Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-06

NEW GUNS.
Happiness Carried Into Ranks Of the
Augusta Cadets.
aars. iohn r. NH Presents Them With Rites
Of Springfield Pattern.
new GUNS.
sHf. =. =.

me augusta Cadets were made hap
py. Monday. through the kindness N
Mrs. John F. Hill. who presented them
with rifles that are the nearest APP
proach to the kind in use in the army
that can be imagined. They will make
noise when the command fire" is
given, and it makes the drills nearer
like the real thing.
Mrs. Hill has long been interested
in the company Of which her son is
the LIST sergeant and her kindness has
made her many life long friends.
The Cadets have been using guns
that were made for them of wood with
a light bayonet. and they were hardly
the kind the boys wished for. SO they
were planning the ways and means
for procuring new ones. Many plans
were discussed. and the planning was
carried to the family circles Mrs. Hill
heard Of the plans, and she did a little
planning on her own account. that she
hhtehASu ~ NC u 10 TIE DOyS.
though her son was told that the COM
pahy would be presented with guns.
Monday forenoon.
1t was long before the hour Of 3
which was the time appointed by Gen.
eral White for the company to be on
hand to march to the Blaine mansion
to get the guns, that the boys were
ready at the generals house, every one
of the company being present. They
marched to the house where they
found the guns stacked in regulation
style
MRS. Hill made few remarks in
giving the guns to the boys. to which
General White responded for the boys,
and they showed that they fully
agreed with what she said by the
cheers they gave at the close of his
remarks. In single file the soldiers
marched by Mrs. Hill, and she handed
each gun.
remarkable circumstance of the
case was that the very spot where the
guns We're presented. was where James
g. Blaine received officially, in 1884,
the news of his nomination by the
Republican party as candidate for
President of the United States.
A short time was given for the boys
to inspect their guns, when the bugle
called them to fall in. A drill in close
order which includes many fancy ma
MOWERS was given, and then a skirm-
ish drill followed. The orders in this
latter drill We're all given by Bugler
Smith on his bugle He was at his
best. and it was a pretty piece or
work
Another short rest was taken when
they marched back to General Whites
home. but not before they gave thres.
cheers for DR.. and Mrs John F Hill.
The rifles are perfect imitation Of
the regular Springfield pattern, weigh
ing five pounds each The bayonet af-
fixes in the same manner as on the
regular rifle, and the chamber can be
worked the same IA,
To fire the rifle powder and ball are
not used, as they would hardly work
Well in the wooden barrel, but a good
noise can be made by placing a per-
cussiOn cap upon the lock-
The cadets are growing both in num-
bers, and in interest in their work,
and are now able to criticise the regu-
lar soldiers. 1t was amusing to hear
some of the best drilled in the lor,
criticise the work Of the awkward
members of the batteries the day that
they all acted as an. escort to the re-
turning 1st Regiment
With their new guns for which they
are all SO thankful to Mrs. HILL their
work will be made pleasanter than
ever.
Sam WEIGH, .Jr.. Of Bath, was in the
city calling on friends. Monday.