Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-23
Some Needs in the Armory Building
to Be Supplied.
CURRENT GOSSIP ABOUT TEE DRILL
The Plans Of Troop A and Instruc
ton in Guard Duty.
NOTES OF INTERES T

|
purchase several knotted ropes SO that in
case of fire at the new armory building of
| the District of Columbia National Guard
persons on the upper floors might have
chance for their lives, is but evidence of the
| general feeling the subject. There Is 10
| question but the structure would make
most willing fuel Should flames once take
hold. Despite this fact not fire escape or
a standpipe has been provided.
| However, there will be change for the
| better in the course of few weeks Shortly
| before Congress adjourned the Commits
soners had prepared an amendment to the
present fire escape law. The amendment
| passed both houses and will go into effect
| April 2. The new law will necessitate the
| erection of fire escapes and standpipes at
the armory building. The failure or neglect
| after thirty days notice, of the owner, to
| provide fire escapes as required shall render
him liable to a fine of not less than $50 nor
| more than $1OO for each day he shall fail
| to provide the same. In cases of default
| the Commissioners are empowered to erect
| fire escapes and assess the cost thereof as
| tax against the building. The law also
| provides that the owner of the building is
| liable to an action for damages in case of
| death or personal injury resulting from
| fire in building not provided with fire
| escapes as required by law.
Had 1t not been for a number of candles
procured by individuals the armory build
ing would have been in total darkness for
goooly portion Of Saturday evening last
The electric light was not turned on until
nearly 8 o'clock. Companies b and D. who
were scheduled to occupy the rifle gallery
| on that date, owing to the absence of light
until the hour mentioned, did not finish
| the ordered practice until after midnight.
during the past week, however. there has
| been marked improvement in the light
and heat supplied, and If it continues COM
plant viii soon cease.
|. The Memphis Drill.
| The visit in this city of Col. I. F. Peters,
general manager of the interstate drill and
encampment to be held at Memphis May
IL to II next, has enlightened the Wash
| ington companies On several matters per-
tanning to the competition, regarding which
they have heretofore been in the dark
| Companies will not be required to repor:
| in Memphis until the morning of Satur-
| day, May IL, and any company may be
excused by the commandment prior to May
p, although the announcement Of the win
ners is not to be made until that date.
accompanies that have never drilled in inter-
| state competitions will, according to Col.
Peters, be eligible to entry in the interstate
| class, the maiden class, and the class for
companies that have never taken a prize
at an interstate drill. This applies to the
Morton Cadets and the Hibernian Rifles.
The drill and encampment will be held in
Montgomery Park, which is distant about
| five miles from the city of Memphis. The
drill ground proper will INCLUDE portion
OF the race track, which is TO be rolled to
| billiard table slnoothness. Electric cars af-
ford rapid transit between the city and
Montgomery Park The Secretary of War
has been requested to detail three prom
inent army officers who are thoroughly ia
miliar with the present drill regulations.
with uptonS tactics and with the Zouaye
drill, whose duty 1t will be to act as judges.
The Secretary of War has also been re-
quested to detail a military band to at
tend the drill and encampmert as it is the
expressed purpose of the drill association
rot only to illustrate the highest attain
ments i'll evolutionary art, but to present
all of the ceremonies usual to such occa-
sions with the proper musical accompani-
mentS.
The Fencibles Popular.
According to the list furnished, many
companies will compete at Memphis who
were not seen at Little Rock last summer.
Among the more prominent of these are
| the Omaha Guards. the Savannah Cadets,
the Montgomery Grays and the Pugh vi
dettes, all of which Capt. Domer thinks
will make a very strong showing in the
fight for the cup. The Fencibles are highly
regarded in Tennessee, and Col Peters
says their appearance in Memphis will be
hailed with delight by military enthusiasts
who are aware that the company is COM
posed of many of the best young men in
Washington, and are, without exception,
handsome soldiers"
Word comes from Little Rock that the
Mccarthy Light Guard of Little Rock
which stood fourth in the competition last
July in that city, have been drilling every
night for several weeks past for the Mem
phis drill, and the Chickasaw Guards state
that they are sure they can wrest the cup
from the often-victorious Fencibles.
First Lieutenant Mosher of the Fencibles,
who is engaged in business in New York.
has notified the company that he will be
able to accompany the team, which has
frightened the prospects of the champions
very materially.
The Morton Cadets are bubbling over
with enthusiasm, and are going ahead at
great rate with preparation for the drill
and for their benefit entertainment Drills
are being held several times week by the
Hibernian Rifles, who intend to make a
first-class showing at Memphis, and who
also propose to give benefit entertain
ment
The utmost good nature and friendly feel
ing exists among the local companies who
irtend going to Memphis, which is in direct
contrast to the state of affairs last sum-
ner. 1t is proposed that the drill in 1896
shall be held in Jacksonville, Fla.
Troop AS Proposed March.
AS heretofore announced in The Star the
members of troop A are considerably
wrought up over proposed practice
march in July next in conjunction with the
famous troop A of New York CITY,
The local troop, in company with troop A,
went during the summer of 1892 on a prac-
tlce march to Winchester, which resulted
in much good to both organiza tions The
proposed trip in July next will consume
about fifteen days. and is expected to be
the biggest thing of its kind attempted in
this part of the country by national
guardsmen. The plans for the outing, as it
is being discussed, provide that the local
troop and troop A of New York shall each
guarantee fifty men for the trip The
horsemen will march by way of Frederick
Mt st. Mary and Hanover to Gettysburg
where they will camp for three days. Then
the march will be continued over the
mountains to Chambersburg for another
three days camp After an inspection of
the battlefield the march home will be
made by way of Hagerstown, down the
Cumberland valley to Frederick
OF course the troopers intend to go pre-
pared to lead the lives of real soldiers and
therefore will do their own cooking and
other work attendant upon life in the field
The brigade encampment of the District
of Columbia National Guard will begin at
Fort Washington about June 10, and the
cavalrymen will be unable to participate in
both outings. Therefore, Gen. Ordway will
be earnestly requested to excuse the troop
from camp on the ground that the prac-
tice march, as outlined, will prove Of great