The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-27
A BRIGHT MAY WEEK OUTLOOK
INCREASED INTEREST AMONG
WASHINGTON MILITARY MEN.

Mr.. w. C. Cam Gone to Washington
TO Furnish Them All Necessary In
formation and to Make Arrange
ments-The Park Fence and Grand
stand About COmpIeted-Au the
Privileges sOId-SOme Washington
Talk About the Galveston Cup.
The One-Cent Rate Catching the
People.
Mr.. w. G. Cam left yesterday for
Washington, d. c., to complete the ar
rangements with the military companies
and rifle teams of that city which will be
here to take part in the May week con-
tests. There is every indication that the
District of Columbia will be largely rep
resented, not only by the military, but as
we'll by visitors, who will come down to see
what the District of Columbia boys are
going to do.
There have been quite a number of en-
tries both for the drilling and the rife
contests, though the time for making en-
tries does not expire until May l. AS the
time draws nearer other military compa-
MES are taking the matter up, and more
interest and enthusiasm is being aroused
every day.
The Washington military keep up much
interest in the coming May week events,
and each report seems to suggest more
enthusiasm on their part. Speaking of the
rifle contests, the Post says:
Possibly because of the success Of their
teams in these recent contests, the men,
bers of Maj. Thompson's engineer COM
mand are now enthusiastically consider
ing plans to send representatives of their
corps 70 Savannah to compete for the
possession of the trophies offered rifle
men there during their May week mill
tary carnival. The greatest objection to
the entry Of Washington teams has been
that the Georgia rifemen were almost
surely the best national guard marks
men in the country, their defeats by
marksmen from other states having been
just numerous enough to make that claim
doubtful The thought of trip to SaVan-
nah Immediately before the annual ex-
cursion to Sea Grit with but little PROS
pect of bringing home the best prizes,
had nearly influenced the engineers TO
decide not to come. Just at this time,
though, came the discovery that the ex-
penses would be not nearly as great as
was at nrst supposed, and a consequent
renewal of enthusiasm concerning the
rifle competitions in the south"
According to its statement of the facts
IN connection with the Galveston cup
case, the challenge of the Morton Cadets
to the Thurston Rifles must either have
been received by that company, or entire
ly lost, because it was sent in a national
guard envelope, with instructions to re-
turn u to the Morton Cadets if not de-
livered within five days. 1t has never
been returned. as will be seen from this
statement.
There has developed during the week
some fear that the Galveston cup would
not, even now, after so much controversy
over its possession, be offered in compe-
tition at Savannah. Capt. Foye, who sue
ceeded Capt Scharff I'M Command of the
Thurs ton Rifles, has written the authori-
ties Of the drill association that no chal-
ienge from the Morton Cadets has reached
him, and that he cannot, accordingly. he
compelled to submit the cup for compe-
ution there; Capt. Shilling's challenge to
Capt. Foye's command was mailed from
this city on March Is. in one of the official
national guard envelopes, with directions
to return to the Third battalion head
quarters, if not delivered within five days.
Although now too soon to tell whether or
not that letter reached the HEADQUARTERS
Of the Thurston Rifles. the likelihood is,
that unless it had been actually deliv-
cred, it would have been soon returned to
the local guard armory. Even the loss
of the cup through such tactics on the
part of the winners of last year will not
greatly affect the drill of the Mortons
and their practice is quite as spirited and
tons would relinquish the trophy they
were unprepared to defend;
The May week celebration will begin
just two weekt from to-day. The first
thing will be the sham battle on Monday
May H. together with other features such
as zouave and artillery drills and a dress
parade Elaborate preparations have
been made for the sham battle, and both
infantry and artillery will be maneuvred
on the field. Capt. j. F. Brooks commit
tee is now busily engaged in working up
this feature, and will undoubtedly make
of it startling success.
The fence around the grounds has been
completed and the grand-stand and
bleechers within are almost done. Places
are being arranged underneath the grand
stand for the use of those who have bought
the privileges for the week. All of these
privileges have been disposed of on terms
advantageous to the board, and the adVer-
Using space on the fence is also being sold
Reports continue to come that the one
| cent mile rate for Georgia, outside a ra-
dius OF nifty miles from Savannah. is stir
ring up the people, and the promises of
| large crowds increase every day. The Of
| ficers in charge of the celebration now
| have every assurance of a magnificent
! success. and that the crowds will be such
| as to fully justify the great expense they
] have gone to, and the efforts that have
| been made.