The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-02
WILL WEAR THE MEDAL AGAIN.
CORPL. GORDON wON FIRST PRIZE
AT THE HUssARs' DRILL.

tntiOns Made by Col. w. w. Gordon.
Badges Were Presented Active,
Pay and Veteran Members for
Long Service by Mai. r. w. Mel
drim.
The annual prize drill of the Georgia
| Hussars was held last night at the
| Guards hall. There was not quite so
large an attendance of the members as
usual, and the threatening weather in
terfered with the attendance of the spec
tators, of whom there is usually large
crowd, friends and admirers OF the troop.
The troop medal was won by Corpl. G.
| A. Gordon. He held it last year. His
winning it this year was a repeater and
he was roundly cheered when the last of
his comrade competitors sat down and
left him standing alone
The second prize in the first class, the
troop having been divided into two classes
for the drill, was won by Private Demere.
Private Guckenheimer won the third prize.
The first prize of the second class was
won by Private Bryan and the second
prize by Private Kennedy.
The troop. under command of Capt.
Beirne Gordon. marched into the hall at
$50 o'clock. The men were arranged in
order for the saber drill and put through
the exercises by Capt. Gordon. 1t was a
pretty sight as the sabreurs whirled their
bright weapons, the brilliant uniforms
adding to the attractveness of the troop.
Upon the conclusion of the exhibition
Capt. Gordon announced the programme
for the drill. He said the men would be
divided into two classes, the best men.
those most proficient in the use of the
saber and of longest membership in the
troop constituting the first and those new
ly Joined the second class. He further an
nounced that the classes would be sub
divided into squads, the first-cass having
four and the second class two squads.
The drill, after slight rest for the men
TO get in readiness, was commenced, the
first squad of the second class being call
ed first. In this squad Private Kennedy
was left standing, the officers acting as
judges. Lieut.. McAlpin and Lieut.. Cum
bingham alternated in giving commands
TO the squads until the squad of winners
was ordered out, when Capt. Gordon took
command
In the second squad of the. second class
Private Bryan was the man left standing
after the others had been thrown out on
errors. He and Private Kennedy were
then drilled together, but the latter soon
dropped out
AS the squads were called up they were
first given a preliminary drill to steady
their nerves and TO get them into play.
The squads of the first class were called
in order after the drilling of the second
class mad been finished. In the first squad
of this class Private Guckenheimer was
the winner; in the second, Corpl. Gordon;
in the third, Sergt. Constantine, and in the
fourth, Private Demere.
Sergt Constantine, Corpl. Gordon, Priv
ate Bryan and Private Demere and Priv
ate Guckenheimer were then called out as
the winners TO be drilled in another squad.
The preliminary 'limbering up" exercises
were given, and then the commands began
that were to decide in their execution by
the sabreurs, who would win the troop
medal. the coveted first prize, and the
other prizes.
The men drilled well for a time, and
then the officers began to detect errors.
Sergt. Constantine was the first to go
down, his mistake being made in taking
the position of "saber exercise" when he
should merely have assumed the position
of port saber" Private Bryan followed
him for making the left point" instead
enheimer went down on his execution of
the command. front point and left point
Private Demere following on faulty exc
cution of right and and left point" This
left Corpl Gordon, who with the cheers
OF the spectators and his comrades, was
proclaimed winner of the contest.
The troop reformed, and the prizes were
awarded. Capt. Gordon made the an
nouncements of the winners, and Col W.
w. Gordon of the First Regiment, Cavai-
ry, made the presentations. Corpl. Cor,
don was called out first to receive the
medal. and for the second time the specta-
Gle was presented of the father and colonel
pnning the medal on the breast of the
son and corporal. Col. Gordon gave Corpl
Gordon a talk upon the excellence of the
record he had made for himself in having
twice won the medal
Then followed the other prize winners
in order, and the presentations were made
with appropriate remarks. After this
feature had been concluded Col Gordon
said he desired according to his custom
at the annual drills, to say something TO
the Hussars. He sometimes found occa-
sion, he said, 10 praise and sometimes TO
critcse them. He praised the marching
of the troop, the precision of the move
ments and the accuracy of the distances
maintained, but criticised the retrogres-
sion apparent in the drilling of one or
two of the members, who had been ac-
customed 10 show w much better at the
drills in the past Col. Gordon said he
hoped the troop would be ready to do its
whole duty in the event of war with Spain
and the volunteers of Georgia being called
upon for service. He spoke of the three
branches of the army saying the cavalry
offered, with harder work and more ardu-
Gus duties, a better chance for individual
distinction than either the infantry or the
artillery
Capt Gordon read the section of the by
laws of the troop that calls for the presen-
taton of a badge to each active and vete-
ran member with ten years
consecutive service to his credit
and to each pay member with
fifteen years. medal being given for
every additional five years. He called
upon Col. A. r. Lawton, First Regiment
Infantry; Maj. Edward Karow, First Bat
talon of the same command; Messrs. T.. ID.
Bloodworth and b. Hunter to come for
ward. Lieut. A. Minis. though not pres
ent. was entitled to a badge. The bronze
medals were then presented by Mai. p.
w. Meldrim, of the First Squadron of the
First Regiment.