Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06
Return Of Gen. Ordwss and the
Armory Building Management.
GOSSIP ABOUT TEE MEllHg DRILL
What is Going on Among the Va
~
rious Companies.
TEs OF INTEREST

Brig. zen. AlD6rt OTuWdy,
the District of Columbia militia, will be
home early in the coming week, after a
brief absence in Europe. His coming Is
looked upon as likely to put an end to the
causes for complaint at the new National
Guard Armory. The light Is injuriously
dim and the heat is entirely absent. The
guardsmen assemble in the evenings,
strain their eyes, shiver and grumble, but
no effort has been made to better the con-
dition Of affairs. - 80.
The lease covering the National Guard
Armory is for ten years, and the dis
gruntled soldiers claim thatsat the end of
that period the structure and ground will
be more than paid for by she sum turned
over for rent, In view of these facts it Is
not extravagant to ask. so the soldiers
claim, a proper service Of heat and light,
and even the erection of fire escapes.
During the week the janttors have been
uttering loud walls of woe because no pro-
vision is apparent at the armory for draw
ing water, except through the fixtures OF
the washstaLds in the toilet rooms This
drawback entails q great expenditure of
additional labor on the part Of those whose
duty 1t is to keep the interior of the
structure in order. There Is prospect that
q fireman will soon be employed to>assist
amounts to nothing more than a proba-
bility. - -.
In the RIM Gallery.
1t was enormously stated In The Star
Saturday last that team of twenty men
from company B, sixth battalion. would
shoot a match with a team Of similar size
from the engineer battalion. Friday, April
20. The fact in the case Is that a team
from the sixth battalion. OF which organi-
cation company B is one-fourth, will shoot
a match with the engineer team on the
date mentioned.
With reference to the explanation of
troop A as to its failure te appear In the
rifle gallery for ordered practice several
weeks ago, which was criticised in The
STAR Capt Barbour states at length the
reasons for the absence of his command on
the occasion referred to. Capt. Barbour
declares that the armory was in an I'M
finished condition. the light and heat were
door of the auartermaster's store room
insecure. Therefore, 1t was deemed mad
vfsable by the troop to unpack the uni
forms and other property, which would
fore 1t was impossible to report the troop
In the gallery in Uniform, .as,fsquired by
existing orders. go"
The Lemon Riii,eas.,
Company B, third battalion. Capt. Leon
ard H. Mattingly. which was formed in
February. 1894. has at last; adopted a dis
tilctive name. The organization has been
carefully considering the matter for over
year. and has decided that, the company
shall be known outside of National Guard
circles as the George E. Lemon Rifles"
in honor Of Capt George E. Lemon. we'll
Lemon has heretofore aided TIE company
financially, providing them With full dress
National Guard uniforms. The quarters of
the company have been handsomely fur
mshed. and the organization is in a
fiorrishing condition CaptJ Mattingly and
lis men have recently takem several road
marches, carrying full field equipment and
pi eparing their own subsistence: Another
is to be carriedlout about May 30.
Athletics mt Mensphfs.
The athletic young men Of Memphis are
bestfrring themselves over the prospect of
holding an athletic meeting during the big
encampment in May. 1t is proposed to ap-
point one day during the drill for athletic
competitions among the approved amateurs
of the city and any who may be members
Of the visiting companies. 1t is well
known that there is great interest in the
east among military organizations in ath-
letic matters. and the annual competitions
Of the famous seventh regiment Of New
York are looked forward to by every adj
mirer In Gotham of these contests. A
number Of promising athletes are members
Of the Washington companies, and no
doubt they would enter and carry Off
prizes In such contest as \ is contem-
plated will be held at Memphis. The drill
81 ound. Montgomery Park. Is said to be
an ideal place for an athletic contest, the
promoters claiming that the roomy track,
the spacious lawn and the bracing air
Vould insure the best of sports
The drill committee is using its utmost
endeavor to secure the attendance of a
government military band during the drill.
1t Is also hoped to secure number of gov
or he
they In connection with the Tennessee Ma
tional Guard and the visiting organizations
would make the affair the largest of its
kind ever held In the south. Invitations to
he present have been extended to President
Cleveland ana cabinet, the governors of all
the states, number of ex-confederate
generals. several federal generals, ex-
President Harrison, William Mckinley and
Thomas B. Reed.
Will Attend the Drill.
The Belknap Rifles of San Antonio, Tex,
the first holder of the Galveston cup, has
decided to attend the Memphis drill, and
that means the company which beats them
must make superior showing indeed.
The Chickasaw Guards of Memphis, the
company which challenged the Fencibles,
Is drilling nightly with over fifty men, and
all Memphis is taking a lively interest in
the progress of the organizations. The Gov
ernor's Guards of Memphis have publicly
announced that they are anxious to tackle
the Emmett Guard of this city, while the
Chicks" will take the Fencibles In tow.
The fourth regiment of Maryland, which
has been considering a proposition to go to
Memphis, has decided not to take the trip
on account of the great cost
The Chickasaw Guards is the first COM
pany to select a sponsor, they having nam
ed Miss Mary N. Mallory to look after
their social interests during the drill The
sponsors for the Washington companies
will be chosen by the management after
formal entry has been made.
Notes.
Privates Hubert Young and WI Brainard
Appleby Of company D. third Abattalion,
and Private Albert Marks Dr. cdhpany B.
third battalion, have passed the battalion
board of examination, and been recon-
mended for appointment as corp9rals.
The medal offered by company "A, second
battalion, TO the member making the high
est score each month at ordered ,rifle prac-
tice, was won Monday last by Sergt. w. E.
Thompson. who scored 40. Capt +. c.
Edwards was second with A. The winner
is entitled to wear the medal until the next
appearance of the company in the gallery.
Company A, second battalion has for
tad net +Io <,Ih of