Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-13
Thurston Rifles Notified to Give Up
Their Trophy.
GEN. MABRY'UCAUSqIC COMMUNICATION
Neeley Rifles in an Unpleasant Pro-
dicament.
MORTONS ARE HARD AT WORK
Special From q staff Correspondent.

military company of the United States" Of
ficially bestowed, and, in spite Of the pro-
tests of the National Fencibles and the
Thurston Rifles, it is practically a certain
ty that the Morton Cadets will return to
Washington the lawful holders of the Gal
weston cup, although not in actual possess
sion thereof.
When the drill association late yesterday
afternoon read notification from Adjutant
General Mabry of Texas, the custodian of
the cup, that he had officially declared the
cup fo rfeited by the Thurstons, the Mortons
were naturally much pleased, although the.
entire command, from Capt Shilling down,
are greatly disappointed that the Oglethorp
Infantry Of Augusta Is the only company
that must be bested.
That the Mortons> will win hands down
no one for a moment has doubted since the
initial exhibition drill of the team here, and
the opinion was strengthened when the
Oglethorps took the field for practice. The
competitors lined up, side by side. at dress
parade last evening, and to be unreServed-
ly truthful, there is absolutely no ground
for comparison between the two.
Nevertheless, the Mortons will continue
to work as though competing against a full
list Of rivals, and, of course, will unhesi-
tatlngly accept everything in the way of
prizes that may be awarded the company
Friday.
Adjutant General Mabry means business,
and from the careful manner in which he
has conducted every detail of the cup diff
fculty, is no doubt, prepared to recover
the trophy from the Thurston Rifles, by
resorting to law, if necessary.
In closing an exceedingly cauStic COM
munication to Capt Foye General Mabry
said: Il inclose copy Of circular requiring
the surrender Of the cup to me. l also
incloSe for your Information a printed slip,
being copy of correspondence which has
recently passed between the National Fen
cibles and myself, which answers fully
some points raised by yourself in endeav-
oring to evade the responsibility for fail
ure of the Thurston Rifles to contest for
the cup at Savannah"
The action of General Mabry means that
Independent companies are forever barred
fl ON competition for the cup, unless
United States court overrules his action, and
therefore the circular is of decided interest.
In it General Mabry states: "'rhe Thurston
Rifles Of Omaha, Neb., now holders of the
Galveston semi-centennial championship
cup, forfeit their possession of said cup
der paragraph OF the rules governing the
possession of the said cup by their refusal
to be present at Savannah, Ca, and contest
for Its possession at the interstate drill to
be held in that city May 11-16, 1896, as re-
quired by circular from the adjutant general
of the state of Texas, dated April Z, 1896.
by virtue of para graph of the same
rules, vesting the adj1tant general of the
state OF Texas with power and authority to
obtain possession of the cup whenever the
stipulated rules have, in his opinion been
violated. etc, 1t is hereby ordered that the
Galveston semi-centennial CHAMPIONSHIPS
cup be surrendered to the undersigned as
trustee. to be delivered to the management
Of the interstate drill at Savannah to be
competed for and delivered in accordance
with rules governing it's possession The
circular of April I, 1885, placing the said cup
Ior competition at the interstate drill at
Savannah. Ga, is hereby reaf1irmed, ard
the company winning the same will be
known as the champion military organiza-
ton of the United States and entitled to the
possession "a
Inc Ihurstons will undoubtedly, decline to
surrender the cup, as ordered, so the next
scene In the long-drawn-olt drama will
probably be in the courts.
In the meanwhile the Mortens will I'M
less something as unexpected as an earth
quake occurs, return home and patiently
wait for the trustee of the cup and the drill
management to secure the trophy and for
ward it to 446 l. street
Carried Arms Illegally,
An incident occurred in connection with
the zouave contest late yesterday after
noon. Both the Neeleys of Memphis and
the Auroras of Aurora, ILL.,, were inspected
In the morning, and at o'clock reported at
the drill ground to face the judges, and an
immense throng assembled to witness the
unique strife for prizes.
"A telegram was received by the drill as
ISOLATION from Adjutant General Kell of
georgia, stationed at Atlanta, ten minutes
before the commencement of the drill ask
ing II the Neeleys were in Savannah and
stating that the governor had denied the
organization permission to bear arms in the
state.
A meeting of the association was imme-
diately called. the governor notified of the
condition OF things and request wired that
the Neeleys be granted the necessary per-
mission.
To this came reply that the Neeleys are
not enlisted in the service of the state of
tennessee. that they were refused permis-
sion to leave their home state armed and
equipped, and therefore the necessary au-
thority to enter Georgia was denied them
Nevertheless they journeyed to Savannah
The telegram closed with: you will pre-
vent the Medley Zouaves from participating
In the drill and take them from the contest
instanter."
Thereupon the order was obeyed. Capt
Deffrey ordered his men to lay aside their
rlnes and the spectators were disappointed.
A representative of the Zouaves, with an
attorney, was dispatched to Atlanta to set
forth to the governor that every Neeley IS
enlisted in the service of the state of Ten
nessee as deputy sheriff, and therefore
the organization comes under the require
n.ent state troops" 1t will also be claim
ed that the Aurora Zouaves are not a state
company.
The dispute is one to be settled by the
governor of Georgia. If the Neeleys win
their point the zouave contest will occur
later In the week. 1t is the opinion of the
Washington contingent, however, that the
AuroraS are noticeably superior to the
Neeleys, and that the well-known men
from Memphis would unquestionably be
bested should the contest occur.
At the request of the management The
Morton Cadets gave an exhibition drill to
take the place Of the zouave contest When
lie down" was executed and the forty
black-uniformed guardsmen sank into sew
eral inches Of dust as one man, the house.
or rather grand stand-literally came down.
The applause during the drill was contin-
uous.
AT dress parade the Mt Pleasant Field
Band again attracted the greater portion
OF attention. The firm hold which these
gaily attired and well-disciplined youngs-
sters and the Morton Cadets have secured
on the hearts Of the local populace is I'M
precedented. The musicians have their
hands full, however being constantly en-
gagged from am. until II pm.
Preparing for Inspection.
Because of the inspection this morning,
Capt. Shilling declined to allow any of his
men to leave camp last evening, and by
o'clock every Morton was supposed to be
wrapped in blankets and slumber. All
were astir at daylight, unpacking white
trousers, collars and gloves. unlocking and
cleaning rifles and accouterments and 9TH
RI ror1,