Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-23
Mortons Have Made Their Effort for
the Prize Cup.
BRAVE And BRILLIANT STRUGGLE
Capt. Shilling Feels Confident He
Rightly Interpreted Program.
CAPTAIN BEANS PROTEST
'pecial From a staff CORRESPONDENT.

Morton Cadets late yesterday afternoon
made brave and brilliant struggle to
retain the military championship of the
Omted states. Under the scorching ra w
OF a whitening midsummer Texas sun the
washington boys gave an exhibition that
was absolutely beyond comparison with the
drill itself Of the other crack companies
that have appeared in the competition.
with but one or two errors the Mortons
Unanswered in q manner that at once re-
suited In the withdrawal of all odds in the
betting against the company at the turf
exchange and set their rivals thinking.
The exhibition was a reproduction of the
famous drill Of the National Fencibles.
that has won many prizes and was the
acme OF smoothness and polish, features
tnat are noticeably lacking in the other
companies here. The Mortons looked and
drilled like wide-awake. alert soldiers, and
the spectators appreciated their work
The champions presented an attractive
appearance, attired in black blouses and
marched on the field, preceded by their
chaperons and maids of honor in car
riages. with the stand of colors and stream
ers, SIGNALLING prSyious victories. in the
lead. Captain Shilling was handed the pro-
gram fifteen minutes before the hour set
for beginning the drill. In less than five
minutes he had scanned the program and
tueh TepoTteu 10 the Judges.
Manual of Arms Executed Perfectly.
In executing the manual of arms with
and without the numbers, the company
was perfect. Their firings were a surprise.
That has been the weak point of the team,
but at every volley except one in the COM
petition the thirty-seven rifles were dis
charged at the same instant. The excep-
ton was superior to the firing of every
other company that has drilled. In load
ing the left guide discovered that the cart
ridge would not fit his gun, and. after re-
moving two shells with ramrod,
directed by the Judges to go through the
motion of loading and firing without using
cartridges One man dropped bayonet,
but there were no other mishaps of any
consequence.
The foot movements. both by company
and platoons, in quick and double time,
appeared to be ideally executed. The drill
occupied thirty-one minutes, and the COM
pany marched off the field amid loud cheer
ing.
Lieut.. Grote of the board of judges stat
ed to me last evening that no two captains
have Interpreted the program alike. The
result of the drill he added, would depend
largely upon the interpretation. The drill
of the Mortons differed in several in
stances from that of the other teams
Il executed every number of the pro-
gram in order" says Capt. Shilling, land
am morally certain my Interpretation
was correct. 1 am thoroughly satisfied
with the drill of the company
The Mortons are confident that when it
comes to interpreting the drill program,
Capt. Shilling has no superior, and, there
fore, they are in merry mood today.
Lies Between Mortons and sealys.
The consensus of opinion Is that either
the Mortons Sealy Rifles will win first
prize, with either the Thurston Rifles or
Company D of Minnesota third. The Gov
ernor's Guard of Austin drilled yesterday,
and there are some who are betting large
sums that Capt Roberdeaus men will
walk of with the cup. In view Of the
mysterious character Of the contest, such
Is certainly among the possibilities
Capt. Bean, the crafty commander of the
St Paul company, in keeping with his rec
ord, has come to the front with a protest
against the Mortons. An hour before the
champions took the field Capt Bean filed
with Gen. Oppenheimer a written accusa-
ton that the commissioned officers of the
Mortons had violated the rules governing
the drill by witnessing the exhibitions Of
the Thtrstons and Sealys through the aid
of a field glass.
The paper was referred to Capt Shilling
VINO wrote the following Endorsement: The
within allegations are utterly without
Iouhdation IN fact. The protest has not
yet been acted upon. 1t is believed that
Capt Bean filed it when he did in an en-
deavor to worry Capt. Shilling and thereby
detract from the showing of the Mortons
lheh 1t IS not Capt, Bean
and his protest. but other matters that
cause the Washington lads some uneasi
ness.
The four cadets who succumbed to the
heat at inspection were in excellent con.
dition for the drill. Ii is understood that
tne Judges considered the inspection excel
lent.
Boys Go Sightseeing.
After the drill Captain Shilling removed
all restraints and most of his men visited
the city today without delay. They are
sightseeing today, and tomorrow mean to
visit Fort Sam Houston and other points
of interest The cadets are being royalty
entertained on all sides.
The program today at Camp Culberson
provides mainly for drills by maiden com
panies.
The Washington boys and the thousands
of spectators were entertained yesterday
by nine companies Of regular infantry ard
cavalry executing q calisthenic drill to
music. The drill was but recently intro
duced in the army and is a most pleasing
spectacle.
Capt. Shilling yesterday formally turned
over the Galveston cup to Gen. Mabry to
be awarded to the winner of the present
competition. The Mortons are greater ia
vortes than ever with the regulars, who
are backing the boys heavily for first place.
1t is probable that the Morton Cadets will
depart from San Antonio Sunday night,
reaching Washington Wednesday evening.
The prospects of the cup returning to the
national capital at that time are far from
dim. CFC,
Won uapf opvthfuo try on al Il,