The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-19
WORK AND PLAY.
First Machine Gun Battery
Inspected Last Night.
Well Executed Drill Followed By
Dancing at the Armory.
Many Prominent Military Officers and Well
/. Knows Citizens Present.

The capacity of the State Armory was
severely taxed last evening to accommo-
date the 1000 spectators who came to wit
ness the complimentary inspection ten
dered Brig. Gen. Hiram Kendall and the
drill of the First Machine Gun Battery
last evening.
The accommodations provided for the
guests were entirely inadequate for the
large crowd, and unfortunately many of
those present were unable to witness the
excellent work of the battery.
One of the most enjoyable things about
the affair was the excellent music rem
dered by Church's Military Band of East
Greenwich, under the leadership of Frank
G. Church. Before the drill and inspec-
tion took place the following program was
rendered by the band in a finished man
ner: March, "Col. Goddard" Reeves
overture, "Poet and Peasant" Suppe;
"Hail to the Chief ITO Gen. Kendall); de-
scriptive march, "Oriental Caravan" Ash I;
encore, "El CAPTAIN" two-step, Sousa;
medley; "a Jolly Night" Boyer; "Star
Spangled Banner"
The excellent appearance of the
members of the battery as they marched
down the floor was greeted with applause,
the formation Of the battery and the roll
call were well executed, the dressing being
remarkably precise.
Gen. Kendall and his staff, composed of
the members of the Brigade and Cavalry
stats, and military guests invited to par
ticipate by Gen. Kendall, then inspected
the battery, afterward taking their places
in front of the platform. After the in
spection, the battery being under COM
mand of Capt. Henry Walcott, the school
of the battery was given. The movements
from sections to company front we're well
executed, as were the movements in COM
pany front to the rear. The evolutions
were trifle slow however, and this was
possibly due to the slippery condition OF
the floor. The battery was then dismissed
The next in ORDER was guard mount
which followed the sounding of the Ad-
jutant's call and assembly by Buglel
Church, Second Lieutenant w. A. Stafford
acting as Officer of the Day and Sergt.
Butler as Officer of the Guard. The new
guard was marched off after inspection to
the sound of a bugle march, and the old
guard followed them of the floor.
After considerable delay the men re-
turned, having changed their dress uni
forms for fatigue, including leggins and
campaign hats. The crowd by this time
had pushed out on the already limited floor
space, and it required the efforts of the po-
licemen and several officers to get them
back few inches. The battery then gave
an exhibition of regular army calisthenics,
and the manner in which they were done
was very creditable. These. exercises are
comparatively new, having been practieed
by the men at camp last summer for the
first time. The battery was under the
direction Of Sergt. Butler, and during
these exercises the men showed the result
of constant drill.
The next in order was the school of the
cannoneer, given under command of First
Lieut.. Francis o. Allen, and the men exc
cuted loading and firing, both with and
without reduced numbers, the wheels on
the carriages and limbers were removed,
exchanged and replaced. This drill was
very well executed and the battery went
back into park. Capt. Walker resumed
command and the battery went through
the school Of the battery, which was fairly
well executed. The movements concluded
with the unexpected firing of about 300
rounds of blanks from the machine guns,
which filed the building with smoke and
the odor of powder, which remained for a
considerable time. Dancing then occu-
pied the attention of the militiamen and
their guests, and the good music and
highly polished floor made this pleasure,
| indeed.
Among the guests who occupied seats on
the platform were noticed His Honor John
w. Davis, Quarter Master General Dennis,
ex-Mayor Henry E. Tiepke, Ex-Governor
Brown OF Providence, Captain George
Mitchell, Second Artillery, U. 8. A.; First
Lieutenant Lotus Niles, Second Artillery,
U. 8. A., from Fort Adams; First Lieuten-
ant Charles w. Abbot, Jr., Twelfth In
fantry, U. 8. A; Aldermen Thomas
O'Brien, Edward O'Brien, Darling and
White; Councilmen Farrell, Steere and
philliDa