The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-22
WANT TO KEEP BACK THE CUP.
THE THURsToN RIFLES DENY RE
CEIVING THE CHALLENGE.
The NORTON oadet. slalIed It 70 cap

The Morton Cadets Mailed IL 10 Capt.
FOye in the Presence of Witnesses
and Amdavits win he Forwarded
at Once-secretary Harmon sent
Gen. Mabry the Full Facts In the
Case-The One-Cent Rate Catching
the CrOwds-The Barnesvilie Ca
diets likely to Come.
The Thurston Rifles of Omaha, Neb..
are making another kick. and this time
vicious one. against being compelled 10
come to Savannah and defend their title
to the Galveston championship cup.
Their latest ipse dixit is that they deny
positively receiving any challenge from
the Morton Cadets of Washington, as Is
required under the rules regulating the
contests for the cup. This statement
they have communicated to Adjutant Cen
eral W. H. Mabry of Texas, who has
written to Corresponding Secretary Har-
mon asking for information with refer
ence to this matter.
The matter has been thoroughly in
vestigated. and the only conclusion that
can be arrived at is that the Thurston
Rifles are trying to back out of a situa-
ton they do not desire. The challenge
from the Morton Cadets was mailed to
them in the presence of witnesses on
March %. and was addressed to the COM
manding officer of the Thurston Rifles.
Omaha, Neb. This was done as soon as
the programme for May week was de-
About the same time telegram was
sent TO the Thurstons by Corresponding
Secretary Harmon asking If they would
accept the challenge of the Morton Ca
diets. The reply to this telegram was 10
the effect that the Thurstons were ever
ready to defend the cup and their right
to the title Of the champion military or
ganization of the United States. This in
itself shows that they were put on full
notice OF what was being done, and
letter from Capt. Foye of that company
of the date April /, shows Enthusiastically
that his company had had the matter
under consideration.
lenge was mailed to the Thurstons will
be sent at once from Washington and one
of them will go direct to Gen. Mabry
Other information on the line stated was
sent him last night, and II is believed II
will be shown to his satisfaction that
there is no reason why the cup should
not come here on the order which he has
Garrard is appointed his agent to award
Il to the winning company. Gen. Mapry
Is strongly in favor of the contest Tor
the cup taking place in Savannah during
the May week interstate drill, ana has
practically so expressed himself in the
communications which have been receiv-
of the information sent him he Will have
no hesitancy whatever in re-atfirming his
former order.
The one-cent rate in Georgia from all
points outside a radius of fifty miles has
been we'll advertised all over the state,
and every report that comes In gives prom
Use of one of the largest crowds SaVan-
nah has ever seen. The changes which
have been made in the prizes have In many
instances been in accordance with the eX-
pressed wishes of military companies and
rifle teams that wish to come, and every
day brings promise of larger numbers of
military men.
for May week last year, signihed their
intention of coming again this year, and
If they do il is Believed the Citadel
The changes in the conditions will be
advantageous. II there, is one battalion
present and an exhibition drill Is given
the first prize will be S400 and the second
$500.