Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-30
HARRIES SELECTED
CONTINUED from First Page

| National Guard"
Chief Clerk Richard Sylvester Of the
ponce departmental am not much of a
ml1tary man, but I am fully acquainted
with the general good qualities Of Major
Harrfes and believe that he will make the
most excellent record in any capacity in
interested
Major Richard A. OBrien, commanding
the % Battalion, District National Guard
Major Halries' first connection with the
DIst1ct national Guard as commissioned
oncer. 1 think, was with the I'd Battalion.
SO that am particularly pleased with
nus elevation to the command of the
brigade. In my opinion a better selection
could not have been made Major Harries
possesses the necessary qualifications for
the guiding of a brigade of volunteer Mill
Inspector Mattfngly, chief of detectives
SO far as l know there is no one living
who takes deeper interest in the District
Of Columbia National Guard than Major
HaIiles. ms characteristic energy in con-
nection with everything he undertakes is
we'll known. The appointment should be
eminently satisfactory to every one who
has the interest of the National Guard of
the District at heart"
Auditor j. T. Petty said-'I am delight
ed to hear Of the appointment of Major
Harries He Is thoroughly equipped man
for the Office and will me assure up grandy
to every requirement of the position. The
President is to be congratulated and the
people as well upon the wisdom of his Sc
lection"
Col. Clay Reticent.
Col. Cecil Clay was asked by Star re-
porter this afternoon what he had to say
regarding the appointment of Major Har-
rles He answered that he had nothing to
say; that he had not spoken of the matter
before the appointment and that he should
not do so now.
The New Commander.
Gen. Harries has resided in Washington
for a number of years and has become
identified with some of its most prominent
interests. He was born in Wales, but came
to America at an early age. He has had
many thrilling experiences among the
Rockies and on the plains and endured all
manner of hardships in frontier campaign
ing. He learned to set type and was a
ccmpositor in the government printing Of
flee during the latter portion of the in
cumbency of the late S. p. Rounds as pub
lie printer. When Mr.. Rounds went to
Omaha and bought the Republican, Mr..
Harries went with him and became a re-
porter on that paper. He returned to this
city and was for some time on the staff Of
the National Republican.
When that paper was absorbed by the
Post Mr.. HarrieS was the only living asset
transferred with the property. He remain
ed on the Post for several months. and
lHcl DtCdHe d IHeUDeF OF the TepOTtOTldl
staff of The Evening Star. AS such he
had number of important assignments,
the more notable being the Pan-American
excelsior in 1889, the Sioux campaign in
the vicinity of Pine Ridge in 1s9O-'91, the
Homestead strike in 1892 and the railroad
riots in Chicago in 1894.
In recognition of services rendered during
the Sioux campaign he appointed a
member of the Sioux commission which in
the summer of 1891 treated with the Ogal-
lalas the Brule and the northern Chey-
enne 'dians.
AS member of the District National
Guard General Harries has been extremely
active. More than ten years ago. when
Geueral Ordway was engaged in the work
of securing legislation with which to bring
about the organization of the brigade,
there was active cooperation. All the
plans were mutually discussed and then
commenced relationship of the most init
mate sort.
In 1SS9-after having several times de-
clined to join the guard-the now brigadier
general enlisted and was warranted a staff
sergeant o nthe general non-commissioned
staff. He served as such for about two
years. and then, being very proficient
tenancy and became inspector Of rifle prac-
tice of the I'd Battalion, at that time COM
anded by Major Fred. Bracket.
Rifle Practice Fostered.
In July, 1892, he was designated in gen.
eral orders assistant inspector general
of rifle practice, and in November of the
same year was commissioned major and
inspector of rifle practice AS matter of
course most of his work has been done in
the department of rifle practice.
shooting member of the brigade teams
of 1SN-91-92-the first of which captured
the Hilton trophy in great struggle at
Creedmoor-he has been captain and in
structor of every brigade team that has
|
of Columbia. Under his leadership the Dis
trict has three times won the Hilton trophy
and once captured the great interstate
trophy.
Other honors nave also been secured, but
the greatest of them all was the winning
of the Hilton trophy in 1885, with a score
that smashed the worlds record and set
the pins SO high that for many years 10
core it is not likely the new record will
be broken. Two years ago he located and
surveyed the rifle range being used
by the guard, the old range at the Wash
ington barracks having been completely
destroyed by storm.
The range at Ordway is now one of the
NEST complete and thoroughly equipped in
all the United States.
Rifle practice dd not, however, occupy
the majors attention to the exclusion of
ether important matters relative to the
Guard. Possessing the complete confidence
Of Gen. Ordway. he has been deeply in
terested in every phase of the situation
concern the citizen soldier here or else
where.
For the past three years he has been the
legislative agent of the brigade, and, as
such, rendered services which earned for
him the sincere thanks of General Ord
way and of other Washingtonians, to
whom the national treasury had long been
indebted for Inorey advanced for the sup
port of the brigade.
Military matters have not occupied the
entire attention Of Gen. Harries. H is and
has been for some years member of the
board of school trustees, is a member of
the board of managers of the Associated
Charities. is a director of the Sanitary I'm
provement Company. and is much interest
ed in a number Of other organizations and
efforts to improve local conditions.
For nearly year he was president of the
Metropolitan Railroad Company, and as
such achieved a business reputation, which
a little while ago was strongly Endorsed by
| mercantile and professional Washington in
his election secretary of the board of
trade.
Capt. Edgar A. Shilling commanding
Company B, I'd BattalioE-the Morton Ca
dets-may be said to represent the younger
element Of the District National Guard.
IT am delighted with the appointment of
Maj. Harries as general said Capt. Shil-
I