Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-19
ARE HAVING A ROYAL TINE
Thurston Rifles handsomely Entertained
Both at Memphis and Enroute
CAMP GROUND A BEAUTIFUL PLACE
NebrasKa's Companies Show Up Well in
Comparison with others Present
PromiRent Memphis Belle
Their sponsor.

The great national drill tournament,
which has been the theme of thought
and conversation among the crack
companies of the United States for
months past, is on. Companies are here
from all over the country including militia
and regulars. The city of Memphis is gayly
decorated, and everybody seems to be doing
their best to make it pleasant for the visit
ors. These are the finest days in May, and
the beautiful parks, flower gardens and
groves combined with the people in holiday
attire and humor is making the encampment
a grand success.
The Thurston rifles left Omaha last Thurs
day night at 9:10 on the Missouri Pacific in
a special Pullman car. Passenger Agent
Tom +. Godfrey and John T. Yates accom-
panied the party, and were Joined by Superin-
tendent Hennessy at Kansas City. The two
hours stop at Kansas City was spent in
| drilling on a vacant lot near the union
| depot, and the evolutions were watched with
| interest by large crowd. Captain Lichtman
| of the Hale Zouaves of Kansas City, and
| several of his members shook hands with
| the Thurstons at the depot He took the
| boys uptown, showed them Kansas City's
| famous fire team. and treated them to an
| exhibition drill of Chief Hae's great cem-
| pany that made such a fine record in London
year ago. After leaving Kansas City the
| journey to the river metropolis Of Tennessee
was made without noteworthy incident, and
| the Omaha boys were warmly welcomed
| upon their arrival at Memphis.
The camp is held at the Montgomery Park
race course, four miles east Of the city. The
! transportation facilities are excellent. Troll
ley cars in abundance, with three and four
| traflers, make easy work of handling the
immense crowds.
The camp is located on a beautiful grassy
| hn
conveniences of the location are good, and
reflect great credit upon the quartermaster
general, Major Rambaut. Good water works
system, reception tents, drill grounds and
| intelligent management form marked con-
trast to the dusty, dirty, useless encampment
at Lincoln last summer.
Major General Snowden of the Tennessee
| militia is in command of the camp. Colonel
| Peters is his assistant. and then follows a
long list Of staff ofhcers chiefs of depart
ments and aides. The place is called Camp
Schofeld and the judges of the drills are
| Lieutenants Steele Chandler and Tyson of
the regular army, all appointed by the secre-
| tary of war. Two companies of the Fifth
regular infantry, two of the Third cavalry
and battery B Of the First artillery, all in
command of Colonel Kellogg, are also here.
HANDSOME MAIDS OF HONOR.
| Each company has sponsor and two maids
| Of honor selected from among the first young
| ladies of the SOUTH The Thurstons are the
of the bellies Of Memphis. Her maids are
Miss Began of Birmingham and Miss Brans-
| ford of Nashville.
The opening exercises occurred on last
! Saturday afternoon in front of the immense
| iron grandstand at the race track. The
| different companies were drawn up in close
column, four abreast The sponsors were
first introduced and took their places in
| front of their respective companies. Then
| the column formed and marched in review
before the grandstand. AS each company
passed 1t was greeted with cheers. There is
nothing cold about Memphis or its people.
The regular cavalry and infantry presented a
| fine appearance, as they always do, and
received an ovation. The gray-haired con-
| federate veterans were enthusiastically
cheered. The Zouave companies were fine
| sight in their bright red and blue uniforms.
AS the Thurston Rifles passed the judges
| stand and the applause was progressing in
| good shape some one of lot of kids. who
had climbed on the roof commenced ringing
| the bell. 1t caught the crowd, and every one
cheered and waved handkerchiefs, and
| whether by accident or otherwise the
| Thurston boys received the loudest and most
| vociferous reception that day. Perhaps the
! popularity of Miss Oyerton had something
to do with it, but at present their interests
! are common.
The parade through the streets of the city
of Memphis occurred Monday morning Main
| street was a mass of bunting and decora-
tons and excursion trains had added to the
great crowd already in the city. The process
sion marched down through packed street
| and enthusiasm bubbled over at every step,
| drowning the music of the bands.
The Chickasaw Guards of Memphis are
| making a great success In entertaining the
visitors. They were organized in 1874 and
| in 1887 a social feature or club organization
was added which has been a great success.
They have one OF the finest armories and
club rooms in the south, elegantly furnished
and decorated with portraits Of famous
.sfS lsl,1.-t NJ tr,niA II, d fknfr
| history.
OUT ON DRESS PARADE.
The finest dress parade that has been held
SO far occurred on Monday evening. Every
company was attired in its finest dress uni
form That with the perfect drill of the
men made a sight which is seldom seen.
The parade was conducted by Colonel Kellogg
of the regular army. His strong, clear
voice could be heard by every one Of the
thousands in the grand stand and among
the troops. The sunset gun, which was
fred at the end of the parade, made all the
girls Jump The chorus Of "ohs" and little
screams was fascinating. The sight Of the
troops as seen by the spectators was grand,
but the view OF the grand stand and the
crowd by the soldiers in line was equally
great 1t was a great sea Of faces, bonnets,
ribbons, iaces and gowns of all colors of the
rainbow, all futterng and moving about.
The Thurston Rifles have as neat quarters
as there are on the grounds. The company
street is like a pTIVdtS Inc COHlpduy
flags are artistcally arranged in front Of the
officers quarters. The boys have also made
4 many friends among the different com
panies and are quite popular, They have
for neighbors the Seely Rides of Galveston.
The Seelys are a fine set Of fellows. The
National Fencibles, adjoin the Thurstons on
the south. u.T
The Morton Cadets of Washington, ID. c.,
are the youngest men on the grounds, They
are all graduates of the Washington High
school, and ex7cadets. They are formidable
competitors. Every company has piano in
its reception tent Every evening we hear
music OF all kipds--mandoins, guitars, ban
los, band concests and songs. The southern
BOYS know an endless number of darky songs.
The Thurston Rifles quartet is already fa-
nous The weather has been cool and the
evenings delightful, Camp fires blaze cheer
fully in the company streets and are sur
rounded by jolly circles of soldier boys an1
their friends. We dyerhear lots OF compli-
ments for the Thutston boys as to their fine,
manly appearance and discipline. They
average larger and steader than the other
companies This opinion came from an OH
Ger of the Fifth regular infantry in conver-
sation with citizen of Memphis. Omaha
has every reason to be proud of its Thurston
Rifles. WILLIAM GREEN.
sCHoFIELD ARRIVES AT MEMPHIS