of the First
Regiment were called upon in turn and
responded briefly. The new tactics now
coming into use in the army and militia
were mentioned and their general useful
ness as compared to the ones lately in use
was favorably commented upon.
Letters of regret were read from Col:
Honey of Newport, Senators Wilbur and
Bull, Mayor Goodwin of Pawtucket,
Mayor Pond of Woonsocket and Major
Frost of the United States Army.
The occasion was one for congratula-
tions and all enjoyed themselves to the
utmost, and at ll:45 the POSTMASTER said
he thought il was time to separate and go
to our several places of abode, so the meet
ing was adjourned.