Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-14
DRILL OF THE FINEST
Local Police Competing at National
Ball Park.
HANDSOME SILK BANNER TIE PRIZE
Each Precinct Company Confident
of Winning the "Pennant."
SSING IN REVIEW

The Commissioners ard officials of the
District government were among those who
were on hand at the base ball park this
afternoon to witness the competitive drill
participated in by companies of policemen
from the different precincts for the hand
some silk flag offered by Commissioner
Wight There was a large audience ON the
grand stand, while the 'bleachers" accom-
modated an enthusiastic contingent.
With the exception of the national colors,
there was no attempt made to decorate the
grounds or make them especially attrac-
tive, the presence of about $50 policemen in
dress uniform being considered as attrac-
ton enough for the friends of the finest"
who had assembled to witness their drill
movements.
Major Moore. Captain Austin and other
officials of the police department were on
hand early in the afternoon. Among them
were the heutenants. sergeants and inspec-
tors. 1t had been planned that each lieu
tenant was to drill his own company, but
this rule was not al iron-clad one and in
some of the precincts the sergeant who
has acted as drillmaster was announced
as the one who would be in command in
the final contest.
The Drill Teams.
The precinct drill teams mentioned in
uSSboS A'toi' I'LL tS-tW Ia SdCiI, HSl
on the grounds shortly after o'clock, and
considerable speculation was INDUCED in
to who would carry off the flag Some
OF the officers of esch company made
boasts to the final outcome of the af-
fair, while most Of them had an idea that
the contest would really include but three
of the precincts. Much hard work had
instructors had taught them the move
nlerts with their batons. In most of
the precincts this work had been assigned
to sergeant and some claim is made that
the companies commanded on the field by
the one who instructed them will have an
advantage ov..r those in which a change
to the lieutenant is made.
The companies OF the seventh. eighth anil
ninth precincts are the only ones in which
the ieutenants have otficiated These are
Lieutenant Swindells of the seventh
Georgetown) precinct Lieutenant Kenny
of the eighth ard Lieutenant McCathran of
the NINTH and each is confident that his
command will have as good show as the
others
Sergeant Moore of the first precinct has
mad ms company in the Smithsonian
his men satisfied him that the flag is. to
be raised on No. 1. Sergeants Jordan of the
second, McNeely of the third Daley of the
fourth, Mulhall of the fifth and Lombardy
of the sixth have also done some effective
work.
The Judges Selected.
Engineer Commissioner Black and Cap
tains Burr and Beach were selected as
judges, and some officers of the local mill
tary companies interested in the affair
were also present to pass upon the move
ments of the companies.
copy of the program was given to each
officer in command of a company, as
printed in Tuesdays Star. The program
for each company was follows:
m nj 2 oil
A, tours right; 5, fours left; 6, oblique in
column of fours; Z, being in line turn and
advance; 3, being in line, turn and halt;
., pass obstacle: TO- reform line; H. being
In column of fourS, execute left front into
line without hating; II, marching in col
umn of fours, execute on right into line;
Ii. marching in column of fCurs, form line
to the front and halt; IA. marching in line,
marching in column of tours to front; 10,
march the company in line around the dia-
mond, hating at place of beginning.
Ninth Opens the Drill.
Promptly at 2:3O o'clock the ninth COM
pany, in command of Lieut. McCathran,
was called to the field. The men marched
upon the drill ground and formed in line
fifteen yards in front of the judges and
reported to the senior officer of the board.
The fifth precinct was presented second;
the eighth, third; second, fourth: sixth,
fifth; first, sixth; seventh, seventh; fourth,
eighth. ard third. ninth.
At the conclusion of the drill the COM
p2nieS will form battalion and march in
review.