Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-17

MY, HOW THEY ARE KICKING
The Neeley ZouaveS Were Cut
to the Quick
BECAUSE OF THAT BAR oUT.
The Captain Says Personal Feeling Did 1t.
The Crack Team Delights Birmng-
ham Military Men.
BECAUSE OF THAT BAR-0UT

The Neeley Zouaves of Memphis,
Tenn, reached Birmingham last evening
at 6:55 on their return from the inter-
state drill at Savannah.
The Medley Zouaves, as will be re-
membered, were ruled out from compet-
ing for the prize. because the adjutant
general Of Tennessee claimed that they
were an independent company.
On reaching the city last night the
company gave an exhibition drill in
front of the Opera House hotel and at
tracted much attention. and the plaudits
of the military men of Birmingham who
happened to be present was sufficient as
surance that the drill was simply SUI
perb.
A reporter of the State Herald called
at the Opera House and had the pleasure
of meeting the captain of the company,
F. X. Deffry, who is quite pleasant gem
tleman. Captain Deffry, in speaking of
his visit to Savannah, said:
"Our trip was one of continuous pleas
ure. The hospitality extended by Sa-
vannah to the soldier boys has never
been excelled by any city l or my COM
pany have ever visited for competitive
drill"
What has been the trouble about your
not drilling in Savannah"
ION the falsified statements of the ad-
jutant general of Tennessee to the adj
jutant general of Georgia, requesting him
not to permit us to carry arms in the
state of Georgia, claiming that we are
not authorized to carry arms in Ten
nessee, which is not So We are a char
tered institution, duly authorized by our
governor, sanctioned by the secretary of
state and exhibit a charter as proof.
The following telegram is proof sufficient
of the status of my company:
Memphis. Tenn. May To- 1896.
Capt f. K. Deffry, Care Manager In
terstate Drill:
Judge Cooper Attorney General Pat
terson and Major Clapp have wired man
ager of drill and adjutant general of
Georgia that your company has a right
to bear arms in this state Insist on your
rights G. T. FITZHUGH,
Legal Adviser Neeley Zouaves.'
s'What Is the origin of the trouble con-
fronting your company"
THE personal animus of our brigadier
general and adjutant general to convict
me in court-martial proceedings last
year, the governor setting the decision
aside. The charges upon which 1 was
brought before the court was the
non-permission of my company to go
to st. Louis on account of st. Louis
holding a drill the same year Memphis
held her interstate drill. These are the
facts, pure and simple, as shown by the
tant general took advantage of the dis
lance from Nashville to Atlanta and mis-
quoted the facts, as above stated, and
for that reason my company was not
given permission to drill
How old Is your company?
my company is 30 months old and
the champion Zouaves company of
America, having defeated eleven COM
peting companies, losing only one drill
when months old, and defeating the
same company that defeated us one year
afterwards by over 400 points. claim
beyond question to have the best drilled
body in the United States today
The drill team is composed of the fol-
lowing gentlemen F. K. Deffry, cap
tain; H. A. Bilger, first lieutenant; J..
Bills, second lieutenant; Lyman Bills,
first sergeant; Ben Rainey, second SER
geant.
Privates-E, B. Crenshaw, j. Lind
stead, ]. Flea, I'll. Isaccson, Shelly Lane,
J. V. Ritter, w. Staem, John Staem Hal
Carr, w. Sims, H. A. Piper, Charles Leb-
lere, C. Morti, Yves Carter, Willie Miles,
Ed Strehl.
Substitutes-H. Cartwright, William
Derrick, Charles Lindstead, Felix Le-
Clere, Eugene Facetti.
Captain Deffry complimented Birming-
| ham very highly, especially the treat
| ment of himself and company by the
proprietors of the Opera House hotel.
The company left at 1890 last night
| for home.