Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-29
OUT AFTER PRIZES
Pythians Drilling Hard in the Con-
tests Today.
SOME QUICK, SNAPPY DRILLS
Scenes at the Grounds During the
Contests.
ARMY OFFICERS AS JUDGES

SKY IN the morning may give a glorious
treat OF sunshine. or IL may deluge the
earth with rain. or encioud it all day with
mist. Such a prospect was before the raI-
liant Knights Of Pythias who were 20 dr1ll
In the competitions today. The dun gray
sky OF O'Clock was grim and glowerinr At
Z. and no sign OF the future chances when
the nrst detachments OF knights began to
rach the head OF 9TH street by cable car,
can ana even some on foot. There were
scme blue caps to be seen In the vicinity OF
tne Dali grounds as early as 3 O'Clock, al
though the drills were not scheduled to be-
gin until O'Clock.
In a few minutes q division OF knight
m full uniform came marching up the
street from the cars. with plumes waving
and swords glinting. The small boys cheer
60 and the windows were filed with amas-
ed spectators. Soon there came another
array, and the grounds began to look rteht
lively. A few spectators struggled on the
stands and the blue-capped knights in
Iaugue eress Kept dropping from each cable
In the grounds the field looked bleak ana
drear The dull gray monotone OF the at
mosphere added to the unfamiliar stretch
OF rnbrokeh turf-unfamiliar because un-
tenanted by the usual active figures IN
base ball gIrb. The ''bleachers'' mad be-
gun TO I'LL up with partisans of the various
competitors. and few ladies made the
logical lottery still held on and gave no
| sign Of the ultimate drawings.
Ready for business.
At $50 small group of men In uniform
advanced into the field from the stand and
consulted on the home plate. These were
| the three army officers chosen by Gen.
Carnahan to decide upon the merits Of the
drilling teams. accompanied by two mem-
bers of his own staff detailed to assist
c. @. Woodward third artillery: Lieut..
John I. French, fourth artillery. and Lieut..
L. w. V. KEENAN,. sixth infantry.
The two p, THAN officers from he sts6
Col C. w. Travis. The latter had charge
of the score cards on which the judges were
to mark the movements and give TO each
its numerical value. the average Of which
ions. Each movement. Of which there are
eighty-one In all 10 court. n given a per-
centage by each of the three Judges tnde-
Of the others her These ,sore shees
the representatives Of Gen. Carnahsn. who
take charge OF them until the close OF the
drills Then they are to give them back
to the Judges for their computation OF the
averages. rhe prizes viii be awarded ac-
cor1ing to the arithnetical scale that these
cards show at the close.
The army officers were trim and neat In
their fatigue dress. quiet and uncommuni-
cetive. They let not a word a look es-
cape to Indicate their views on the drills,
the manuals. the probabilities or improba-
ly, Of something about TO happen and true
to their West Point discipline they attend
ed strictly to business. Lieut.. Woodward,
by virtue Of the seniority OF his commits
sion, served as the chairman OF the board
OF judges.
The First Drill.
The drills began half an hour ahead oS
time. and at $780, with the sky stin an uf-
known quantity. the first division on the
list. Ashland. No. O. OF New York city,
captained by VIM. Ladew. took the field
and began to maneuver for position down
In right field.
In a few moments the commander had hio
men in shape and brought them up the
field in a column of fours until second base
was reached. when he wheeled them into
line and reported to-the judges. One OF the
latter advanced and gave the captain q
copy OF the score card. from which 20 give
his commands. Then the first driu began
and In twenty minutes Il was all over and
the Ashland men were marching from the
field. They were nervous and seemed. TO
feel the impress OF the dull atmosphere
and the awkwardness OF being first on the
list. Occasionally their friends in the
stands cheered them. but before the drill
was half over IL was the current opinion
that the New Workers were not destined
TO spend the 81 500 that constitutes the first
prize. Several bad breaks were made that
were clearly the result Of nervousness For
instance. when the division. preparing for
the manual of the sword. deployed from the
center. three men faced the wrong way at
the word, and upon the order reverse
swords" several blades were turned in the
opposite direction to that laid down I'm the
regulations. The forward by division" was
uneven and other movements were ragged.
When the men went OF they marched
around behind the stand and drank several
gallons Of oatmeal water, while they con-
SOlel each heir afSfa
Lily Division.
In another moment a second line OF white
helmets and red plumes was to be seen Ill
ing upon the field and shifting for position.
This was Lily. No. 16. Of Radcliffe Iowa,
Captain T. S. waud, which made a splendid
drill. This division was better sized than
Its predecessor. and presented a more even
appearance. Its drill was well-nigh perfect
in every respect. especially so IN the move
ments by fours and platoons. The distance
maintained at all times was tactically cor
rect. The manual OF the sword was also
excellent and decidedly attractive and ef-
fective, the kneel being particularly good
At the conclusion OF Just twenty minutes
Captain Waud salrted the judges. formed a
cross and marched OF the field. the occu-
pants Of the bleachers cheering wildly.
Percivale, No. II.
The next division TO appear was Percivale,
No. IL, Of Mobile Ala. commanded by
Capt John d. Hagan. These sir knights
also had friends in the audience. as was at
tested by the applause which greeted their
appearance. Change step was a little rag
ged and a halt in forming line TO the left
from column OF fours was not as good as IL
might have been. Considerable unsteadi-
ness was also apparent One man persisted
in looking to the front during the dressings
by file The alignments of the platoons in
several Instances while marching In column
were not parallel After halting from right
turn, one man spoiled the appearance OF the
line by raising his hand TO his helmet. The
manual of the sword was well executed.
One man found II impossible 10 keep his left
hand from his helmet The Percivales con-
sumed just nineteen minutes In drilling the
program, and. after saluting the judges.
gave an exhibition OF well-executed fancy
movements
Wisconsin and Arkansas.
After q delay Of a few minutes. during
which the Judges took q rest and INDUCED
In cigarettes and the waiting drill teams
removed stray particles of dust from their
attire John Barr Glen Division. No. 10, OF
Eau Claire. Wis.,. Capt Con Feige. marched
into view Every member Of the division