The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-12
FOURTH'S PRIZES.
Gov. Griggs Reviews the
Regiment in the Armory
Last Night.
HANDSOME TROPHIES PRESENTED
New Jerseys Crack Corps Gives a
Splendid Exhibition Of Eff
ficiency in Drill.

W II 1hCS1itiCll. l. was th( OP&S
night of the drill season, and what was
more. the occasion for the presentation
of the trophies won by the members of
the Regiment during the recent encamp-
ment at Seagirt. The Fourth had eaptur-
ed all the good things put up to be shot
for, and to make the ceremony n of
signal honor, Colonel Robert G. Smith
asked Governor J. w. Griggs to grace
the proceedings with his presence.
1t was not to be wondered at then that
the big Armory was crowded last night,
and there was such a bewildering array
of uniforms that you couldn't throw a
stone anywhere in that big building with
out hitting a General, Colonel or an officer
of some exalted rank.
The galleries were packed with people,
and on the floor were private boxes, in
which sat some of Jersey City's most
prominent people. To the left of the en-
trance on the Church street side of the
building and in the centre was the box set
apart for the Governor and his staff, who
by the way didn't arrive until a few MIN
utes before nine o'clock. While the peo-
pie were crowding into the hall His Elk
cellency, the Commander-in-Chief, was
enjoying a snug little dinner at the Wal
dorf. They came, however, at last, and
when the carriage stopped at the big door
of the Armory the Governor found Colonel
awaiting him. He was
to his box, where he was received by
Brig Gen. P. Farmer Wanser and Gen.
Bird w. Spencer, near by sat e w. b.
Mason and Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Pearson,
Col. John j. Toffey, Rev. Father Carroll,
Of CT patr;oEtc p n Church Rev i.
Kellers, chaplain to Bishop Starkey, of
Newark, chief of Police and Mrs. Muir
ply. Mayor Egbert Seymour, of Bayonne,
Corporation Counsel J. A. Blair, ex-Ald.
H. Hill, Mayor E. Hoos. Mrs. P. f. Wan
ser, Marshal Van Wrinkle, Judge J. Her
bert Potts, w. G.. See and others.
The gold lace, cooked hats, and gorgeous
.trappings of the Governors staff made
an effective contrast to the costumes OF
the ladies, and wherever the eye rested, in
the galleries or in the boxes, there were
all the glories of the milliner's art and
the dressmaker's profession. Just as the
officers were twisting their moustaches,
and the ladies were asking each other If
their hats were on straight. a bugle rang
out n the companies began to form.
officers ran hither and thfther, and those
who had nothing to do looked nice n
utterly too sweet for anything Tramp,
tramp, came the men, and after the band
had beaten the assembly, Adjutant Gerar-
din spun right around on his heels.
raised his sword in salute. and,
as soldiers would say, turned over
the three battalions to Col. Smith,
who, with his erect figure and handsome
appearance, looked the beau ideal of a
commandant. Oh, my, didn't the ladies
wave their handkerchiefs at him and IN
~animously vote him just too nice! No
wonder he looked proud standing at the
head of such a magnificent body of men,
and when his voice rang out, something
which to unframed ears sounded like
Rrrrrrrrr-um,, the 500 and odd rifles
down on the floor with a crash like
a volley of artillery.
The regiment number ST men, and
ranks second in strength to the famous
Seventh OF New York. But the Armory
was too small to move such a body, and
what with absentees and the thinning
out process a little over 800 men were in
line. Even this was too many, for when
passing before the reviewing officer the
men had hardly room to turn before they
WSI5 III iHc odl lHC SOOo Joo51ACht =
the officers and the harmony of the men
these difficulties, and the work
excellent.
"Battalions ~carry-hum,'' rang out the
ColoneIs voice, that serried mass re-
for arms. Order-hum" and Present
hum" came next, and Gov. Griggs left
his seat in the box and walked down to
the floor in front to review the regiment
in line of masses. AS Col. Smith saluted
His Excellency, he latter raised his silk
hat and the people in the galleries clapped
their hands.
Then accompanied by the Colonel, the
Governor walked down the lines with his
staff. all of whom DOTTED their chapeaux
colors. Returning to the box, the Cover
nor looked with interest at the march
past. The mems appearance was splendid,
the band playing a lively quickstep, the
floor ringing with the tramp of armed
men, the shouts of the officers, all con-
spired to make the scene intensely inter-
esting, and gave the audience an excellent
glimpse of military life, made all the more
realistic when two men, overcome with
the heat, toppled over and the ambulance
corps whisked them off in double quick
time. On account of the limited space the
battalions scarcely had turned before they
were in front of the Governor. This made
lines a little; but remembering this
difficulty the alignment was admirable,
When the troops were halted in battal-
ion lines, the Governor again left his box,
and, taking a small white box from the
hands of an officer, walked a few steps
forward to where Captain Charles H..
S~pringsted stood, and said to HIM
ut gives me great pleasure to address
the winner of the champion marksman
badge. This was open to all officers and
enlisted men in the State, and to-carry
off the badge meant good eyes, aN9Eeady
nerve and good judgment. These quail
ties. so necessary to good craftsmanship,
YOU eminently possess, and l am glad to
have this opportunity to present you with
this medal, and hope that you will long be
able to wear it." (Applause).
When the gallant captain retired two
men pushed forward a handsome bronze
figure of a soldier. the New Jersey Nation
al Guard trophy, won by the regiment.
There was also the Columbia trophy,
mann Capt. Alvin ii. Graf, Co. l.. Capt.
Ernest Fischer. Co. K, First Lieutenant
A. LaRue Christie, Co. B, Sergt. John F.
McGrann. Bugler, and Gen. Bird w. Spen-
Ger made the presentation speech. Capt.
also secured the Rifle Practice
Fifty Shot badge. The Perfine badge,
won by Major Lehman, was not presented.
that officer being away on leave. Gen. H.
H. Abernethy then presented to Private
nethy medal, and General Wanser pre-
sented the Company Team trophy. won by
Company A, and that ended the presenta-
ton part of the evening.
blared ~tarantara, and Col. Smith. draw
ing his sword, began the regimental drill.
In doubling there was a mix up, but
it only tended to make the gem
eral excellence Of the exercises
complicated evolutions, marching, and
countermarching. the Colonel led
his men in sucn style hat the Governor
and those loves Of Staff Colonies clapped
their hands. AS for the people in the
-. 1orfa thew ~ t1dna aronaro3,rlx1 a~l