Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20

plumeS, presented q striking appearance
marching to the music of the "Fencibles'
March," by Sousa, which was at that time
just springing into popularity.
After competing in a number of small
drills at fairs in this city and always COM
ing out victor, the Fencibles determined to
enter wider field, and in 1890 took jaunt
to Kansas City. Mo-, where the interstate
drill and encampment was held that year.
The trip was a considerable undertaking
for the young organization, as it was
necessary for every member to pay his
own expenses, which were not small. When
the announcement of. the winners was
made the Fencibles had second place in the
maiden class and third place in the inter-
state drill. Capt. Domer was declared to
be the best captain" of the many in at
tendance at the encampment, and Sergt.
Charles Edwin Sessford proved the best
drilled man in contest open to the world.
With four scalps dangling from it's belt the
company proudly returned to Washington
and was received amid a display of fire.
works and escorted to the armory by the
entire military of the District.
The next interstate drill occurred in In.
dianapolis, Ind. in 1891. The Fencibles at
tended, and it suff1ces to say that the ma
jority of the men wore crepe on their coat
sleeves when they reached Washington one
dismal, rainy evening and quietly moved
to the company quarters without display
of any sort. Fifth place was what the
judges at Indianapolis said, and most of
the boys to this day are wondering how
1t happened. Not daunted in the least,
however. by defeat. the Fencibles smiling
ly came to the front in the spring of 1892
and took a special train to Omaha. In
that contest they carried off first prize in
the interstate drill and with it the title of
States. The cash prize in this contest was
5000, but the Fencibles have received
only little over three-fifths of that
amount. The case is still being pushed,
H. kh@- L.
manning hundreds will be paid some time
in the future.
Winning n Big Rrixe.
Because of the worlds fair there was
no drill held in 1893, but last summer the
city of Little Rock, Ark, entertained the
citizen soldiery. The Fencibles had all
to lose and little to gain in that competi-
ton, and even after the company had ap-
peared on the field grave doubts found
lodgment in the breasts of many of the
soldiers as to the outcome. After pain
full delay half hundred companies gath
cred on the field to hear what the judges
had to say. Capt. Domer was called to the
front, handed $500 in crisp greenbacks
and informed that his command had re-
tanned the championship. The boys were
vertically wild with joy, but twenty-four
hours later were plunged into deep grief
by the death of Third Sergeant Thomas
Arthur Tomlinson, who was acting as Sec
ond lieutenant on the trip. Sergeant Tom
linson was run over and instantly killed
by a switch engine at the depot at Little
Rock and the Fencibles returned on a
funeral train to Washington instead of
taking a triumphal journey through the
southern states, as had been arranged.
Several weeks ago Capt Domer sub
mitted to the organization a proposition,
which was unanimously adopted, to enlarge
the company to a battalion of four COM
panies. The Greater Fencibles" is fast
Undertaking., the organization now num-
bering about 14O men. In the midst of the
boom came the announcement of the Mem
phis drill. followed by a challenge to drill
for the Galveston cup from the Chickasaw
received from the Branch Guards for a
proposed drill to be held in St. Louis July
to next. Although the time for hold
ing the Memphis drill was regarded by the
cially so as the brigade encampment Of
the District National Guard takes place
early in June, and the time for prepara-
ton quite brief, it was necessary that the
Fencibles should engage in the COMPETE
ton or forfeit the cup. The boys began
drilling Monday evening, March 25, and
since that time have been working each
evening. most of the time in Convention
Hall. Drilling in a closed hall three hours
every night, with the exception of Sun
days, after attending to regular business
pursuits during the day. may appear like
fun, but it most certainly is not. The very
hardest kind of work is being accomplish
ed by Capt. Domer and his men, and even
should they fail to come out at the head
of the list in the Memphis drill, nothing
but praise can be uttered for the members
of the team, who are devoting their hours
Of recreation to drilling, in order to re-
tain, if possible, the title of champions.
The commanding officer of the National
Fencibles, as Is well known to military men
throughout the country. is Capt. Charles
United States" so three boards of judges,
composed of officers of the United States
army, have declared him to be. Capt. Do
mer was born in Selingsgrove, Pa, and is
the second son of the Rev. Samuel Domer,
pastor Of st. PauPs Lutheran Church in
this CITY, The military career Of Capt Do
n err was begun in February 1881, when he
organized the National Rifles Cadets, which
body attained an enviable reputation as q