The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-31
HOWITZER BAND INDIGNANT,
Dislike The Action Of the Officers in
DiSbanding 4hGH.
STATEMENT OF DRUM-MAJOR GAM.
The Election of Lieutenant. They say Is mt
the Bottom of the Troubie-An In
diguation Meeting Last Night
at HenricO Courthouse.

There have been hot times recently in
that branch Of the volunteer militia rep
resented by the Richmond Howitzers,
and as a consequence it seems probable
that a court Of inquiry may have some
work upon its hands before long.
1t is not generally known. but it is a
fact that about three weeks ago an order
was issued disbanding TIKI Howitzers'
| band, and 1t was a short while after that
that the trouble began. Drum Major
Fred. u. Gam, Of the band, gives the
following account Of the difficulty.
MIR. GANN'S VERSION.
some time during the latter part OF
December, an election was held 10 I'LL
the office OF first lieutenant OF the How
itzers. For the place there were two ap-
plicants, First-Sergeant VIM. :. Woodson
and Second Sergeant Archie Williams
| Fifteen members of the band were pres
ent. and they voted soldly for Mr.. Wood
son, who received a vote OF q, while his
opponent only got l5. There was no cleo
ton. since il takes 35 votes, or majority
OF the enlisted men to elect an officer.
NEVER VOTE AGAIN.
80 the meeting adjourned without
having accomplished anything. Some one
remarked TO me after the meeting, The
/ band has voted against Williams this
time. but they Will never have chance
to DO go again
"A few days after this meeting, Mr..
| W. \. DickersOn, president OF the band
received letter signed by Captain John
| A. Hutcheson. declaring the band dis
| banded ! have never received any notice
| 10 that effect
"On last Tuesday night a regular busi-
/ ness meeting Of the Howitzers was held
| and /, in company with seven members
| Of the band. attended. We took seats to-
| gether. When the meeting was opened
Lieutenant Barrett. who presided In the
absence OF Captain Hutcheson. rose ana
said
ORDERED OUT.
The former members Of the Howltzer
| band will please retire
I'VE were dumbfounded at this and
| one of our men got up and told the Lieu
tenant that though we were no longer
a band We were still enlisted members
Of the H0witzers, and as such had a right
20 sit in the meeting.
d" 'It makes no difference about that
said Lieutenant Barrett u order YOU TO
retire.
I'VE did not wish TO make a scene. and
so we left the hall quietly. 10 was lucky
| that there were only a few members of
the band present that night and that
those few were cool-headed. If all of the
members had been there there might have
been trouble
The band claims that they are entitled
as enlisted men to all the privileges that
the other men have. even though there
is no regularly organized band. and We
are not done with the matter yet n will
be carried 10 a higher authority and def
nitely settled. The terms Of seven Of the
members OF the band expire next August
and some have two years TO serve yet
Untn their time is mp they cannot b. dis
charged unless they request IL. or charges
are made against them and proven before
a cOurtmartial. and until that time they
are entitled to all the rights of other
members.
DON'T WANT THEIR VOTES.
'It is evident 20 us all that the object
of this whole thing Is TO secure the elec-
ton of williams Instead Of Woodson. and
they want 70 get rid of our votes. ! uu-
derstand that the election has now been
postponed for six months
Ma. Gam said further that the band
had gotten along we'll with the Howiizers
with a few exception. When the Putnam
Phalanx was I'm town. he said. the band
had been ordered 20 turn out but did not
DO so. lie had been asked an that time
whether he could not control his band. 90
which DE replied. that AN he could DO was
TO order them 20 turn out. n they did
not do so. he could not drag them out
The immediate cause assigned for the
disbanding OF the band s said TO be that
they could not Doe depended upon 10 turn
ont when wanted bur the members stout
~ declare thai the whole reason is 10
keep tnem from voting for Mr.. WoOdsou.
While fIa tuuT ffI rnf nav anu fgr4a
they state that they were not much eX-
pcnse 20 the EOVi1zers. They were given
uniforms and 2is q month was paid for
an instructor The members of the band
are as follows.
THE BANDS MEMBERS
". A Dlckerson. president. Fred. ID
Gam. drum-major J.. T. HammeH. lead
or. r.. ~ Bell. John Deitricll. Gus Ellis.
John Huffman. Charles Hawkes.. W r.
fioeuningcr. VIM. Hendricks John Jo-
henniug Joseph Ia Fratta. &. H. Page
Louis Roccicholl IS. s spraegns r.
r. Spraggins. H. c. Voegior j. NJ Voeg-
Ter. and Felix Loccan.
An officer of the HoWitzers, who did
not wish his name mentioned was also
seen yesterday lie was not much i'm
clined 10 discuss the matter. but said that
the band had been n Useless expense 10
the 'HOwlt2ers and therefore they had
been dishanded. They paid no dues ne
said. and SIS per month had 10 be paid out
for thcm. They had also bee given new
uniforms. DE said. which they had ruined
The whole affair, he said. was matter
with which the public had nothing 20 DO, |
and he preferred not 20 discuss it,
AN INDIGNATION MEETING
The Howitzcr Band held a meeting at /
Henrico Courthouse last night TO take |
action On the matter The members |
expressed themselves a. being very in |
dignant at the unjust treatment which |
they say they have received at the hands ]
OF the officers OF the HOwitzers COM |
pauy. They claim that, lnasmuch as |
they were enlisted as the other members !
OF the troop. and not as a band. for a /
period of five years which time does not |
expire until next August. that Major !
Smons has exceeded no authority i'm dis |
missing them without preferrng charges
After discussing the matter fully. Drum /
Major Gam moved that no definite ac- |
ton be taken until next Thursday He /
stated that ne had received a communi- !
cation hom Lieutenant lAIcFarland and /
that he desired 10 consult with that Of /
Gcer before taking any definite action /
The motion was carried, and the meet /
ing adjourned, TO meet again next Thurs !
-.