Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-10
HOME FROM ST. LOUIS
The National Rifles Drill Team Enthusiast
tically Welcomed
With Red Fire and Rockets-Scene on
Pennsylvania Avenue-The Mt.
Pleasant Field Band.

ferent roads, but owing to some hitch in
the arrangements, they were not received
together, and all the red fire and rockets
had been buried In honor of the Rifles
when the little chaps with the drums and
flies and bugles reached the avenue. There
was a great crowd of people on the streets.
especially near the 9Th street stat.on,where
the Rifles were expected. The drill team
bad reached Alexandria at 4:3O O'Clock in
the afternoon, but, having been warned
that the town was 10 be illuminated IN
their honor. they magnanimously concluded
tc postpone the pleasure of home coming
for a few hours in order that the pyrotech-
MICS should not be wasted So for four
hours they lay over in Alexandria and
waited patiently for the darkness to arrive.
They were met at Alexandria by Mr.. Geo.
NJ. Bond the city passenger agent OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway, who took
them in charge and acted as their escort
to this city Lieut.. Evans was informed of
the death of Mrs Boyd, his mother-in-law,
and came up to the city without further
delay.
The Scene on the Avenue.
At $50 the avenue was well filled. Pr
vate McNichol of the Rifles had been very
industrious in scattering packages of red
fire and mines of colored bombs along the
broad thoroughfare. and when the first
rocket went shooting out from 9th street
a signal that the soldiers had arrived
there was a general blazing all along the
street. At the station had gathered half
dozen military companies, to act as an es-
cort to the returning heroes, and in the
waiting room and on the platform were
very many ladies wearing colored ribbons
to signify their allegiance to the Rifles.
There were no ceremonies at the depot, for
the drillerS were tired, and were eager 10
get to the armory. The parade was quick
ly formed on the avenue, in the following
order: The Victor Drum Corps, the Cor
coran Cadets, the Morton Cadets, the Hen
derson Drum Corps, the National Fen
cibles. the Old Guard, the Marine Band,
the stay-at-home members of the Rifles,
the drill team of the Rifles, Knights of
Pythias. Ordway Rifles, St. John Drum
Corps The Victor Drum Corps headed the
line at the request of Capt. Oyster.
AT 18th street the st. John Drum Corps
was ordered to place in line Immediately
in front of the drill team, in order that
the returning heroes of the occasion might
be more prominently heralded. AS the pro-
cession moved up the avenue the red hre
and the Roman candles increased their
blazes until the street was literally mass
of fame. Packets of powder had been
placed on the pavement in the line of
march, and ignited just before the head OF
the escort arrived, so that the line went
along in literal sea of flame, when seen
from above. The drummer lads OF the
Victor Corps marched stoutly through the
DlaZeS, d
entire scene. The people lined the sides of
the streets, and were forced back to form
a pathway for the passage OF the escort
with the greatest difficulty. a squad OF
mounted policemen went ahead, and po-
licemen on foot were obliged to force the
people back at every step. The members
of the drill team We're easily distinguished
by their guns being swathed IN canvas
covers and as they appeared they were
frequently cheered by the throns'
At the Armory.
The stay-at-home members of the Rifles
carried torches that burned red when light
ed, but they were extlnguished shortly after
the procession started, and We're not re-
lighted until the armory was reached.
There another burst of red fire and Roman
candles greeted the team, and the home
staying members started their torches go
ing and the space in front of the building
was a swirling mass of flame and colofed
fire. The escort was marched up to the
main hall, where lines were formed. and
after a few preiminaries Capt. Oyster
took the platform and made brief speech
of thanks to the men for their soldieriy
conduct at the drill. and for their good
work in bringing back with them greater
honors than he had hoped for them. lie
introduced Lieut.. Manson, who commanded
the drill team on the trip to and from ST.
Louis, and who was at their head during
the competition. He confessed that the oc-
casion was too much for him, and he was
only able to give what he termed feeble
expression of his thanks for the cordial
support of the people of the city. He said
that all the men who had made the trip had
returned very well satisfied with their eX-
pertinent, and had enjoyed the occasion
very much indeed. They had no COM
plants to make on any score.
Paymaster General Stanton of the army,
who was one of the charter members OF the
Rifles, congratulated the team upon the
success achieved and declared that in his
opinion the Rifles coul-. not well fail in any
enterprise in which they took part with
energy and determination.
After that there were no more speeches,
except a brief one from Capt. Oyster who
gave the order to break ranks and be
happy, and this command was obeyed with
eagerness by the soldier folks. who were
surrounded in moment by their fatr
friends The Marine Band played several
selections, and there were refreshments
served in the drill room below.
The Mt. Pleasant Drum Corps.
Nothing was lacking to make the occa-
sion perfect, except, perhaps, the presence
of the boys of the Mount Pleasant Field
Band, for whom places had been reserved.
but who had somehow been lost in the
shuttle They had shared the honors of
the { q -1pment with the Rifles, and had
taken trophies OF their excellence. They
arrived at the B. and o. station almost at
the same time that the Rifles reached the
ten in the rush of the other affair, and
there was no escort to meet them peyond
n committee consisting of Messrs. A. N.
Thompson, w. H. Hoover, Edward Engle,
George c. Harris, John MeinerS and ). w.
Smith, and the stay-at-home members or
the band. The boys marched up the avenue
at quick time, playing one OF their best
pieces of ctirring music, and when they
reached 9th street the avenue was alight
at the upper end, showing that they had
been left behind.
Director Churchill decided that 1t would
not be best to make the boys march up the
avenue under the circumstances, and he
directed them to the house of Mr.. j. ii.
Meiners, 7O1 NJ street, where feast was
spread in their honor. This was In charge
of a committee of ladies. consisting of Mrs.
A. N Thompson, Mrs. J. Fl. Meiners Mrs.
G.. c. Harris Mrs. ]. NJ. Edgar, Mrs. j. S.
Van Fleet Mrs Churchill and Mrs. Engle.
The boys brought with them souvenirs
of their visit, and were all highly pleased
with their trip. Each boy carried a minia-
ture broom while Major Chambers bore
full-fedged one. He also carried on his
baton a bunch of ribbons that siSnifed
that the organization had been awarded
first prize as the best field band at the en-
campment He had had presented to him
as we'll a silve--tipped baton. A pleasant
speech was made by Mr.. A. N. Thompson,
and then the boys retired to rest from
their long journey.