Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-27
THE PRIZE DRILLS
Great Interest Being Taken in the
Coming Contests.
A LARGE NUMBER OF ENTRIES
Teams Practicing on the Monu-
ment Grounds Today.
THE SCHEDULE ARRANGED

Next to the proceedings of the Supreme
Lodge the prize drills hold first place of
interest in the minds of the Pythians
These drills make the most unique feature
OF the annual encampments and give rise
TO great competition and emulation among
the knights. For weeks before the biennial
gathering the crack teams of the order
drill end practice with zeal and patience, in
the hope of winning the prize for the most
accurate command, which carries with it a
great honor In Pythian circles. The pres
ent prize holder Is the Mystic Division, No.
II, Of Girard. Kansas, which won the COM
petition at Kansas City two years ago.
This team is on the field today, eager for
the chance of defending the title of cham
pion, which was won at the last encamp-
ment from a field Of eighteen competitors.
The contest this year is especially interest
ing, from the fact that the former cham
pions Of the country, the drill team of
Hastings. Mich, which held the honor for
two successive encampmentS, Is once more
in the field. This team did not enter at
Kansas City, and consequently the compe-
tition between it and the Girard drillers is
as yet an unknown quantity. All eyes GEN.
ter upon these two commands as the chief
factors in the competitions. which will be-
There are now forty-two entries for the
drills, but 1t is not expected by any means
that all of these commands will actually
compete for the prizes. At the last en-
campment there were quite as many en-
tries. but only eighteen teams went upon
the field In fact, some of the drill teams
have not yet reached Washington, and
there is always considerable dropping out
at the last moment, when the positions of
the team on the field are announced. 1t Is
expected that there will not be more than
twenty teams to drill on the four days.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day, set apart for this program.
Rules for the Drills.
The drills will take place on the field of
the Washington Base Ball Club on It'll
street extended. They will begin at about
o o'clock. or perhaps little later. and will
continue daily until about 1 o'clock. which
will give time for the grounds to be cleared
for the base ball games in the afternoon.
According to the official regulations, forty
five minutes will be the maximum of time
allowed for each division to complete the
schedule laid down for the government Of
these drills. This however. is much longer
than Is usually occupied by a proficient
team, and twenty minutes is regarded as
fair time for team drill. There will per-
hapS be from six to eight teams to drill on
each day, allowing brief intermission be-
tween each drill for the changing of COM
mands.
Inc QrtliS are governor Dy Strlct rules
which were promulgated in a general order
issued by Gen. Carnahan from Indianapolis.
The teams are required to enter the field
with twenty-four knights, two guides and
three officers. Should one of the men fall
i'll or be otherwise disabled from appearing
and no substitute be ready to take his
place the team will be disbarred from en-
try. Most of the teams have two or three
substitutes to provide for such a contin-
gency. The movements of the commands
made in QIIiCl< time and tayacuted In
the order of arrangement on the official
program. Any movement passed over with
out execution cannot be again taken up. and
will be marked zero On the tally sheet of
the judges. Although q team may march
on the grounds to music, the drills must be
executed without drum or music of any
kind.
The drills are adjudged by a committee of
army officers selected by Gen. Carnahan
These selections have not yet been made
public, and will not be announced until
Wednesday night. 1t is Gen. Carnahan's
custom to reserve the name until the last
moment. Sometime ago the Secretary Of
War furnished the major general command
ing the Uniform Rank with a number of
names Of officers whom he had permitted to
serve in this capacity, and from this list
the judges have been chosen. They will
n ark the drills on a scale of proficiency to be
agreed upon among themselves after con-
sultation with Gen. Carnahan. The prizes
for the division drills are as follows:
(And to each member of the drill team a
sir knights's jewell.
Second prize-for proficiency in drill. LOO
Third prize-f1r proficiency in drill. 1000
Fourth prize-for proficiency in drill. 800
Fifth prize-for proficiency in drill. 600
Sixth prize-for proficiency in drill. 500
Seventh prize-for proficiency in drill. 400
Eighth prize-for proficiency in drill. 800
Ninth prize-for proficiency in drill. 500. 200
Tenth prize-for proficiency in drill. 100
For best division commander, jewell. 100
In addition there is prize of 500 for the
division travelling the longest distance by
the shortest route to reach Washington.
Practicins on the Monument Grounds.
The monument grounds, on the north of
the great shaft, furnish splendid opportunl-
ties for the drill teams to practice, and there
were half a dozen commands hard at work
this morning marching and countermarch-
ing, practicing the manual of the sword,
srx....