Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-13
ARMORY ECHOES.
Full Companies to Be the Rule
at State Inspections.
BATTERY CHANGES IN VIEW.
Sergeant Plummer to Camp Out
at the Rifle Range.
The Proposed New Cook Houses at the
N birmingham Camp Ground-Re-En
listments in the Light infantry.

The local militiamen are now busily
engaged in preparing for the annual
state inspections which will be conducts
ed some time before May The mem
bers of the different commands have no
idea just when they will be called upon
to pass the ordeal. All that is known
that they will be given at least weeks
notice. Worcester companies have al
ways been noted for their remarkable
showing at inspections, and the work of
the men in preliminary inspections
augurs we'll for their standing this
year. There is evidently militia fever
in the city, due probably to the talk Of
war. AT, present every company is re-
cruited to its full strength. and all the
infantry commands have several on the
waiting list To turn out a full COM
pany at inspection is the hope of every
captain, but this is seldom done. This
year, however, unless sickness over
takes some Of the men. mere than one
company will turn out with full ranks.
the war scare has practically died out
at the armory, and the men do not an
ticipate the sounding of the two fifteens
on the fire alarm bells. In case war
should be declared between this country
and Spain the local militiamen would
probably not see action, but ii called up
on would probably do service along the
coast, where they would be as safe and
probably as happy as at the camp
grounds in South Framingham.
The event of the week at the armory
Of ha Of 10
terry 3. when it was unanimously de-
clded to support Second Lieutenant w.
y. Lewis for captain and First Sergeant
A. H. Boswell for lieutenant The ac-
ton of the men makes the promotions
assured. 1t is@the wish of the command
TO have the elections over before in
spection, and Lieut. ii. w. Haynes,
commander of the battery, has written
TO Maj. L. n. Duehesney, asking that
next Wednesday night be set aside for
the election. Up to date, Lieut. Haynes
mas received no answer to his request,
but it may be expected today, and if it
arrives, steps will be taken to give the
members of the command immediate
notification.
The battery has virtually been with
out captain since last May At that
time Capt. Bruso was stricken with pa
raiysis, and was unable to accompany
IN nearly score of years. At camp
and since then, the command has de-
Nolved upon Lieut.. Haynes He is a
thorough soldier, and one of the best
tacticians in New England. He would
nave made an ideal commander of the
battery, but it was understood he did
not care to assume the cares and re-
sponsibilities Of the position. Lieut.
Lewis has always been one of the most
popular men in the battery, and when
Lieut.. Haynes did not care to be captain.
the men unanimously offered the posi-
uon to Lieut.. Lewis. 1t is rumored that
When Lewis is captain, there will be
some change in the non-commissioned
stan. The most prominent will likely
be the restoration of the stripes to ex-
'Sefgt. Harriotte He was reduced to the
ranks recently because of statements
maze by him at one of the company
meetings.. The men did not sympathize
with the action of the commander. and
II is said Lieut.. Lewis was among them
Inc appointments Of Capt. Lewis will
be interesting to watch.
ne committees from the City Guards.
Wellington Rifles and Light Infantry
net Thursday night to discuss plans for
q shooting tournament. The idea of a
tournament met with favor among the
nleHlpers Of the committee, and they
= IN4N " tIICiI cUiDp2nleS JaNOrahlV
on the matter. The idea is to hold
three shoots, one on Memorial day. an
otner on July 4th and the third at a
later date. Thetotal score in the three
natches will determine the winner of
the tournament. Each company will con-
lripute toward a trophy, TO go to the
At the last drill of the City Guards
lne men put in two hours in extended
they were drilled in loading and firing.
Ine company then repaired to quarters,
Wnere the men We're given a practical
TAX on the rifle by Lieut. NJ. H. TisdeII.
Lieut.. Tisdell used the new tripod. and
oy Its use instructed the men in the
aiming- ana sighting of pieces The
evenings work closed with short
school OF the soldier, conducted by Capt.
Barrett. All this work is done in pre-
paration for the inspection. Capt Bar
rett intends to work the men along all
lines, so that the inspecting officer will
be unable to find a weak point in the
company
Sergt Fl. w. Woods. who has charge
of the signal work Of the company, has
had his squad at work lately, and they
are doing well. The City Guards is the
only company in the second regiment
Which does this branch of work Corp.
J. t. Cruikshank, in charge of the litter
bearers, has also had his squad out for
practice recently.
The new alarm maps of the City
Guards, which were described in these
columns last Sunday, are all set up and
are working to the entire satisfaction
of Capt. Barrett. A glance at the maps
shows the exact location of every MEM
Der of the company at every hour in the
day. To muster the company would
take a very short time-a half hour is
all Capt. Barrett would ask
At the last meeting of the Light In.
fantry, the following members, whose
time had expired, were re-admitted t.
the company: Sergt. G. H. Hill, Corp
H w Marsh, Corp. G. w. Stebbins
and w A. Merrifield. The men will be
mustered on the next visit of Lieut.
Edison
The Wellington Rifles now has it's full
complement of men. the first time since
the company was organized. At the las
meeting nine men were admitted. 1t viii
be impossible to muster all of these into
the company, as there are but seven va
cancies. Seven, however, will be admit
ted, and the others will constitute the
nucleus of waiting list. This waiting
list may soon be called upon, as Capt
Holden is determined to stand no fool
ing from any Of the company and non
attendance at drills will result in a dis
charge. Besides the two extra men
three applications for membership were
received.
Lieut.. f. H. Lucke of the City Guards
has appointed Sergt. w. H. Plummer tc
have charge Of the rifle practice al
GAINESVILLE this year Sergt Plummei
was in charge last year, and the i'm.
provement in the shooting of many OF
the men was due to his efforts. He will
be ordered to camp at the range while
practice is going on. Lieut.. Lucke IN
tends to ask for an appropriation to buy
tents and other necessary equipments
so that the men can go out and stay
LIZ Il. -