The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-13
LIFE At THE PRESIDE.
The Daily Routine of Instruc-
ton Has Been Re-
Sumed.
LODGE OF PYTHIAN KNIGHTS.
Official Boards Appointed - The Sa-
gacity of Pet Animals on the
Reservation.
LODGE OF PYTHIAN KNIGHTS

The soldiers at the Preside had season
of respite from active duty in drilling from
December 20 until January 10. The
vacation ended on the latter date and
daily instruction was then resumed.
The business of the canteen at the Pre-
sidio for the six months ended December
81 last was very good. The receipts were
not quite up to the mark of the first six
months of 1895, which is easily accounted
for by the fact that two troops of cavalry
were away from the post during the sum-
mer and autumn guarding United States
reservations in the Sierra. The light ar
tillery batteries were also away on practice
marches for some time, hence the number
of men at the garrison was diminished.
The canteen system is regarded now as an
established success.
A board of officers has been convened at
the Preside for the purpose of considering
schemes of instruction for batteries of
heavy artillery. The schemes were sub
mitted by the commanding officers of the
Preside, Alcatraz Island and Fort Mason.
The board consists of Captain H. Reilly,
First Lieutenant 0. Z. Wood and First
Lieutenant w. H. Coffin, all of the Fifth
Artillery.
A board consisting OF the following
named officers has been convened for the
purpose of devising a scheme of instruc-
ton in detail for light artillery: Captain
Morris, Captain Frank Thorp and Second
Lieutenant g. G. Galley, all of the Fifth
Artillery.
Lieutenant Colonel Francis L. Guenther,
Fifth Artillery, has been appointed ar
tillery inspector, Department of California.
The appointment, made by General For
syth, is subject to the approval of the
maior-general commanding the army.
1t is expected by the friends of Colonel
Charles G.. Sawtelle, assistant quartermas-
te--general, that he Will be appointed
quartermaster-g to succeed General
r. n. Batchelder, who retires July 81 of
this year. The only agreeable thought of
General Batchelder's retirement is the
reflection that he will have time to visit
| post many years, but has not been here
| since his promotion to the head of the
quartermaster department.
Miss Overton of Los Angeles, daughter
of Captain Overton, Sixth Cavalry ire
tired) is visiting at the home of Colonel
and Mrs. Kimball, on Pacific avenue, near
the Presidio.
Lieutenant Stockle, Tenth Cavalry;
Lieutenant Littebrant, Tenth Cavalry,
and Lieutenant Schofield, Fourth Cavalry,
son of Lieutenant-General Schofeld, are in
San francisco for examination before the
DOaru LOT prOmOLlOn.
Lieutenant o. E. Hunt, Fourteenth In
fantry, Vancouver Barracks, was at the
Preside last week. He obtained leave of
absence for his wedding trip.
Lieutenant Adams has been appointed
post quartermaster at the Preside, taking
the place of Captain Sawyer, who was re-
Gently ordered to Buffalo, n. Y.
A lodge of the Knights of Pythias con-
sisting of seventy-fve excellent members
has been recruited at the Preside. 1t will
be known as Mars Lodge, and will be
organized in due form at Pythian Castle at
1880 o'clock tomorrow evening.
Soldiers at the Preside who read in The
CALL an account of the sagacity of Colonel
Graham's dos assert that for canine intel
igence the commanding officers dog is
not of high rank. The dog "Smiler," be-
longing to Troop K, Fourth Cavalry, is
said to be the most knowing specimen of
the canine tribe on the reservation. At
the first call in the morning "Smiier" is
up at one bound and instantly rushes to
every member of the troop to arouse the
sleepy soldiers. ''Smiler' is large dog
of the shepherd strain.
cat of Battery II, Fifth Artillery, is
one OF the pets OF the post. He makes it
DUTY to spring on every dog that comes
along, and all dogs, big and little, stand in
dread of the feline guardian OF the battery.
The cat does not show anger in attacking
dogs. His hair does not go up and neither
does his spine curve as signal for attack,
but when he sees a dog coming he coolly
leaves his place on the porch at the bar
racks, crouches in the grass and springs on
his canine prey with sudden precision
The private of Battery who recently
made pass at his corporal with a sword
bayonet has been tried by a court artial,
and his sentence will be made known this
week. Men of the battery who refused to
assist the corporal have had hearing.
One man who cheered the corporal's as
sailant will probably be punished.