The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-10
THE IRISH VOL UNTEERs.
or Course There's No Rivalry Between
Them and the Slxty.nInth ReSIment.

The Colonel" Of the Irish Volunteers was 90
ing through the regular drill OF the second battal
ion on Thursday evening. The men, althougl
mustered in only a few months ago, were full
armed and equipped with uniforms and wer
falling into the manual of carrying arms an,
tactics like veterans OF the National Guard
They are mostly solid bodied. erect of stature
and symmetrical Of build, and they marched
with solemn, determined visages and heavy bu
agile step.
This is the opposition regiment to the Sixty
ninth, - 1t not? ?" asked a tenderfoot reporter.
why do you ask that?" demanded the "Col
onel." answering a question by asking another
"Oh, it was simply an impression | had" re.
piled the tenderfoot.
well it Is not in opposition to the Sixty.
ninth nor any other. 1t is a private. indie
pendent organization, equipped by its own funds
and ready at any moment to respond to the call
Of its country"
Ireland or America ?" innocently asked tho
tenderfoot.
Tho United States and the State of New
York" returned the Colonel" In a tone that Col.
Ethan Allen might have employed at Fort Ii
conderoga-
II thought this regiment was identified with
the Irish movement" said the tenderfoot
The "Colonel's" eyes glittered. and he scrut,.
nized the tenderfoot. 1t should be stated that
hAo SoioiSA u aINOulftu III TlllnR uni
form. with bun leather riding breeches, and
was regularly booted and spurred. He wore
yellow undressed kid riding gloves and flashed
q shining steel sabre from a gold amounted scab-
bard. He did not reply Immediately to the
tenderfoot's question. but strobe out In the CEN
tire OF the floor and watched the battalion pace
down the hall in column OF fours.
Keep those pieces covered In front OF you
close up that rank there keep that Short step
nlteen lnches.' were commands which he hurled
at the advancing column in quick succession.
After tAe column passed to his satisfaction he
said
What made you ask that question p"
IL was simply another impression" replied
Well; Il !. not identified with any, Irish
m NOV am more tGfn any other: Although
they are as loyal aud devoted TO their country
as any other class OF American citizens said
the Colonel expanding his chest and elevat-
The Colonel" had tax en- the battalion ont in
the Grand Central Palace. where they usually
drilled, was occupied by the Electrical Show.
when The crowd sttPaeftsd Ri became to- '"d dense s.'f fSr
Any chance Of active practice, and ne ordered
tlte, retreat OF the battalion.
The battalion swept down the hall sixteen
swellsd AS he watched them.
- Where can you md a better body OF men
than those I" he demanded, flashing his shining
sabre IN the rays OF the electric light;
The tenderfOot was bound TO admit that tho
oatthlloh presented n stunning military APP
pearance; The volunteers march Dast Witha
business-l Ike swinging gait and dash, The drill
Was concluded with q parable, winch stirred
the blood OF the "ColOnel once more, and
the tenderfOot was obliged to praise the bat
TALON again.
The . Colonel" then said that there was no ri
VARY between his regiment and the SiNfy-ninth,
ana as q matter OF fact the membersof both were
on the most friendly erm~. and this feeling
would be encouraged, Although the Irish Vol
unteers had been Ia existence less than = year.
they had 900 members, fully armed and
equipped and ready to take the field al "A
moments notice. The officers had regular drills
In horsemAnship, and n cavalry troop ~ young
men was forming, The regiment had a signal
corps, which was being drilled by "Capt.'Quiun.