Evening star., 1896-09-26
THREATENED WITH WATER
The Pottsville Band Wanted to Serenade
.-- General Stanton.
Supcrintendent Baird of the war anu
Navy Building Objected Tne
Visitors Are Indignant.


cornnanv o1 Pottsyille Pa which company
of veterans has Just concluded visit to
this city are in a state of mind over What
they regard as highly discourteous treat
ment on the part of Chief Engineer George
w. Baird Of the navy. superintendent VI
the State, War and Navy departments
building. According to their story tney
went to the War Department yesterday
morning for the purpose OF serenaolng
Gen. Stanton, paymaster general OF the
army, with whom many Of them have an
acquaintance dating from the time OF the
war. They were accompanied by the Ihlro
Brigade Band. considered one of the best
musical organizations in the National
Guard Of PENNSYLVANIA. The Serenade was
intended as surprise, and so 1t proved,
but not in the way intended. Gen. Stanton
was not Informed of the visit. and nap
pened to be out when the company arrived
There appeared to be some misunderstand-
ing as to the location of Gen. Stanton's
office, and the visitors took up their posi-
tion near the main entrance. on PennsylVa-
MIA avenue. whereas Gen. Stanton'S ONCE Is
located some distance back. on the 18th
street side of the building. The band had
hardly started in on the performance or a
grand aria when Superintendent Baird ap-
peared at the doorway, and In an exclted
manner demanded to know what was going
on. None of the visitors knew who he was.
and the bandsmen at first were not disposed
from man to man. asking them to desist.
as it was contrary to the regulations of the
| department.. but they either did not or would
not understand him. Finally one Of them
| told him that they had come to serenade
Gen. Stanley" and he replied that there
| was no such person in the building. and
| that unless they desisted from further an
noyance he would have the hose turned on
| them. Still they showed no inclination to
| pay the least heed to his admonitions and
| he turned TO the watchmen and ordered
| them to get the hose ready. These busi-
| neSS-.ike preparations brought the musi-
| clans to a realization of the situation. and
| their leader finally ordered them to stop
| playing and retire. which they did quietly,
but in high state of Indignation.
| Regret Expresxed.
Later in the day, Gen. Stanton having
heard of the episode. called upon the visit
| ing PennsylvanianS at their hotel and ex-
| pressed his regret at the unfortunate oc-
| currence. He received warm welcome
| and listened to fine serenade gotten up
| on the spur of the moment. 1t is reporte ed
| that the matter will be brought to the
! attention of Secretary Lamont with view
to reprimand of the superintendent, bu,
| it is not considered likely that any radi-
| cal action will be taken in view of the
various misunderstanding in the matter
Gen. Stanley. who was named by one OF
| the bandsmen as the object of the sere-
made, is governor of the Soldiers Home
|
Department.
Mr.. Bnirl's Statement.
| A Star reporter saw Supt. Baird this
morning and received from him the fol
lowing statement of the circumstances:
"A large brass band of fine musician:
from Pennsylvania appeared yesterday o,
the north steps of the War Department
and. suddenly. started a serenade. Th
doors were open and the music echoed
through the corridors. which induced tn
| clerks and other employees to Leave thei
| work and run to the windows. The step
were at once filed by a crowd. The super
, | intendent of the building appeared ant
admonished the band to cease. No at
tention was paid to his order, and afte
| inquiry from one to another of the uni
formed firemen he finally learned they cam
to serenade Gen. Stanley. The superin
tendent said no such disturbance woul
be permitted without the sanction OF tn
| Secretary of War. The band continued t.
play. He then ordered his men to ge
the hose out. when the band ceased. ant
: the crowd indignantly departed.
: THE serenade was intended as sur
2 prise to Gen. Stanton mot Stanley, tn
popular psymaster general of the army.
Gen. Stanton had no knowledge Of tn
serenade. His office is at the west from
of the building. while the band assemble
at the north entrance, over $50 yards away
f To my mind, the proper place to serenad
= man is at his home or his club. and no
In a public building, where 1t d1sturbs TN
r business of three executive department:
e Gen. Stanton is a friend of mine, and
s would not have offended him for the worlt
i 1 am obliged to preserve peace and quie
r ard suppress all disturbance, and the ban
r was making a great racket. The ban
= should have had permit from the Secrt
n tary of War. While 1 cannot grant sue
f | permits. l have full authority to preserv
: the peace In the building. and l conside
e that 1 acted fully within the line of dut!
t Had I permitted the disturbance, I shoul
= have expected a reprimand from the Se'
e | Tetary."