The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-01
TO WEAR THE COMPANY MEDAL
CORPORAL G. A. GORDON VICTOR IN
THE SABER CONTEST.

Class, Made a Hard Fight For 1t.
The Young Hussnrs Put Up an En-
ceIIent Contest With Corporal
John Burroughs, Jr., as Winner.
Members of the Georgia HusSnrs
Who Have Won Distinction For
Long Membership.
The Guards hall was crowded to stand
ing room only when the Georgia Hussars
appeared last night for their annual saber
contest. and hundreds of the friends of
the troop cheered the troopers as they
entered the hail.
For the purposes of the contest the
troop was divided into two classes, ac-
cording to past excellence in saber drill
ing, the second class being the first 20
contest The contest was conducted by
the commissioned officers of the troop,
Capt. Bierne Gordon and Iieuts. A. Minis
and Henry McAlpin, who were also their
judges, being selected as such on account
of their intimate knowledge and faml-
liarity with saber drilling.
The troopers were drilled in squads Of
three. or four. The contests among those
in the second class narrowed down be-
tween Privates c. S. Connerat, Jr., En-
met Moncrief and Nj, S. Guckenheimer'
Private Guckenheimer was the first to
miss, and Private Moncref followed him,
leaving Private Connerat the victor in his
class.
In the first class the contest was finally
brought down between Corpl G. A. Cor
don, Sergts e. S. Elliott, r. p. Constan-
tine and Private G. A. Quantock. The
presence in this last squad OF hrst-class
swordsmen of Sergt r. p. Constantine,
who was the victor over all year ago,
and who, during the year, has worn the
company medal. gave it a deeper interest
Private G. A. Quantock was the first to
fall out under the strict decisions of the
Judges, and Sergt. Constantine came next
his fault being due TO the fact that he
turned his eyes down at the command
fright cut instead of straightforward
being under the impression, no doubt,
that 1t was a cut against infantry. Sergt.
Elliott went next leaving Corpl. Gordon
but one more effort to make to become the
winner of the company medal.
The wirrsrs in the two classes, Corpl.
Gordon and Private Connerat then made
the contest for the company medal. For
four or five minutes both stood the severe
test of Lieut.. McAlpins commands, which
came rapidly and had TO be executed with
precision, as the eyes of the judge were
upon each of the men. Private Con-
nerat, after severe test, lost on
account OF a slight hesitation in
executing one of the commands and the
victor was warmly applauded, more heart
lily even than had been the warm applause
given those who stood up last in the other
squads.
Then came the drill. and well-fought
prize contest it was, between the Young
Hussars Capt. A. II. Lawton, Jr., had
his little men well in hand, and he knew.
too, Just how to line them up for the
work. Capt. Lawton gave his commands
in a strong clear tone while the commits
stoned officers of the Hussars acted as
judges and watched the little fellows at
their work.
The young soldiers executed the COM
mands of their captain with vigor and a
precision that comes only of an inherent
military spirit They exhibited an init
mate knowledge of the saber drill, and
the judges were about as strict with them
as they were with the older troopers.
Corpl John Burroughs, Jr., was the VIC
tor, carrying off the first prize, with Sergt.
Edward KaroW. Jr., a close second.
The prizes were to have been delivered by
Mai. p w Meldrim of the First battalion,
First Regiment Cavalry, and Capt. Cor
don said he regretted very much to receive
word that Mai. Meldrim's indisposition
confined him to the house so that he was
not able to be present. He expressed re-
greet too because he said he knew the aud
fence would have been glad to hear from
Maj. Meldrim on that occasion. Capt.
Gordon delivered the prizes to the winners,
complimenting each of them upon the good
work they had done. The prizes were as
all = min An
the first class, company medal; Sergt. e.
s. Elliott, second prize, first class; pair
of gold link sleeve buttons; Private G. S.
Connerat, Jr., first prize second class, sil-
yer hair brush; Private E. Moncrief, sec
ond prize, second class, combination set
silver link buttons. Private Connerat
has only within the last six weeks returned
record has been quite remarkable one.
In a drill at the armory, just before the
contest, he bested all competitors. Pri-
waite Moncrief has not been a member of
the troop quite a year.
Lieut.. McAlpin complimented the
Young Hussars very highly upon their ex-
cellent work. He spoke of the fact that
the Hussars looked TO them to take their
places in the older troop in the future
where they will have to serve their city
and their country, and while compliment
ing them he urged upon them the import
ance or that attention TO duty which a
soldier should give.
In 1884 the Hussars passed the follow
ing bylaw reference to which was made
by Capt. Gordon in awarding the prizes
of the evening: ITO such members Of the
troop as shall have continued ten years
on the active roll, and to such members
as shall have continued ten years on the
veteran roll, and to such members as shall
have continued fifteen years upon the pay
roll shall be awarded on completion OF
such service an appropriate badge of dis
tinction, and for every additional five
years an additional badge; these badges
shall be presented by the commanding off,
Ger on the occasion Of some public pa
rade."
Capt. Gordon said he knew Of no more
suspicious occasion than last night TO
award medals to those who have won
them under this bylaw. He presented
such medals 10 Lieut. A. Minis, who was
an active member continuously from Nov.
16 1882, to Nov. 16, 1892, and who on Nov.
16, 1897, will be entitled under the same by
law to an additional medal; Sergt. c. A.
l.. Cunningham, who has been an active
member continuously from July 81 1856. 10
July q, 1896; Veteran George w. owens.
who has been on the veteran list from
oh 70 rak