Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-08-11
PASSING OF THE De,,A.
1t VIII soon Disappear in co,n
with Army Life non

the United States Maline Corns A -. u
an article entitled The Las of us 4I
Drums for st. Nicholas. Lient p .ae
kins sa.s: / e.
think few know that of all tho H..
honored equipments OF war which H..
days of military progress have laft 19e
The drum IS the oldest: but like tba
sword and the bayonet the drum =
fast disappearing. is companion fin
ME. hallowed by traditions of yolor
even in our own history, from lev.
lngtcn 10 Gettysburg, IS already conn
and another decade will still forayo,
the 'nsplriting martial music of tbo
drum.
what boy has not felt his pulsas
thrill ard his heart swell with patrlot;.
pride and martial ardor while gazins
upon the well-known picture of tbs
Revolution, the Minute Men of '7en
forsakicg the ploughshare and flvino
TO take down the old tiintlock at tbe
tocsin Of war-the throbbing of tina
drum and the shrill screaming of tbe
fife, sounded by two SCARED veterans
bare-headed, white-haired, and in
their sl'irt-sleeyes. marching through
fields and along the roads, calling the
patriots to arms!
Every New England schoolboy has
read the story of Abigail and Eliza.
beth. the sisters Of Aewburyport, who
during the Revolution repealed alone
an attack of the British by beatinp
furious!y an old drum and blowing n
fife, The British troops, who were
about to land, hurried back to thnip
ships, thinking a whole army lay in
ambush; to repulse item.
Thus die 4 fife anG drum drive off
the enemy, and save Il town from
pillage and ruin.
The military drum is supposed to
have been introduced in Europe by the
MoorS and Saracens, during the middle
nges, and was quickly adopted by arm
les, TIE Drum of today differs little,
and in appearance only, from the earl,
lest form. 1t consists, as every bow
knows. OF two pieces of parchment or
batter-heads. stretched over the ends
of Il hollow cylinder, and struck with
sticks, For apes this instrument has
been know n among savage tribes and
barbaric nations, WHO use its weird
music to accompany their religious
rites, as well as for ar purposes.
The tom-tom of the Sioux Indian Is
d good example of a primitive drum.
In civilized warfare the drum has
ever been connected with deeds of
martial vnlor, and its voice is dear to
the heart of he soldier who has fol
low its pulsin. into the deadly fire OF
battle. or even IN reviews and military
paradee. when rank upon rank sweep
up street keeping perfect alignment
and step to the drums inspiring beat.
1t has found n place in history
through the daring bravery of more
than one heardless boy who has sound,
ed a. the critical moment the pas de
charge or rally" just in time to turn
the tide of battle.
Johnny Glen, the "drummerboy Of
Shiloh" who beat the rally without
orders when his regiment had broken,
panic stricken and thus helped to save
the day. was made an officer for his
heroism, and is now Il major in the
United States army.
In fable, song, and story the drum
has ever kept pace with the most val
liant deeds of men. Rudpard Kiplings
pathetic little story of THE Drums Of
the Fore and Aft" two courageous
drummer-5oys who, at the cost Of their
own lives, led the charge and saved
the honor of their regiment when
routed by the ifghals, tells of a deed
such as is to be found IN history as
well as in fiction. More than once has
the drum claimed place in the front
ranks of storming battalions, or led deS
perate charges in the van of vie
torious army.
What wonder, then, that we look
sorrowfully into the future, when bat
thing will no longer be inspired by the
war drums throb"; for we know that
the advance OF military science, with
ell its death-dealing machine-gimS
magazine-tifles, and its smokeless pow
der, will surely sound the knell of tho
drum.