New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-04
FIERCE BATTLE At JAN CORTLAND PARh
IT WAS ALL a SHAM. But THE SOLDIERS A.
Quilted THEMSELVES NOBLN-OrHEK
MANOEI.VREs OF TIE TROOPs.

The members OF the Nationa. Guard who have
heon making Van Cortlandt Park lively since last
Saturday returned yesterday to their armories IN
the city The air OF suppressed excitement ana
rumors OF Aigh. attack. nocturnal skirmishihg ana
desnerate surprises disappeared from the glaies
and rlens alon with the smoke OF the battle which
did at last succeed in taking place 1t was reported
At the park yesterday that the midnight marches
had not proved entirely popular with the troopers
who had gone off to bed disguised, and declared that
If they mus fight at all. they preferred 10 90 '"e
fighting By daylight.
Adiutant Hardy however, Of the 9Th Regiment
came braye.y TO the rescue and saved the day from
a completo lack Of sensation. After reveile ana
guard mount usual yesterday, the auJu'A''
ca..ed for volunteers. and got together twenty
or thirty men who prOfcssei enough VaoT 10 a''acA
the companies chartered in ;he building Of the GA
skate House. The Skate House parry was com
posed Of Companies A and II OF the list Regiment
and Company p Of the 9,h Captain John d. Wa
ION Of Company d. First Lieutenant Croker ana
Lieutenant Clayton were in charge
Great as may have been the CONSERVATION both OF
officers and men when they perceived that they
were being attacked by an enemy holding point
Of vantage on the opposite hill. they managed to
p, themselves together and say forth 70 meet the
foe Between the hill and the Skate House nestles
A shallow pond. covered with .i.y pads ana sur
rounded By thick underbrusn. Into the pond some
Of the Skate House party waded without mo-
ments hesitation; others c-a!nDered mo ""
unwieldy boats nnoored to the wharf and yet other
attachments made detours round either end. AZ
this in the teeth Of The deadly nre when nv
ceased from the party the hill. Ihat parry, now
ever, greatly in the minority ana az thc ""'''s
| advanced steadily competed at .ergth 70 con,
suit It's safety in flight. The men retreaied IN eool
order down the southern sope o. me H.. ana 'J'N
refuge in an abandoned mi. 10y the railway rdchs;
keeping up 1 return fire all the way III mo NIL
,bey enc0unt cred the opposing companies who hai
made the circuit of The pond. and the firing became
! hotter and heavier than ever.
| There nothing in the evidence gathered yes
terday TO prove that either side had shown the white
feather but Adjutant Hardys forces were com
petey overpowered by the greater hummer oi mn
| opponents After two three hours OF STUBBORN
resistance they exhibited a Nag OF truce above the
battered ramparts OF the mill, ana cipi'u.d'eu III
| correct military fashion. .---
| CAPTAIN Walton found later In the AFTERNOON
| dining with a party Of friends as unconcernedly
AZ II nothing in the word had happened re ~ =
| his men have rarely had more -uccessiu. outing
| than this last. Quartermaster-Serg \"
| Wiednan Of the OH. and Gleason OF the 1st. tried
the experiment Of feeding the men on me new
| state allowance Of IS cents head captain va, IN
saws ne thinks this Is the first attempt OF me Kind
| since the regulation adopted. two years ago
| The men themselves said they had Jared stump
| tuous.y, and had not word Of complaint 10 make.