Omaha daily bee., 1893-08-20
MEDALS FOR MILITARY MEN
Presentation of Priz,so to Winners at the
Bellevue Rife Range.
MERIT OF AN INDIAN SOLDIER REWARDED
Some Splendid sbots-cavairy Competition
Proficiency with RHle and Revolver
Society PeopteasAttended tho
AFFAIR In Large Numbers.

Along with the blare of social trumpets and
the beat of social drums the citizenry and
soldiery of Omaha and the Department of
the Platte gathered on the parade ground
at Bellevue rife range yesterday to witness
the revolver practice and presen tation of
medals to the cavalrymen who had distin-
guished themselves in their departmental
shoot.
Bellevue, in its garb Of green, never looked
more inviting than yesterday, after the rain
of the morning. The river at the foot OF the
high bluffs looked like broad band of silver
running away to the horizon, here and there
fecked with narrow bars Of sand, making
the water more like the metal which is 50
loved, and withal, despised by sections of
mankind.
There is a picturesqueness about the range
which lifts one above the dull commonplace
and makes one long that such pastoral love-
Illness might be given over to the sweet COM
muner of nature rather than to gaze upon
the relentless possibilities of war that
go on there yearly The face of the country
round about Bellevue is full of expression
undulating hills long sweeps of valley, with
foliage that has an airy grace, n sprituelle
look, and an atmosphere that is full of sun
shine These beauties in which nature has
been the great artist were enhanced yester
day by the flower of Omaha, who in grace
full summer colors completed an ensembl
perfect in every part
The Burlington yesterday ran a special
tram to the rifle range, leaving at l o'clock,
with five coaches comfortably filled with
many of Omaha's leading citizens. who at
tended, to give interest to the occasion.
Finish OF Cavalry Competition.
The guests of the camp were permitted to
see the finish of the cavalry competition, the
soldiers firing at the silhouettes which were
placed at %, 20, 15, 10 and 8 yards, the
marksmen shooting in squads of fifteen. To
the great majority of the guests it was a
novel and interesting sight, the horsemen
suggesting in their movements somewhat
the rough riders seen near Midway plai-
sance, but usually showing on the dark fig
ure of the horse and rider that they had
Their good eye" with them.
After the mounted tirings, five shots to the
right and the same number to the left, the
parade grounds assumed an ANNA ted appear
ance, waiting for the presentation of the
medals.
The band defiled from the band stand and
taking position at the head of the campus
played an enlivening quickstep, while the
squad of thirty men took position
in front of the general command
ing, John r. Brooks, Colonel Benham,
inspector of small arms practice, and the
officers of the Department of the Platte,
who in full uniform gave brilllancy to the
slowly descending afternoon sun.
Lieutenant Prince, adjutant of the camp.
then read the following order:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARr&ENr OF THE PLATTE,
OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 49, i903.-General Orders,
No. l4.-At the fifth annual cavalry compe-
tItion for the DEPARTMENTS Of the East. the
range August IA to 49,, under general order
No 4s, current series, ,headquarters OF the
department of the Platte, the following selec-
tons were made and arp Hereby announced
-. Revolver Team.