The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-24

| alarm had been sounded that many of the
| people had forgotten the import OF the
4 eleven successive strokes from the Bis
! Duke, but there were enough who remem-
/ bered the meaning of the signal TO spread
I the report through the city like wi.dare
/ that riot was in progress somewhere.
| and that the military men We're wanted
1 at their armories.
| 1t was the second time in the history
| of the city that the military alarm has
! been sounded by the fire department Dur
/ ing the trouble with the longshoremen sew
eral years ago the military we're sum
| moned to their armores and held ready
| for service when it was thought they might
| be needed. II was then that the idea oc-
| CURED of agreeing upon a signal by which
| al the members of the military could
| be notified at once in case of danger re-
| curing their services. Eleven strokes of
the big duke was agreed upon as the sig
| nal
The only time previous to yes terday that
| this alarm has been Sounded was on the
| occasion OF the Slattery riot in the spring
of 1897. The military responded as prompt
| ~ on that occasion as they did yester-
| day In fact, the response was probably
even more prompt because il was given
! at night and many of the men were in
| their armories at the time. Many were
at their places of business this time, and
/ others were on their way from dinner
| AVAliC were enjoying dIleF-slinler n0pS.
| from which they were Fudely awakened
| by the call to arms.
| The military signal being purely q mu-
ncipal matter agreed upon for local pro-
| lection in case of trouble in the city or its
| vicinity, 1t was necessary 20 obtain the
permission of the Mayor before the alarm
! could be sounded. The permission wos
given none the less freely that the troops
were needed for service at n distance
| Inc effect of the alarm was to call all
the military to their armories when only
the members OF the First Reg ment were
wanted. As it would have required con-
| siderable time TO reach the numerous
! membership of the regiment by other
| means, the Inconvenience to the members
OF the other commands was unavoidable
the Governors. command being that the
| troops should be moved promptly. Crowds
! We're soon gathered at the armories of the
Guards, the Hussars and the Chatham
Artillery, as well as that of the First
| regiment, and much regret was express
Cd by the members of these commands
| when 1t was learned that the order of the
| Governor applied only to the First Regi-
| ment. Rumors were current. however. to
| the effect that the trouble at Darien had
assumed serious proportions and there
was a feeling at the armores that the or
ders for the other commands to move
might he received at any moment Such
orders would not have-been at all unac-
| ceptabe
Many of the Savannah military men saw
| service with their commands I'm the late
war with Spain. They were more than
wiling to see another touch of the real
| thing. At the samA time they knew what
long, hot night rides in crowded trains
meant and how heavy a gun and pack
| could get after being carried for several
/ hours and they did not discuss the pros
poets as eagerly as their fellow comrades
who had not had these experiences. The
/ latter We're especially anxious for a chance
to show their valor and awaited the ar
| rival of orders with eagerness.
Lieut.. Cunningham, commanding the
/ Georgia Hussars. was the first to report
to Mayor Myers by telephone after the
sounding of the alarm, his report being
received about twenty minutes after the
larm struck. The commanders of the
other commands reported to the Mayor
shortly afterwards that they were ready
for orders, this being the rule when the
alarm is sounded. Col Deveaux report
ed that the three companies of the First
| Battalion, Georgia Volunteers, colored
] at their armories ready for service The
/ colored commands responded promptly and
! their commanders seemed more than anx-
| fous to be given some share In whatever
| melee was brewing Col. Deveaux re-
| ported in full uniform and remained In
| readiness for orders during the after
noon.
Mayor Myers was more than pleased
with the prompt response of the military
| and so expressed himself at the meeting of
| Council yesterday afternoon
/ me prompt response OF the military
! was very satisfactory indeed" said Mayor
| Myers. ut shows the value and efficiency
Of our military. and that the members
/ both officers and men, are always in readi-
/ ness to respond to a call of this kind. Had
] the Governor called for tVVica COo MOI, 7