The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
REGIMENT LOST A BAND
SAD STORY OF THE MUSIC MAKERS
SROM cowAx, IND.
The EAST Movements" Caused whoIe-
Collection of InstruaentaIists.

The soft falling OF autumn leaves is no
sadder than the passing of the great mill
fary band from Cowan. Ind. Out on the
regimental stump in front of the log cabin
OF the gallant Second sat Prof. Jay Slo-
cum yesterday morning. His pent-up feel
ings forbade him speech. Near by was his
piccolo player and the manipulators Of three
other lightweight instruments the rem
nant OF a once noble band of twenty-one
pieces that started out bravely To toot for
their country, right or wrong.
1t was with a feeling OF satisfaction that
Col. Harry b. Smith took from his desk
the other day a letter from Prof. Jay Slo-
cum, of Cowan, rendering TO the regiment
the services of "a magnificent military
band Of twenty-one pieces" The regular
band OF the regiment had decided not to go
20 Cuba, and in this emergency Colonel
Smith counted that moment lucky when
Professor Cowan's mind turned to the Sec
ond Regiment. The professor himself, hav-
ing grown impatient at the hardness of the
mails, put his request on the telegraph
wires, n almost before the wires were
cool a message flashed back to come. Fri
day morning the band came.
Adjutant George Powell saw it first.
Though he had plenty OF time to escape,
yet over his features spread a grim de-
termination 10 face that band, no matter
what the cost. He had seen the Rising Sun
Roarers in Blue Jeans and had on more
than one occasion nerved himself up to
Salvation Army martial strains. He felt
thoroughly immune. And, to be sure. he
had learned to read a paper right in his
own home while his son was learning to
play a cornet. The adjutant corralled the
band till he could call the colonel. The
colonel didn't know just what to do. Maybe
the band played one tune better than ali
other tunes, and that one tune could be
made to suffice till the band got to Cuba,
when perhaps Providence would take the
matter into its own hands. Professor Slo-
cum, an earnest, conscientious man, was
six feet tall, and with his glasses weighed
In the neighborhood of 130 pounds.
well, Wen have TO drill that band In foot
movements first" said AdJutant Powell,
with a sigh. Some one else suggested that
as there was plenty of time the band could
be taught a couple of good tunes for dress
parade. "A band is not to be picked up
every day in time of war. So Adjutant Pow
ell took the BOYS from Cowan out for a rev
foot
over stumps they went and down into
little valleys, up hills and On TO fair fields,
wheeling around a tree here and scrambling
through an agricultural shed there, the man
with the bass drum humping along like a
The tuba player was a fine fellow, but ne
only had a four-horse-power lung for an
eight-horse-power instrument. and he soon
began to feel the arduous effect of the cam
paign. The man with the flute had rations
Of wind for three days, and he held to the
march with the vigcr of a Sahara camel.
BY all the shades of Richard Wagner, was
q body of music makers ever prostitued to
such ignoble rehearsal! What had the
scrambling over stumpS to do with the
clarion music of war? Who was George
Powell, anyway, that he should drag apos-
ties Of a divine art through the tall grass
A. -rraI - zIs AA +hA fIFf ann-
Guided the first movement the andante of
a Camp Mount symphony, the tuba player
had great blue weIts under his eyes. Prof.
jay Slocum looked longingly in the direc-
ton of the hills of Cuba, but said nothing.
We'll. boys" said a Second Regiment Of
been ended, "iets hear you play"
They got their Instrument together and
began their tune, a melody which had no
many a time. Surgeon Charlton, of the
regiment, ran for his new horse and Sc
curely tethered it. Lieutenant Colonel
cost If SOMEBODY would only make the band
stop. The last part of the tune was really
the piece de resistance, and so the band hur-
was wrenched out of the horns and buried
in the eircUmambient air, beyond the pos
sibility of resurrection. Then the band was
The tuba player had one stall to himself,
and by his hide reposed his huge horn.
CHARTERED on the straw in an adjoining
stall was the trombonist. The others were
scattered about the barn. Long in the late
watches of the night there was a stealthy
whispering from stall to stall, and shadowy
figures moved about.
When the encircling hours walked the rosy
moon Prof. Slocu1n began to take an in
ventory of his great military band. From
stall to stall he went There was the big
tuba, but no player. French horn and
player both gone. No trombone nor from
bonist. The bass drum had rolled away
under cover of arknesS.
An hour later the drum major sat on the
HaO9nannfnt aFnNn Enan1rln ting ON tho nlTT-
s~iveness of military glory. The piccolo play
er and three others were all that remained
after the carnage. One by one the band had
rome in that direction from whence no more
Cbwan musicians will return. Colonel Smith
said that transportation would be provided
back home for the loyal four, and to-mor-
row the military band of Cowan will no
doubt be reunited on its native heath. And
Spain doesn't know what she missed.