Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-06-15
CLOSING EXERCISES.
Realistic Reproduction of the Fight ot
san Juan Hill-Bsae Ba11-Other
Eyents

Realistic Reproduction of the Fight of
san Juan Hill-Bsae Ba1l-Other
Events.
The class of '99 were the sole owners of
the West Jersey Academy all day Fri.
day, and it was good use they made of
it, too. Glass Day, planting the class ivy
and the prize drill, and sham battle were
the order of things, and they thoroughly
themselves.
Long before 10 30 in the morning the
assembly room began to fill up. and at
10 30 it was crowded. At the stroke the
class of '99, fifteen strong, clad in the
regulation cap and gown. filed slowly in,
and with much dignity took their seats
on the platform. Robert Klotz made the
address of welcome to the school. the
visitors and the coming classes. His
remarks were timely. his advice good,
and received with much applause.
Malcolm Webster read the class poem
and its composition reflects considerable
credit on that young man. 1t was greatly
enjoyed by all.
The class history, by Norman Hill, told
the listeners of 1898 birth, infancy, youth
and all OF its doings down to the present
time. 1t was written in good style.
George Tomlinson, in the class, tried to
trace the future career of '99, and if his
predictions come true, '99 will always
nave bed OF roses, and live happy. for
ever.
Roscoe Wards oration to the coming
seniors was one of his witty speeches and
he Kept the hearers laughing most of the
time. incidentally giving lot of advice
both good and bad.
The closing address was made by the
President, Frank B. Cortright,
The impressive cermony of transfer
ring the gown to Selyn Toms, 1900 fol-
lowed. He received it promising to keep
up the standard of '99 and the exercises
closed.
The class passed out to the South West
corner of the building and with much
solemnity the class ivy was planted.
Charles Woodruff delivered the ivy ora
ton. II was a simple touching scene.
The Drill and Sham Battle.
Cap and gown, gave away to the short,
tight fitting military coats and white duck
trousers and in an instant the building
and the campus was pervaded with q
martial air and that part of the program.
the prize drill and sham battle, so dear to
the students, was at last athand.
| Soon the battalion with flying colors
| and to the beat of the drum came march
ing down the field nnder the command
OF Major Pratt. The appearance was fine
After few turns of the field, the bat
talon halted and Company A came for
ward to drill for the prize. 1t was an
imposing picture they made standing
there at attention, awaiting the word of
command, everyone eager for the prize.
The brown stone of the Academy and the
green trees, large and grand, and the
slight rise of the parade, formed we'll
set back ground. In front were the
Judges, Lawyer James Boyd Potter, Rev.
Sylvester Beach and Captain Fithian,
back of them were rows of those who had
assembled to see the drill, fathers and
mothers, friends and relatives, each to
see their boys, as son of wars, and the
girls. we'll they were everywhere, gowned
in white, with parasols, in fact, they
FORMED the larger part.
After the three companies had drilled,
the men were selected. Ten faced the
judges. They stood like statues and
drilled with the regularity and smooth
ness of an engine. 1t looked like tie.
The decision was not announced by the
judges, but was reserved until the even
ing of the closing exercises.
Then the sham battle. 1t was a clever
illustration of the Rough Riders at San
Juan Hill. At one end of the parade
grounds redoubt had been thrown up
to represent the hill, and from the top
large Spanish flag waved defiance to the
Rough Riders.
The advance was begun, and the Rough
Riders in the face of heavy fire moved
forward by rushes, firing as they went,
and after twenty minutes it ended in
glorious charge. The hill was taken,
the Spanish colors torn down, and the
proud banner of the Free wave in its
place. and the Spanish had fled.
Firing went on for the next half hour,
the crowd faded, the military air with it,
and the school campus and the much
contested hill settled down in peace and
quiet. reconciled to American occupation.
Bali Game.
The annual ball game between the
School and the Alumni, took place in the
afternoon, but was stopped on account of
the rain. The score was to 5.
Spain's Great Need.
Mr.. X. P. Olivia, of Barcelona, Spain,