The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-04-03
Manning Guards Prize Drill.

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An animated scene presented itself last
Saturday afternoon on the court house
square, the occasion being the quarterly
prize drill Of the Manning Guards. On
the court house portico was great many
beautiful ladies, and on the green was
number Of war veterans and other citizens
besides lot of children whose parents
sent them out to encourage the boys.
A little after four o'clock the rattle of the
drum calling the Guards to assemble at
their armory was heard, and shortly after
they made their appearance. Every man S
face indicated desire to capture the beau
tiful prize, and as they marched into the
square the eyes of the ladies glistened with
admiration. No doubt the boys appreci-
ated the admiring gances of the ladies and
each fellow promised himself to do his
very best.
Capt. Davis put the boys through drill!
in the field movements before beginning
the contest, and the Improvement was easl-
ly marked. They executed each command
with the precision of trained soldiers. and
some of the wheels were perfect and when
the company came marching up to the
| front of the court house at company tront
the line was perfectly straight and each
foot struck the ground with machlne-like
precision, The Captain halted the compa-
nv in front of the court house and put
them Gin place rest" After few minutes
he announced that Lieutenants Davis, Rid
gill, and Kelly would act as judges. The
men were then numbered from one to thlr-
ty and the contest entered into, with the
following result:
First round Lowder, Francis, Stukes,
Tmmons. Gardner, J. F. Bradham, John
son, and Brunson were retired.
Second round, r. Bradhat, Abe Rawlin-
son, Geo. Bradhan, Mcleod, Jones, and
j. Rawinson, fell to the rear.
Third round, Chas. Ridgill, Jayroe. Ma
honey, J. johnson, and Smith joined their
unfortunate comrades.
The contest by this time was exciting
and the remaining boys seemed to realize
that hard struggle was before them. On
they went with the fourth round executing
the commands and it was difficult tor the
spectators to discover mistakes. but af-
ter considerable time the watchful eyes Of
the judges announced that w. W. Johnson,
Frank Rawlinson, Jordan, and Joe Lewis
were no longer in it.
Then came the fifth round which was
still more exciting. These boys showed a
determination to give the remaining ones
9 hard fight. and they did it, too. Com
mand after command was executed, but the
seven boys now in line he'd on with q
death-like grip. Fisally. however, June
and Willie Johnson misunderstood COM
mand which caused them to throw up the
sponge.
The sixth round was brilliant one. The
four boys held the attention Of the spectators
for long time. and many q veteran stood
by with his eyes beaming with delight as
he watched the systematic movements OF
the boys. Finally Tom Tsdale was sent to
condole with those that went before.
In the seventh round Willie Davis,
although having showed himself to be we'll
drilled, thoughtlessiy cast his eye towards
the court house poltico. and in trying to
return a smile Of approval from one OF the
fair ones, let his gun slip. and away be
went.
Then came the last and most exciting
round. Sergeant Lewis and Willie Young;
both have reason to be proud of the way
they executed the manuel of arms. Their
movements were not only precise, but
graceful, and it will not take them long to
reckon themselves among the best drilled
in the State; in fact, neither of them need
be ashamed te enter State contest. Capt.
Davis knew what they could do and also
knew how evenly they were matched, ac-
cordingly notified them to look oct for
catch commands, but his catch commands
did not throw them. Finally he gave the
command to "kneel firing" and it being
by the numbers. Young, thinking it was
without the numbers, made mistake, and
Of course left his comrade Lewis the victor.
Captain Davis then drew his men in line
and invited Major Levi to present the
prize Maj. Levi stepped forward and
said to the boys that he had been requested
to make the presentation but few min
utes before; tnst before presenting the
prize he desired to compliment the Man
ming Guards upon the excellent showing
exhibited; that they deserve great credit
when it is considered the short time they
have been drilling; they have shown that
by strict attention and work, greater perfec-
ton can be accomplished in both the field
movements and the manual of arms. Con-
t,nuing he said, to make your company a
success, cooperation is necessary You
must obey the commands Of your officers
and work with them. Sergeant Lewis, I
have been assigned ,he pleasant task OF
presenting you with this beautiful prize,
and caution you to look we'll to the laurels
you have won to-day, as your comrades
have the laudable ambition to take it from
you. It is no little honor to wear badge
which IS to distinguish you as the best
drilled man in this company, and you
should feel proud to be thus distinguished,
especially so, after having gone through
such contest as you have to-day with so
many of your comrades so well drilled, and
in pinning this emblem of your success
upon your coat I admonish you that the
duty of soldier is not only to win prize
but to hold it after it is won.
After the applause had subsided which
followed Maj. Lewis remarks, Captain Davis
announced that Sergeant Lewis had chal-
lenged the Eeutenants to contest for the
same prize. Then the audience were again
treated to some more fine drilling. Lieu
tenants Davis, Rdgill, and Kelly came to
the from, and took their places beside the
victorious Lewis. who. flushed with victory
and with his prize pinned on his coat,
showed that he had no idea of letting his
comrades take away his glory so freshly
won. The commands of the Captain were
given with rapidity, and they were executed
with the same promptness, but like the
former rounds somebody had to be dropped
and this fell to the lot of Ridgill first, next
went Kelly, and finally, after another round
of well executed commands, Davis left
Lewis standing as the invincible conqueror
in the second prize drill of the Manning
Guards.
Captain Davis can with grace feel proud
Of the achievements of the Manning Guards.
and as he continues giving these public ey-
hibitions he can rest asured that he is not
only bringing his men nearer to perfection
but that be is giving the ladies and all of
Us an entertainment which is highly appre-
ciated.