The times., 1898-10-28

Look over the roster of the regular
army, dig deep into the history of some
Of the men enrolled there and you will
find some remarkable characters re-
marked retired army officer in the lob
by of the Ebbitt House last night "There
are some peculiar characters In the rank
Of the army; men who have drifted into
the service froLl every walk of life,
some of them educated and refined, but
forced by circumstances to resort to the
monotonous life of private soldier. ana
some men of wonderful attainments IN
various respects. Some years ago l was
stationed with a regiment of cavalry III
san Francisco. The regiment was famed
for horsemanship, and its name is now re-
membered in the annals of the cavalry
branch of the United States army fol-
feats which its members performed on
horseback. One Summer in the eighties
there came to the recruiting office a man
about whom there was apparently moth
ing remarkable except strong physique
who wanted to join the regiment We
were in need of men. and we took him in.
His first duty was to learn to ride horse
Accordingly, that afternoon the drill SER
geant was ordered to take the man out
on the grounds and teach him to ride.
The recruit was simply exasperating when
the saddle in the most awkward fashion,
and when the animal was whipped into a
gallop by the sergeant the new man could
hardly keep his seat, and hung on by the
name That sort of thing went on for
about half an hour. when the sergeant
was about to give the recruit up in dis
gust and report to headquarters that ne
could do nothing with him and that he
was unfit to serve in the cavalry. You're
Il he
4 am going to report to the commanding
officer not to let you in the regiment
oh. you are, eh.' replied the recruit. And
with that ne jumped from the horses
back as nimbly as you please, unbuckled
the strap and threw the saddle to the
ground. Then he gave the horse a good
smart rap with his open hand and started
1t off at brisk trot. After the animal
had run about twenty feet he started
after it, gave leap and jumped upon its
back, where he stood upright and rode
| around the lot waving his hands and
| jumping up and down like an Indian
| Then he urged the horse to a gallop and
| stood on his head while al full speed, ana
performed any number OF similar tricks.
| The drill sergeant almost had a fit. II
| was discovered later that the new man
was a celebrated bare back rider from
| one of the big circuses. He was dis
|
| drinking propensities. He left the army
| at the expiration of his term and started
a riding academy in Chicago, where he is
| now prospering."
| A. II. Folger, manager of tho Lockwood
| Manufacturing Company, of East Boston.
| is at the Raleigh Mr. Folger, whose COM
| pany had the contract for converting the
| ferryboat East Boston into harbor de-
| fense vessel, is a firm believer in the value
of small and light draught boats for har-
| bor defense. 1.-The plan as put into opera
| ton by the Government at the outbreak
| of the war; said Mr.. Folger. was con-
ceived by Admiral Erben. AT first it was
| laughed at by many who did not know
| the value of the suggestion, but there are
| now no persons in Boston. at least, who
| are not advocates of the harbor defense
vessel. They are cheap, cost little to
manage and can go in shallow water and
| hide behind foliage and larger craft
| think our next war will find all our i'm
portant harbors floating fleets of vessels
| of this class"
On account of the nearness of the elec-
| tions the hotels show a marked falling of