Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-01
The NATIONAL GUARD
Great Interest Taken in the Matter
Of Competitive Drills.
THREE CONTESTS NOW IN PROSPECT
One Under the Auspices Of the
Corcoran Cadets.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST

The competitive drill fever has taken
hrm hold upon the District of Columbia Ma
toral Guard, and the neighboring state of
virginia has not escaped the clutches of the
contagion. Since the announcement of the
success of the National Fencibles and the
Emmett Guard at the interstate drill and en-
campmenr held at Little Rock Ark from
July to July last. the majority of the
members of Gen. Ordway's brigade have
been wrought up to a high pitch thereby.
Drill has been the principal topic of con-
versation at the various armories and the
Corcoran Cadet Corps. Morton Cadets Ord
way Rifles. Campbell Light Infantry, CO.
lumbar Zouaves and light battery in ad-
dition to the Fencibes and the Emmets,
have announced their intention of attending
and participating in the next interstate
competition Enthusiasm has been uniim-
tied, and the talk has been the means of
greatly increasing the membership of sew
eral of the organizations referred to.
a Trio of Competitive Drills.
During the past week interest in the visit
of the local rifiemen TO Sea Girt, N. j., has
been divided with conjecture in regard to
trio of competitive drills proposed to be
held in this vicinity within tine next two
months. 1t was thought for some weeks
that the Fencibles would jaunt to St. Louis
In October for the purpose of bringing back
TO W aShlnStOn and the Fenc1Dle treasury
prize of several thousands of dollars, Of
fered in a drill to be held under the aus
pieces of the ST. Louis Fair Association. 1t
has been almost impossible, however, to
secure any information in regard to the
event, and the trip has been abandoned.
But three drills a certainty-one in this
city, one at Alexander island, just across
the Potomac river. and one in Richmond.
all booked to occur within three weeks or
September 20 next.
The local drill is undoubtedly of most in
he nf-r rfa arfs nllr n
idea is a novel Cre 1t is being arranged
and will be held under the auspices of COM
pany y. second battalion, the popular Cor
coran Cadet Corps. The National Base
Ball Park at the head of 9TH street. is to
be the scene of the friendly conflicts. and
the time selected is early in October. There
will be a drill for infantry companies, each
company to consist of one captain, TWO
heutenants, five sergeants and thirty-two
men in line, comprising four sets of fours,
double rank The first prize will hand
some silver trophy, valued at slO. while
the Sc .ond best organization will be re-
warded with handsome silk flag. valued
at SO diamond medal, worth $50. VIII
become the property of the winner of an in
Gividual drill.
in the way of athletic contests quarter
mile run, for National Guardsmen only.
equipped in eavy marching order, has been
arranged. The prize is gold medal. Then
there will be cutting at heads, open to any
member of the cavalry or artillery, the
rider to furnish his own horse. Prize, gold
medal. A bicycle obstacle race. open only
to members Of the d. C. N. G. Bicycle
Corps, equipped in heavy marching order,
for a gold medal or a bicycle suit, winds up
the list of events.
The Local Regulations.
The drill and contests are open to any
National Guard company in the states of
Virginia and Maryland and the District OF
Columbia. The drill will be in strict &C
cordance with the United States drill reg
ulations. and the judges are to be officers
of the United States army, selected by Gen.
Ordway. They will prepare all drill pro-
grams. In all events there must be two
or more entries, or prize. II there should
be two more companies enter the In
fantry drill which have heretofore won
prizes there will be two distinct programs
Interstate and maiden-but this will not
prevent any maiden companies from entity
to both drills. The interstate program Will
be given to the captains thirty minutes be-
fore the drill of their companies; the pro-
gram for the maiden drill Will be given ten
days in advance. Should there be only one
class of entries the program Will be given
out five days in advance.
Members of companies will not be permit
ted to witness the drills of other compa-
MES prior to their own, in their class. The
program will be such as to allow each COM
pany thirty minutes credit given for time
saved There will be no inspections.
The committee in charge of the affair
comprises Capt. E. c. Edwards. chairman;
Corp. F. E. Gibson. treasurer; Private
Joseph Gunnell. secretary, and Lieut.. c.
A. Meyer. Sergt L. Prosise. Sergt W. f.
Thompson and Sergt. c. W. Matthews.
These gentlemen win cheerfuliy furnish
any Information that may be desired.
At Alexander Island.
The Grange Camp Association Of North
ern Virginia, which will hold a grange
camp exposition and agricultural fair at
Alexander Island, September 10 to 81. in
elusive. announces two grand military drills
to be held on the fair grounds. September
20 and u. The War Department, SO says
the association. has designated Capt. Jas.
NJ Bell. seventh cavalry; Lieut.. NJ. F.
Steele. eighth cavalry, and Lieut. Alex.
j. Perry, ninth cavalry, to act as Judges.
The first day the drill will be open to Vir-
einia troops only. when the first prize will
second day. Maryland. Virginia. West Vir-
ginia and the District of Columbia troops
are eligible to entry for purse of $500.
Should the latter prize be won by either
of the Virginia companies successful in
the first drill the purse will be divided
the successful company receiving 500 and
the second and third companies similar
amount The rules under which the drill
will be held as to organization equipment.
ETC. Will be as contained in the drill regu-
lationS. L. :. A, 1891.
Although nothing definite is known c,n
corning the Richmond drill, 1t is understood
that 1t will occur early in October. In con-
Junction with an agricultural fair and that
the first prize will be 500
ihe possibility of winning three prizes al
most at the same time. makes it worth the
while OF any company to go into active
training, and even the champion National
Fenctbles are seriously considering the ad-
visibility of entering the competitions The
Morton Cadets are wide awake and will hold
meeting on Monday evening to discuss
the situation. while Capt. Edwards has
notihed the members of the Corco-an Cadet
Corps that he Will select his drill team on
Tuesday evening At least half dozen
other companies. including the Emmett
Guard. are expected to fall i'm line and
strive fO- glory and cash on the drill fields
The enthusiasm and liveiiness now appar-
ent in District National Guard circles has
seldom been more noticeable
The Next Interstate Drill.
In regard to the next Interstate drill and
ercaunprdent, both Indianapolis and Men,
y}lis have been mentioned as probable loca-
lions. Capt Kyle of the famous Chickasaw
Guards Of Memphis. in a communication to
The Star. says:
II cannot. as yet. give you anything def
mite in regard to the drill being held here
1t is usuai with our commercial bodies to
give some sort of crowd gatherer' In the
spring or summer of every year. This usual