The Portland daily press., 1897-08-19
RODE LIKE COSSACKS.
Troop + Shows What 1t Can Do At
Rough Riding.
THE MOST INTERESTING FEATURE
OF THE BIG FAIR.

The Troopers of the 3rd U. 8. Cavalry Made
the Big Crowd Yell with Delight and
Some of the Things They Did Bordered
on the Miraculous.
OF the thousands of people at Rigby
park yesterday afternoon every man,
woman and child was there in hopes of
witnessing the evolutions of Troop F,and
they were not disappointed. 1t was short
ly after 8 O'Clock when the troopers
mounted their steeds and following the
swallow-tailed guidon Of the troop trot-
ted out on to the track from, their camp
on the hill. The moment the head of the
troop appeared in sight the immense
crowd arose in their seats and applauded
with delight. The fve-mile bicycle race
was just starting, but the hump backed
riders,Ewere forgotten In the wondrous
sight of SO splendidly mounted cavalry
men trotting in a column of fours.around
the track toward the grand stand. AS
soon as the race was ended the Third
Cavalry band struck up a march and
heading his troop, Capt. Dodd trotted
down the track. The troopers did not
wear their nodding plumes and brilliant
full dress uniform yesterday, but instead
were dressed in blue shirts and rough SER
vice dress and they looked like the "real
article" such as3 Sheridan and Custer
were proud to lead during the time when
there was more fighting for troopers to
do than fancy riding.
10 ~
at the thrilling sight, but after trotting
past the stand at rapid pace, every set
of tours in perfect alignment, every troop
er's eyes to the front, the troop formed
platoons which stretched from one side of
the track to the other and at signal
from Capt. Dodd, drew sabres. At the
flash of steel the audience set up shout
of delight which was drowned in the
yells of the cavalry and the thunder Of
horses hoofs. Down the tracks they came
on the dead run, shouting like mad and
with their sabres in the first position for
spring sights that has ever been seen in
this section of the country and it was no
wonder that the big audience was stilled
into appreciative silence
The troop disappeared in cloud of
dust up the tracks, but soon appeared in
sight again and after putting their horses
through that beautiful side step along in
front of the grand stand to the music of
the magnificent band, the troop formed
company front. At a signal from Capt.
Dodd, a handsome sergeant, who sat. his
horse like a Centaur, rode to the front Of
the troop and distances were taken as
for setting up drill Then out flashed
the cleaning steel and in perfect unison to
the music, the command went through a
sort of wand drill with their sabres,
which was simply perfect.
Once more Capt. Dodd raised his hand
and the IS horses were transformed into
dancing equines. During the wand drill
the handsome bays had stood as quiet as
so many marble statues. Now to the right
and then to the left, in perfect time and
without break, the horses waltzed about
the track, not once losing their position
or failing to keep time to the strains OF
the music. Then the troop assembled in
company front again and having danced
around the track in the enhancing side
step once more trotted out into the f-ld
within the track.
Here, at the word of command, the
troopers forced their horses to lie down
and in less than minute the entire troop
was stretched OUT on the ground. Some
of the men had difficulty in forcing their
horses to lie down. This was due to the
fact that the Intelligent animals did not
approve of the bed which had been select
ed for them as the field at this point was
very marshy and uneven. But the most
of the horses at the command from theil
riders, rolled over on their sides and lay
on the ground as patiently as If they
were quartered in their own stables fol-
the night. The troop then went through
another wand drill, only they used theil
| carbines in place of the wands. Every
movement was in perfect time and the
drill was extremely interesting to watch
Then while the horses lay quietly on the
ground the troop drew their revolveri
and opened fire. There was regular
fusilade for a few minutes, but not {
horse moved and while their rider
banged away as if they were driving off {
SWAN of red skins the horses lay as quie
as tombs.
Suddenly came a bugle call. Up jumped
the horses at the signal as the trooper
themselves are supposed to jump out o
bed at reveille and in trice the trooI
was in the saddle again and on the move
To ride like a Cossack is to ride as L
one were part of the horse. Troop 7
has established a new standard of horse
manship and the big crowd had chanc,
of approaching it yesterday. Stirrup
were shortened, the troop formed il
platoons for a charge and then with
yell that would have sent terror into the
hearts of even the most valiant enemy
in the world down the track they dashed
The Discovery Saved His