Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-31

reputation. and entered the field at lis
full of confidence. Their drills have been
superintended by an army officer. and Capt.
s. b. Baker. who is in command, has promised
his West Virginia friends to stand high in
the final tally. He Is a fine looking. soldier
ly man, with a brisk manner. The sergeant
created a good impression by calling the
roll without a card, and turning the COM
raand over to the captain in short order.
The first movements were all done In the
immediate vicinity of the stand. which has
not heretofore been done.
Capt. Baker gave his orders without refer
ence to the score sheet. The evolutions
" ere all executed well and In good cadence.
The first break came in the movement to
a division front from column of fours. when
one man forgot himself and took false
step to the left. The platoon wheels were
splendidy executed Some of the distances,
however, were not exact. and once the d.
vision lost step.
The sword ranual was beautifully done
In exact cadence. In making one Of the
cuts. however, the helmet of one of the
men In the second platoon toppled and
would have fallen had he not caught 1t.
But the individual and team errors were
very scarce. and the drill. which was finish
ed In twenty-one minutes, was superior in
most respects. 1t looked like prize winner.
The team was vocifcrously cheered as II
left the field and the captain was warmly
congratulated on his fine work.
The next drill of the day. was given by
the Anson Division, No. 16. of Rochester.
N. Y. commanded by Capt. VIM. Steifel.
cluded inspection at 11:56. The alignment
by files backward was poorly DONE the
files making ''S's" in their effort to reach
the line.
The rest of the movements, however. were
smooth. and the men seemed to gain con-
hdence as they drilled. The first platoon
wheel was not as well done as the second.
After forming platoon columns of fours
NJ 1fato l.. Nh<,6 r{e,lA
fered in the score. Several men ran over
the line at a halt from the right turn. In
deploying the men did not all face to the
front at the command.
The Last Division.
The drill took nineteen minutes. and then
the Rochester knights were succeeded by
the last division on the days program. and
the twenty-fifth and last in the competi-
ton, Provost, No. 1, Of Kansas City, Mo-.
commanded by Capt. Jas. A. Reed. This
division took first prize in the maiden drill
at the Kansas City encampment In 1892.
and first prize in the state drills at st.
Louis last year. Ribbons denoting these
successes fioated from the two large ban
ners which were brought on the field with
the division. The inspection ended at 1925.
The division broke badly on the change
steps and lost distance in short step. One
man got clear out Of place In marching by
the flank. The fours left about from d.
vision line moved in excellent time and dis
tance. The division did spendidly In
wheeling from column Of platoons Into d.
vision line. The sword exercises were done
with no apparent errors. The drill was fln-
ished in nineteen minutes. and the men
went off the field at double quick.
The great competitive drills of 1904 were
over There have been twenty-five drill
teams on the field. and at least half . dozen
are SO closely punched that II Is next to i'm
possible to pick the winner"