The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-10
MIMIC WARE Are.
State Troops Massed at Bos-
ton 5000 Strong.
They Made a Grand Showing-.0ld-
Time Methods Discarded.

BOSTON, Oct. 10.-Through the mist of
strangely variable autumn morning
into the unbroken glory of an October
day, 6oo0 Massachusetts militiamen
marched. In the soft brown hats and
canvas leggings Of field uniform, with
the double rows of bright buttons on their
army oyercoats glistening like stars upon
the armament, the state defenders made a
most attractive picture.
Rapidly maneuvering, their swiftly
shifting lines among the broad avenues OF
the Back Bay district and the greenery
of the fens threw back score of colors
that arranged themselves with kaleido-
scopio harmony. Infantry, artillery, cav.
airy, naval brigade cadet corps, around
they went with the signal corps on the
towers and the men OF the red cross on
the Common--ths whole an exempliflcation
Of what volunteers can accomplish in
scientific warfare.
The main object of the day was the con-
centrating of masses into prescribed align
ment from deployment in irregular forma-
ton; in less soldierly language, the bring
ing of disciplined force to the relief OF
Boston. the performance of work in mill
tary fashion and the retirement Of the
IOrCes ds rapluly as tney came.
Tho Essentials.
The men found themselves scattered
amid the mlsts OF early morning and Bos-.
tons suburbs; the problem was TO close
upon the mob supposed to be entrenched
at the city's center. Every condition was
made as much as possible like that of
actual emergency. Having the battle line
formed upon the general alignment OF
Massachusetts, avenue, stretching through
the city, across Harvard bridge and
through Cambridge to Union square in
Somerville, there was general forward
movement TO a designated point by street
formations, squares and riot columns TO
respective regiments.
The regiments reunited, each sought its
proper brigade, and, that once formed, the
march of the consolidated division was
taken up for the heart of the city. All
the bodies north of the city reported at
Somervills, all south at the Roxbury base
ball grounds, and you have the great out
lines of the picture.
There was no burning powder or rat
tling musketry; instead, an endless FORM
ing of hollow squares, flank movements
and skirmishing. The colonel gave the
order to move forward and clear the street.
The first company of each battalion swept
ahead In double line, reaching from curb
to curb. The second company wheeled to
the left In two columns, covering the
flank; the third to the right, while the
fourth closed the square, the colonel and
his staff, with colors in the center
This done, there was the click Of trig-
gers from the flank lines to dislodge i'm
aginary rioters in seventh-story windows
Ill
cross street. the columns halted to allow
the flank lines to face about down the side
thoroughfore and fill the vista with flying
lead, while the first company poured vol
ley into the crowd ahead and the rear COM
pany faced about to make the wounded
think all hands were coming back.
On the Common.
Another square with unshlfting lines
was on the Common. Within the square
and nearly at its center Captain Myles
Standish sat astride his horse. There was
the ambulance that looked like bus.
Luggage was scattered over the grass in
firmly fastened bundles, while bedding
and camp furniture were piled up In
heap.
Half of the naval reserves were with the
land defenders. The others were in their
element, some stringing line of torpedoes
across the Charles. All Captain Weeks
other boys were olambering about the dis
patch and mortar boats, ready TO run the
most dangerous of blockades.
The signal corps, 'twlxt earth and sky,
perched on the roof corners of the state
house and private buildings, were sweep
ing the horizon. 49,
The men appeared less like marIonettes,
sawed out of plank, with their arms grown
to their bodies. Instead, there was a nat
ural swing that bids adieu to the old time
stiffness The old wheel has become
turn: the methods of halting and resum-
ing march, too, have been altered, and for
the better.
Bits of bright color abounded from the
crimson feathers of the sharpshooters to
the blue and orange arm-bars Of those
engaged in special service There were
the snowy naval reserves nicely starched
and laundered, the deep red cavalry blank
cts and the dazzling tin cups.
The schools in Cambridge were closed
TO allow the children to give the semblance
of riot, and many of the stores in Bos-
ton suspended business at noon.
The troops were reviewed by the cap
tains, the colonels and the generals, and
In the afternoon Governor Greenhalgc, the
n-chief, presided over the
grandest review of all. The parade itself
was over two miles in length, and IL was
late In the afternoon before 1t had passed
the reviewing stand at the state house.
The line presented n brilliant spectacle
The soldlerly bearing of the men brought
forth round on round Of applause from the
-. Al -. "A