The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-03
WILL NOT DEFEND THE CUP.
THE THURsTON RIFLES CANNOT
COME To SAVANNAH.

But That VIII Not Interfere with
the Contest for the Galveston TrO-
ply between Companies From
Washington, ID. C., Texas and
other States-COntracts Made for
Five Nights of fireworks and
Vaudeville Performances - Meet
ing of the Stockholders for Or
ganizatiOn This Afternoon.
The Thurston Rifles of Omaha. Neb.,
who now hold the Galveston semi-centen-
nial championship cup. giving them the
right to the title of the crack military
organization of the United States, will
not come to Savannah to defend the pos
session of the cup. This was announced
in a telegram just received from the COM
handing officer of that company. who
states it will be impossible for the Thurs
ton Rifles to come.
The Thurston Rifles were challenged to
enter the interstate competitive drill to
be held in Savannah in May, by the Nor
ton Cadets of Washington, D. c., and to
contest for the Galveston cup. AS the
Omaha company will not accept the chal-
lenge, it must under the rules go back to
the adjutant general Of Texas, who, in
case he orders a competition for 1t here,
viii send it to the authorities in charge
of the drill, that it may be awarded to
the winning company.
The adjutant general of Texas has not
yet been heard from definitely as to
whether he will order a competitive drill
for the cup here or not, though 1t is pre-
sumed that he will. The rules have been
complied with in every respect and there
is no reason why it should not be done
The letter written him upon the subject
by Col. Garrard should have reached him
yesterday or by to-day at latest, and he
has been asked to answer at once by wire
whether or not he will do so. A favorable
answer is expected to-day.
The amusement committee of which Mr.
W. w. Starr is chairman, has Just closed
contracts with Pain & Son for five ex-
hibitions of fireworks. and with ]. ]. ARM
strong of New York for five vaudeville
performances, by the best obtainable art
lists in this line, and these exhibitions
Will be given nightly in connection with
the fireworks displays. This entertain
ment will take place in front of the grand
stand in the park extension.
A letter was received yesterday from the
McI.aurin Guards of Hickory, Miss, Capt.
T. Raleigh Raines, expressing desire to
attend the military celebration and enter
the contests Full information with re-
gard TO the proposed features was sent
Several letters have been received from
zouave companies in different parts of the
country, and the 1900 in prizes which have
peen omered seem to present quite an in
ducement 1t is confidently expected that
at least three companies viii enter this
zouave contest
The stockholders of the association will
hold meeting at 4:30 o'clock this after
noon at the Commercial Club for the pur-
pose of formally organizing. A full atten-
dance is desired as the meeting will be an
important one
The corresponding secretary, Mr.. A. c.
Harmon, has heard very little as yet from
the military either Of South Carolina or
Alabama. Only one military academy in
south Carolina has so far signified its in
tention of sending over a company of ca
dets The military in South Carolina is
IN somewhat of demoralized state, and il
is practically Impossible for 1t to give at
tenton to such matters. though some of
the individual companies may decide la
ter to come. Alabama has somewhat dis
countenanced prize drilling as have one or
two other states, but none of these are
among. the prominent military states OF
the union.
There is every indication that the gath
| ering is going to be one of the largest that
savannah has ever known, and it will per-
maps be as large an assembly of military
men as any military contest has ever at
| tracted.