The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-12
THE GOVERNORS GUARD.
CAPTAIN RoBERDEAU THE COOL
EST CAPTAIN ON THE FIELD.
The Boys Step and Drill Like Old Crack
Companies Companies En-
tered for the Maiden Drill and
the Zouave Prize,

LITTLE Rock, July 6.-Today was
Veterans day at camp Van Etten, the
blue and the gray mingling in frater-
nal union and marching together,
sometimes to the tune of Dixie and
sometimes to the tune of Yankee
Doodle. The veterans all wore badges
especially ordered for the OCCASION
Over 5000 people were in the grounds
during the day. A grand barbecue
for the veterans attested the skill OF
Commissary Martin. The remain
der of the competing companies
drilled during the day and
at division review the troops
passed in grand review before Hon.
Clay Sloane, vino acted in the place OF
Governor Fishback, and Brigadier
General Taylor and staff. The state
troops were unable to participate in
the parade or review, having been
called to Barring Cross to protect the
Cannon Ball again in getting north.
The companies who drilled today We're
the Emmett Guards of Washington for
the maiden class, Governors Guard of
Austin for the maiden class, Helena
Guards for the maiden, indianapolis
Light Artillery, Sealey Rifles for the
interstate and the Chicago and Hale
Zouaves for the zouave prize. The
Emmett Guards and Helena Guards
were contestants for the maiden prizes
the Sealey Rifles were contestants for
the big prize and the Chicago and
Hale Zouave companies were inspected
this morning. The Emmett Guards
stood a splendid inspection. The
Helena Guards were on duty at Barring
Cross until 5 a, NJ, and stood a good
inspection under the circumstances,
and the Sealeys also passed good in
spection, The Hale Zouaves passed an
almost perfect inspection, as dld also
the Chicago Zouaves.
At II O'Clock the Emmetts marched
on the parade grounds for their sec
ond drill, having drilled the afternoon
before the interstate prize, Ehe com
pany did not put up nearly as good
drill as it did the previous day The
manual was ragged, more individual
errors were made and the Arguments
were bad at times. However, the
drilled very we'll and stands
a good show for the maiden prize
The Governors Guards OF Austin
drilled for the second time this after
noon, having drilled for the interstate
prize on Tuesday. The company was
on Thursday, but owing to
delays occasioned by rain did not drill
until today. The Austin company, as
on Tuesday, put up a good company
drill. The company has never before
in a competitive drill, but
the boys step and drill like the older
crack companies and never get rat
tied. Captain Roberdeau keeps his
head remarkably well and is one of
the coolest captains in the camp. The
elbows were raised in dressing and
cartridge boxes opened in loading.
However, Captain Roberdeau finished
his program in good time, as he did in
his previous drill, making about the
best time of any of the maiden cap
tains,
The Helena Guards, the third state
to drill for the maiden prize,
was the second company to drill in the
afternoon and the company put up
very creditable drill. The manual was
fairly we'll executed and the field
were splendid. There
were quite a number of individual
L fl,n ill
'aised in dressing. Captain HarSraves
finished his program in good time.
The indianapolis Light Artillery was
ipplauded as it marched onl
jhe drill grounds and its
Irill was splendid. The pros
gram is an exceedingly long and diff
cult one and was eXcellently executed.
1t is claimed by some that it is not |
rood tactics to roll wheel by the hub |
over rough ground as the Indianapolis
did, but the judges will de-
tide whether the ground is rough or
lot.
The company put up splendid .
lrll and executed the program in 30
The score between the Dali
as and Indianapolis company will be
yery close. One of the artillery team
vas overcome by heat aud had to be
.arried from the drill grounds,
substitute taking his place.
Promptly at the hour of 3:15 o'clock
Captain Lechmann marched his com.
oany of Zouave champions on the drill
ground and was greeted by a gener.
,us wave of applause from the grand
tand and the spectators gathered
bout the field. The Zouaves were
preceded by their sponsor, Miss
" ZeiseI, her maids Misses BERTHE
stiffG, Flora Zeisel, Helen Wolf and
Mrs. s. B. Hirsnh,
u stylish turnout gaily