The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-16
LOOKING FOR A BAND.
A Fine Chance for Young Musicians to Go
SG ,..e...s
kNR to War.

Frank M. Howe of Augusta, who has
been the leader of many bands in this
state in the past and who is considered to
be one of the best band leaders and cornet
soloists in Maine was appointed Saturday
band master Of the First Regiment of
Maine Volunteers. Mr.. Howe, who is
about thirty years old and has been play
ing in bands all over this and other
states since he was twelve years old, is
well known in Portland and the sur
rounding country. For some years he
was the cornet soloist of the National
Soldiers Home band of Togus, Me-, one
of the best bands in Maine. He has also
taught the bands Of Maohias and Cornish
and last summer was the instructor Of the
Portland American Cadet band. The
band of the Maine Volunteers has yet to
be recruited and mustered into the
service.
The original band of the First Regi-
nent was Painchaud's band OF Bidde-
ford OF the twenty -four men composing
this organization sixteen were married
men and did not think the pay allowed
by the government was large enough to
absent in the service, Then there was
another reason why Painchaud's band did
not go. II they went to the front they
wanted to go as an organization. Several
of the men were physically incapacitated
for service in the field and were rejected
by the examining board. these men
having been thrown out the others refused
to enlist without them and SO Painchaud' s
band went home.
"We want to get now said Mr.. Howe
when talking with the PRESS reporter
at the United States hotel Saturday
night, "several from bone, clarionet, tube1
or bass horn players to complete the band.
The men will have to be good musicians.
/ mean by that they will have to be able
to play well enough on the start SO that
the band may go out at the head of the
regiment and be credit to it. We want
Maine men for this band if possible for it
does seem as if a Maine regiment should
have band of Maine men and I hope to
enlist the most of them right here in
Portland.
'ephe band you know is not expected to
go into action themselves. They play the
regiment into action and stir the boys UP
a bit on march and play at the cere-
monies of guard mounting, dress parade
and SO forth. The Instruments and equip
ment will be furnished by the govern.
ment and the men will be well fed, fairly
we'll paid and have many privileges that
the enlisted men will not receive. They
will have chance too of great deal OF
practice and should be musicians of the
first class in every respect when they
come out of the service. The experience
will be very valuable for young and am
bitious players of the instruments / have
mentioned.
g am trying to secure gentlemanly,
nice appearing fellows for this band for I
want it to be credit to Maine The
men I have already enlisted are fine
players and capable In every way of form
ing a fine organization. have secured
here in Portland already one man, Chas.
A. Waite, and he will go to Augusta with
me on Monday. Six or seven other mer
from Portland have about made up Their
minds to go. Each man on enlistine
Will receive the state bounty and two
months pay in advance. After Monday
shall be at Augusta where all letters and
applications addressed to me will receive
prompt attention. The regiment expects
to go South to Chickamauga any way not
later than Thursday. The members of the
band will have chance of picking up a
great many extra dollars during the tour
OF service and young men will find this
to be most valuable and interesting ex.
perience for them.