Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-14
The Morton Cadets Put Up a Fine
Drill.
)PENING THE COMPETITION At MEMPHIS
Praise on All Sides for the Wash
ington Boys.
PROGRAM OF SOCIAL EVENTS


Special From Staff Correspondent.
CAMP SCHOFIELD, MEMPHIS, Tenn,
May 14.-In the presence of hundreds of
soldiers and thousands of civilian specta-
tors the Morton Cadets yesterday after
noon opened the competitions at the great
interstate encampment, and at the same
time made their initial appearance in a
big drill. The showing of the boys won a
cyclone Of applause and gained for Capt.
Shilling and his team the respect and ex-
pressed admiration of all Memphis The
sun beamed brightly as the Washington
lads entered the field to the tune of the
popular High School Cadets March,"
played by the Iowa State Band, and the
encouraging cries of sponsors and friends,
to try for the maiden prize, but the air
was crisp and energetic winds constantly
blew cloud Of dust over the company.
The Mortons were inspected, and also drill
ed in full dress government uniforms and
new company fatigue caps. The program
was rather long and somewhat intricate,
but Capt. Shilling experienced no difficulty
in interpreting it. The entire school of the
company of the drill regulations was COW
cred, and the youngsters drilled in cham
pionship form, their work being a revela-
ton even to those who carefully followed
the training of the team in Washington.
The inspection was concluded in eleven
minutes and the drill in forty-two minutes,
ments, credit being given for the same.
In leaving the field, the team, moving at
double time, passed before the grand stand
In company front, causing climax of APP
plause. DIR. Weaver and two substitutes
were on the field during the drill, in readi-
ness for any emergency.
The champion National Fencibles, who
witnessed the exhibition of the Mortons,
are unanimously of the opinion that the
drill was first-priZe winner in the maiden
class. A number of the veteran Chickasaw
Guards, who have engaged in the majority
of interstate competitions held since 1870,
said to The Star correspondent that the
drill of the Mortons eQualed anything ever
seen by them, and the general opinion is
that the lads are ''all right
Capt Scharff, commanding the Thurston
Rifles of Omaha, the only competitor of
the Mortons in the maiden class, admitted
to Capt. Shilling that he was feeling nerv-
Gus about the chances of his company.
The drill Of the cadets was especially cred
liable, in view of the fact that the COM
pany was obliged to spend the greater por-
ton of the morning parading several miles
through the streets Of Memphis.
The FencibIes.
After dress parade last evening Capt.
Domer maneuvered the Fencibles about the
field for some time, and even to those not
experts in matters pertaining to competi-
tive drilling it is plain that the cham
pions are almost sure to retain their hard
earned title.
The Chickasaw Guards the Mccarthy
Light Guard and the so-called Sealy Rifles,
who expect to enter the drill as company
b. Texas Coast Guard, and the other com-
panies are all drilling beautifully, but the
superiority of the Fencibles is apparent
1t is hard to discern that the companies
mentioned outclasS even the Morton Ca
diets, and the surprise would not be over
whelming If the latter should carry off
third or perhaps second prize in the con-
test for the Galveston cup
The big day of the encampment will be
Friday, when the FencibleS drill. The
Mortons also compete in class A on that
day. The Fencibles are the favorItes in
the big drill at the betting pools today,
while the Mortols are backed for first
place in class b and class c, and for
place in class A.
The Social Program.
A reception on an elaborate scale will
be rendered the Mortons by their sponsor,
Miss May Peters, this evening, at the club
house in Montgomery Park. The entire
Iowa State Band is to furnish music, and
invitations have been extended to the spon-
sors, maids of honor and commissioned
officers of the other companies in camp.
Miss 1mogene Snowden will entertain the
FencibleS at the same place Wednesday
evening Tomorrow the Mortons drill in
ton Eif1eS will endeavor to make a showing
in the maiden class, and the Governors
Guards. of Memphis are to appear in class
3. Including the local companies it Is nc
eXaggeration to say that the Fenctbles and
the Morton Cadets are the two most gen.
field, and at the present time it looks as
though only miracle could prevent prizes
in the three classes open to infantry conf
panies going to Washington. c. F. c.