The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-25
THE PRIZE DRILLS.
Three Crack Companies in the Field
Yesterday.

Yesterday.
About two thousand people went to Newly
Ova! yesterday morning to see the first of
the Competitive drills for the prizes offered
by the executive committee The field was
in fine condition and three companies went
through their movements to equally dis
trihuted applause. Admission to the grounds
was free to Knights of Pythias, but all
others were charged fee of Is cents. While
each team was escorted to the oval by a
band of its State, all the movements on
the field were made without music of any
kind. Each team consisted of twenty-four
men with three officers and two guides
The work was done according to the revised
manual of Knights of Pythias drills, recent
" compiled by General Carnahan. The
points in the different departments of the
drills aggregate one hundred and the awards
are made on this basis. Three regular army
officers. Captains Black and Dougherty and
Lieutenant Reed served as judges.
The first company to put in an appear
ance was Ottawa, No. %, of Ottawa, Ill.,
Differed by Captain G. j. Kiehm, First
Lieutenant ]. d. Mckenzie and Second
Lieutenant John O'Donnell. AS the COM
pany is attached to the Third Illinois Regi-
ment, the regular regimental band escorted
in full dress uniform of black with white
helmet, red plumes and white gloves. The
first evolution was that of inspection, -
which included ten movements. This was
followed by what is termed as school
movements" being about the same in form
alton and foot movements as the more
familiar militia drills. The distinguishing
feature of the drills of yesterday over the
drill Of
sence of rifles. The manual of arms is en-
tirely different, but the foot movements are
almost identical with those of the army
The first move made brought forth applause.
After the company had marched into the
Enclosure Captain Kiehm drew his men up
and put them through the inspection drill.
which took only a few moments and then,
turning to the judges, announced his men
to be ready for the drill. Each company
was allowed forty-five minutes for its work.
and the Ottawa company finished in less
time than it was entitled to. It's formation
work was OF high order, but very few
people present felt able to pick the winner
when the three companies had completed
their work. Among the members of the OF
tawa company is former Indianapolis
man, j. It. Murdoch, who yesterday acted
as one of the guides. the other one being F.
A. Hathaway, who is one of the biggest men
in camp, he weighing $50 pounds. Following
the Ottawa company came Company No /,
of Kalamazoo. Mich, which is the pride of
the Wolverine State. The Otsego Band es-
corted the men on the field and set the
crowd to cheering by the fine appearance
presented. All the men are of about equal
size and their work w&s admitted to be as
good as any ever seen at any encampment.
The Grill did not differ in any respect from
that of the Ottawa company and the quail
~ seemed 10 those in the audience to be
about equal 10 thar - the first company.
The officers were: Captain .. T. Buechener
First Lieutenant A. Miller and Second
Lieutenant G. d. Lauriane
The last company to drill was the Yellow
Cross Company, of Alliance. o.. This COM
pany seemed 10 have a shade the better of
the drilling over the other two companies
In the minds of some experts present. Their
work was fine throughout, and few were
able to detect errors The company, which
is Differed by Captain G. c. Shem First
Lieutenant y. NJ. Clement and Second
Lieutenant W. +. Glenn, has been a figure
in the competitive drills for several years
and has been several times prize winner.
The Ottawa company, on the other hand.
has never entered a competitive drill until
the present encampment. Continuing to-day
the drills will run morning and afternoon
until the thirty companies have completed
their movements. IL is expected that this
will take up the entire week.