Evening star., 1898-03-05

effort be made to enact laws providing for
paying the men of the District National
Guard when ordered out for duty.
4 Splendid Organization.
In speaking of his foot battery, which
as mustered into the National Guard las.
Monday evening. Lieut.. ]. H. Griffiths said
to a Star reporter:
''Ths material already mustered in is
above the average as to intelligence and
general makeup. and really feel that we
have the making of splendid organization
one IN which any person should feel proud
OF being member. Without exception all
the men have had military training hereto
fore, either in the army or some portion of
the National Guard.
Until further notice meetings will be
held every Wednesday evening at the Cen
ter Market armory. The second room from
the 1th street wing, on the first floor of the
meetings until permanent quarters are as
signed
Con pany A, Second Battalion.
When the troops of the National Guard
take possession of the new armory 1t is the
intention of Company A, I'd Battalion, in
addition to regular meetings and drills, to
establish school of instruction for officers
and non-commissioned officers, and to ar
range for the delivery of lectures once
each month by officers of the army and
National Guard on military subjects
roster of the honorary members of tile
company. The roster is a very skillfuily
executed piece of work with pen and ink
Elevated Running Track.
The annual meeting of the Athletic AS
ISOLATION of the District National Guard
and the election of officers have been post
poned until the completion of the new gym
nssium at the Center Market building
Capt Edwards, president of the associa-
ton, has prepared plans for the placing Of
the apparatus in the new gymnasium and
Is exerting himself to have an elevated
running track constructed therein.
Militia Twenty Years Ago.
In view of the war talk that has been
prevalent OF late, 1t is interesting to recall
that twenty years ago last July was
memorable one all over this country, for
In many states the militia was called TO
arms to prevent bloodshed and destruction
of property incident to the great labor
strike of July. 1877. The National Guard
tfen received crucial test, and, with very
lew exceptions, 1t was found wanting
This was mainly due to the lack of proper
organization, discipline and supplies The
notable exceptions to that portion of the
National Guard found to be generally use
less when called into active service were
the troops from New York and New lar
sey, but even in New York there were
sorry examples Of worthlessness The
most notorious example of uselessness was
the pennsylvania National Guard, which
was then organized into twenty-one divis-
IONS, with numerous top-heavy staffs. and
which could hardly be mobilized in two
weeks time; almost the entire stat, force
proved useless against the mobs of law
y. pIeakers, ana 1t was only when troops of
the regular army came on the scene that
ofoer could be restored. This was not ac-
complished, however. before millions and
millions of dollars worth of property was
destroyed and many lives lost although the
regulars restored law and order without
firing a 81 OF.
While the labor disturbances in New
York ware of the most serious nature they
ulu not result In the fearful scenes enacted
IN pennsylvania. This, however was due
more to good luck and the discipline dis
prayed by some of the troops on duty than
10 the preparation of the militia for the
emergency The men had no overcoats or
tentage, and were without any field eo,ip-
nIent or medical supplies Whatsoever A.
Horne ellsvflle, the 54rh Regiment and 10th
battalion, with Battery A, from Elmira.
were hrst on duty, but their ability to pre-
serve order can be judged from the fact
tilat the nrst attempt to run train guarded
by men from their commands resulted in
tne tracks being soaped. A mob boarding
TIE cars, cowing the National GuarCIsmen
armed with rifles and ball ammunition.
s.
vile, where the engine was destrnvad
with the guardsmen looking on and not
firing a shot. The 23d and T4th Regiments
we're then ordered to the scene. The 23d
was only provided with one days rations.
and before arriving at its destination its
train came to standstill, the engine which
drew II was boarded by rioters, the fireman
was taken off and beaten and all this while
ire regiment was on the train. The off,
GERS Of the regiment, however finally
awoke to their duty, and the engineer
bravely sticking to his post, the lawbreak-
erS were eventually routed
Decentralization of New Workers.
At Buffalo the Generalization of some of
the state troops on duty was Of the worst
description. Quite a number had their
guns taken away from them by rioters,
and one colonel was dubbed severely in
the presence of his men and knocked
down repeatedly, and finally had to take
re1uge In paint shop. The Sth Regiment
OF New York city was ordered to the scene
and order was restored. OF the regiments
sent out OF New York city the 9th which
was then in command Of Colonel Hitch
COCK, made a fine record. 1t not only had
the hardest and most trying work of any
10 perform, but proved itself to be thor
oughly disciplined, and was handled in a
mastery manner. The regiment reported
for DUTY on short notice. with $50 officers
and men, and was ordered to Albany to
put down the disturbances there Before
Spuyten Duyvil was reached each member
or the regiment was served with twenty
rounds of ball ammunition guards were
placed ready for emergency at the en-
trance of each car. while other guards were
posted ready to prevent assaults or inter-
Terence with the engineer or fireman Be-
fore the regiment reached Albany 1t was
learned that mob which had possession
OF a bridge intended trouble, and it was
feared might tamper with the bridge, and
perhaps cause the destruction of the train
one company was disembarked and sent
ahead of the regiment to the bridge. which
Is successfully cleared, and the regiment
reached Albany without further impede
ment- Here. by the cool Judgment of the
regiments commander, and the discipline
displayed throughout. the command soon
had complete control. and order was thor
oughly preserved. The deplorable condi-
tion OF affairs, SO far as supplies to the
troops were concerned at the time, can
best be judged by the earnest appeal of
Major General Shaler, then in command
who. on July "a 1877, reported to General
Wylie. the chief of ordnance that not a
single organization was supplied with nee
essary equipment for field service, and all
We're without even hospital supplies. and
ne made an earnest reQuisition for them
NO reply was ever received to General
Shalers communication, and of course the
taC