The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-15
LYNN SAILOR BOYS.
How They Enjoyed Themselves at
Portland Told by Lynn News.

The Lynn, Mass, Evening News gives
this interesting account of the visit of Co.
4, Massachusetts Naval Brigade to Port
land, July 4th:
Home from Portland, Maine, came half
hundred of Lynn's sailor boys early this
morning, all well fatigued by plenty of
hard work and excessive heat, but pleased
nevertheless at a successful tour of duty
well performed. They formed a part of
the detachment of 80 men of the Naval
Brigade, M. V. NJ, which started for
Portland, Sunday night, under command
OF Lieut.. M. f. S. Won Loesecke. of the
Lynn division. Arriving there by boat
landing was made at $50 a. m. Capt. G.
A. Dow and his company, A of the 1st
Maine National Guards, were on hand
with drum corps to escort the visitors to
the armory.
Leaving arms and equipments there the
two commands proceeded to SWEETS hotel,
where breakfast was served. An early
morning drive around the city, covering
about all the main points of interest, was
the next feature, and jolly time it was,
too, from the time the six or eight barges
left the hotel until they left all hands at
the armory again. Every notable decora-
ton or andkerchief-waving group of
spectators, and there were many of them
along the way, received hearty mixture
OF Pine Tree and Bay State cheers. The
parts of a handsome and growing park
system, the closed residence of Tom Reed,
Neal Dow's house, the Eastern and
Western Promenades, which would have
afforded fine view of city and harbor for
miles had not heavy fog prevented, were
all viewed with interest.
Next came the big parade, the largest
Portland had seen for many day. In
their new blue jacket uniforms, equipped
close to the head of the second division,
under escort of Capt. Dow's company OF
infantry, and close behind the sailors and
marines from the battleship Massachu-
setts, the boys attracted deal of atten-
ton and won good share of the APP
plause. Applause was not a NOTICEABLE
feature of the crowds of spectators along
the line Of march for any one. Surprise
at this or that feature in line was about
all, but later in the day the Massachusetts
men opened the eyes of everybody around
by an artillery drill, wall scaling ex-
emplifcation, etc., on the Western Prone
made, and then how the hands did clap,
and the murmur of praise and astonish-
ment at the hustlers from Lynn and Bos-
ton did run loose.
After the parade the men shifted to
white and proceeded to the promenade for
the drill. On the way halt was made
at the residence of Lewis A. Cloudy,
prominent citizen of the city, where claret
punch flowed for the boys in white and
their escort Mr.. Goudy, with Captain
Dow, was mainly responsible for the
presence of the Naval Brigade men.
Reaching the field which had been
designated for the exhibition it was
found packed with would be spectators.
In only one way could the company be
gotten ON the field. and that was by fore
ing passage. Then Co. A came to the
rescue, assisted by few policemen, and
formed guard line all the way round
the field, but they were not successful in
forcing enough clear space. Then it was
that Liuet. Won Loesecke took matters
of his company into line, he sent line of
skirmishers at charge down the field but
the crowd thought that was part of the
show and moved not a foot, until with
rifles at port the work was slowly accom-
plished. Never had they seen a light
artillery drill such as was on the pro-
gramme. They did not comprehend that
there might be danger from even blank
ammunition if one gets too close to it.
First came the artillery drill, without
ammunition, in the various evolutions Of
battery movements, then the two one
FOUNDER Hotchkiss, the 3-inch B. L. R.
and the Calling were loaded with their
proper charges of blanks, and at the order
away they banged in their peculiar spite
full manner, all but the Calling, which
refused duty. And how the crowd did
scatter. They understood what was
meant then. Out into the middle of the
field Lieut. Crosby led section of men
as soon as the artillery pieces had been
placed out of battery. In front OF a r.
foot fence they formed, and at the order,
over it they went to the delight OF the
spectators, men, rifles, officer and all,
forming skirmish line on the other side
and advancing on an imaginary enemy.
A snappy skirmish and squad drill by
the bugle was conducted by Lieut.. Chase
ending with spirited charge at full tilt
clear across the field AS the concluding
feature this brought great applause. The
way the men hustled was caution to the
natives and surprise to the National
Guard officers and men who witnessed it.
| They could hardly believe that all they
had seen was only a small part of the
regular drill and instruction the Naval
Militia constantly undergoes.
| Apothecary Russell and three baymen
were on duty all the time. Three cases
| required attention. One Lynn man was
| overcome by the heat and a. fall and an