The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-18


fair had their first opportunity of seeing
Troop F at drill and to say that their
most exaggerated anticipations were fully
realized would be putting it mildly. Cap
tain Dod1 and his. troopers simply set he
big audience crazy with delight and for
half an hour the graceful riders held the
crowd spell bound with establishment.
The exhibition of Captain Dodd's
men was the most mar
velous and beautiful that the people in
this state have ever seen and when the
troop finally brought it's manouvers to an
end and after most graceful salute to
the big audience withdrew from the
track the crowd rose to it's feet and
cheered and applauded the retiring cav
alrymen like mad.
1t was after three O'Clock when the peo-
pie IN the grand stand became aware that
something of unusual interest was taking
place in Troop F's camp on the hill over
looking Rigby park. Horses were being
saddled, tall cayalrymen in full dress
uniform were running to and fro and
the sound of bulge calls were waited
across the plain to the ears of those with
in the grand stand. About this time
Captain Dodd and one of his lieutenants,
attended by bugler and several troopers
galloped into the park and arrangements
were evidently being made for the advent
of the troop. Now the troopers at the
camp were seen to swing themselves into
the saddle and by twos the command
filed slowly over the brow of the hill and
into the woods which skirt the park on
the easterly side. Through the green trees
occasional glimpses could be obtained of
the yellow plumes, the flashing accoun-
trements and the waving guidons of the
troopers as they filed through the winding
wood road towards the park and the ex-
element in the crowd ran high as the
gate in the fence on the back stretch of
the track was thrown open and Troop T
trotted out into view. Now Captain
Dodd and one of his officers attended by
four guides with futtering guidons gal
loped down the track in front of the
grand stand and took up their station in
the stretch. The Third Cavalry band,
Chief Musician Bessey in charge, were
stationed just within the fence in front
of the grand stand and at a signal from
Captain Dodd struck up one of Sousa' S
blood-stirring quick steps. Captain Dodd
raised his hand and Troop f broke into
column of tours and trotted down the
track It was a thrilling sight to see the
nodding yellow plumes, the flashing
sabres, the futtering guidons and the 2s
handsome horses come galloping around.
When the head of the troop was about so
yards distant from the grand stand Cap
tain Dodd again raised his hand and the
column of tours formed single file, the
head of each horse was turned towards
the grand stand and with a sort of gal
looping side step the troop pranced by the
stand, the troopers slit ing on their horses
as if man and beast were one and with
their faces towards the crowd all the
time. In this fashion the whole troop
passed in review and then forming line
the troop stood as steady as rock in
front of the grand stand while the crowd
applauded in an ecstasy of delight. After
this initial bow to the audience the troop
ers took distance and the band struck up
waltz. Captain Dodd raised his hand
as u signal and each one of the % horses
began to waltz around, now to the right,
now to the left, and every horse seemed
t. be keeping step to the music. Once
again the troop formed company front
and then for half an hour performed all
manner of intricate and graceful evolu-
tons wheeling about in circles and in
quadrilles, now riding like mad and
now the horses side stepping along with
all the grace of dancing girls. 1t would
be indeed difficult to describe all of the
evolutions that the troop went through
to the time of the music and with only
the signals given by the raising of Capt.
Dodd's right hand to guide them. Each
horse seemed to know just what was re-
quired of him with an intelligence that
was almost human did they wind their
way through the intricacies of the evolu-
tions. A touch Of the bridle,a prick of the
spur and the intelligent animals would
whirl around as if they were on pivots,
dance sideways with all the delicacy of
ballet girls, dash wildly in pairs or by
tours, stop suddenly and wheel altogether
in another direction and be off again.
ANOW UAO boAio WOulu U0 pay Lug bOluc
rolicking jig and each horse obedient
to the riders guiding hand would prance
gallantry through some movement, again
and the music would be slower and with
mincing side steps and dainty tread the
% horses would carefully step out in
time, then would come the soul-stirring
march and away they would all scamper
like mad.
Never before has anything of this kind
been seen in Portland and it is doubtful
if many exhibitions of this kind have
been seen anywhere in this country
Added to the fact that these men are not
play soldiers but fighters, not circus rid
ers but Uncle Sans cavalrymen in COM
mand of one of the best cavalry officers in
the service, is the sentimental attraction
which every true American feels at the
sight of the boys in blue and the audience
-, IT, 4 Il xx-s% u. al.