Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-08
MUSICIANS PUNISHED.
Members of the Marine Band Leave
Before an Entertainment is Over.

Members of the Marine Band Leave
Before an Entertainment is Over.
The game of Giving whist which was
played at Metzerott Hall Saturday even
ing was a most enjoyable entertainment,
and netted handsome sum for charity.
Society people regard 1t as a success in
every way, but there are those who look
upon the whole affair as in the nature of a
delusion and a snare. These are some of
the unlucky bandsmen who furnished the
music for the dances and the other fea-
lures of the evening. They played in
scenes of festive gayety. and now they
are confined to the grim precincts of bar
racks as result of what seems to have
savored slightly of insubordina,ion.
When orders Were promulgated from
headquarters directing a section Of the
Marine Band to be on hand at Metzerott
Hall to furnish The music, under the direc-
ton of Prof. Fanciulli, 1t was with the I'M
derstanding that they should play on as
long as they were needed. In point Of fact,
toward the close of the evening, but before
thu closing dance, the lights went down
for moment, and Some of the people
started to leave the hall. Fanciulh had
left his place temporarily for the purpose
of comforting with some of the leaders
with reference to the balance of the pro-
gram.
When he came back to resume leader
ship he discovered that thirteen Of the
orchestra had hurriedly packed up their
Instruments and left the hall. Only four
still remained, and these were busy get
ting ready to go. The leader ordered them
to stay, however, and the dance went on
with lesser band. The incident gave rise
to some little talk at the time, but it did
not end with that evening. When Prof.
FanculH came to make his report yester-
day he mentioned the incident of Satur-
day night, and the officer in command
looked upon it as amounting to disobe-
dience, requiring punishment.
The defense put in by the men was that
they were justified in leaving the hall, as
they thought that the lights were being
put out and the entertainment was over.
This was not a sufficient excuse under the
circumstances as it was decided that they
should have waited to be formally dis
missed by their leader. The result CT it
was that ar order has been issued re-
strcting the thirteen men to the barracks
for ten days. They are obliged to report
at the barracks every morning at o'clock
and remain until sunset in the evening
each being allowed an hour at noon for
dinner.
Prof. Fnnciullfs View.
In conversation with a Star reporter this
afternoon Prof. Fanciulli stated that, in
his opinion, all Of his men, with perhaps
one or two exceptions, acted in good faith
when they left the hall, honestly believing
that the performance was over. They were
only little over hasty. He had nothing tC
do with the infiicton of punishment, that
resting with the commanding officer of the
post In his report he mentioned the Incl
dent, and confinement to barrack bounds
followed. Prof. Fanciuli has made APP
peal for clemency for his men, and expect is
that by tomorrow their sentences Will be
RENTED. He says that what with official
receptions and private entertainments his
men have been overworked of late and he
thinks that, considering the small remuner-
alton they receive. they have been doing
extremely well. For some time past he
has been laborng, as did Sousa before him
to have salaries in the Marine Band raised
to reasonable amount and he thinks
that the incident of last Saturday evening
may serve in a way to bring up the mat
ter again.