The evening times., 1899-11-04
TEE POLICE DRILLS END
An Excellent Showing at the Final
Inspections Today.
The Men of the Seventh, Eighth, and
Ninth Precincts Before Major Syl-
vester, Lieutenant Colonel Hoss'
and the Others-The Contest of the
Bluccoats for the Wight Flag.

The third annual inspection and drill
of the Metropolitan police force in compe-
tition for the John B. Wight prize silk
flag has been concluded. 1t ended this
afternoon shortly after 3 o'clock, when the
order to break ranks was given the men OF
the Ninth precinct by Lieutenant Daley,
formerly known as the Fighting Ser
geant.'' Now there will be nothing
talked of in police circles for several
days that will have so absorbing an
interest as the result of the drill and
inspection. Speculation will be rife,
and as the men of all the precincts are
confident of victory nothing but an official
announcement Of the victors will suffice to
convince eight precincts that they have
been beaten in the opinion Of the judges
of the drill and inspection. The victorious
precinct will, of course. not be disappoint-
ed, as all are sure that they are winners.
The official announcement will not be made
until Tuesday, and then only one hour be-
fore the annual parade of the Police and
Fire departments is ready to start.
Had IL not been for the inclement wealth
er. the contest would have been concluded
yesterday, when the Seventh, Eighth. and
Ninth precincts were scheduled to face the
inspecting party. Because of the elements
a postponement was necessary, and no one
was sorry Of IT. as II gave the men an op-
portunity TO get in a little more advan-
tageous work before they underwent the
ordeal.
The day was an ideal one for drill. The
sun shone brighter and filled all interested
hearts with gladness. Promptly at ]
o'clock Major Sylvester. Captain Austin and
Lieutenant Inspector Cross, OF the Police
Department. and Lieut.. Col. Burton X.
Ross. Of the Washington Light Infantry. ap-
peared AT the Seventh precinct. There they
found the men OF the drill team in readiness
and the drill went of smoothly, and without
hitch. At its conclusion the inspecting
party jourueyed 10 the Eighth precinct.
where Lieutenant Kenney now holds
the prize flag. II was O'Clock when the
drill there began, and about 2:30 o'clock
when II concluded. There is a unanimity
of opinion regarding the drill put up by
the flag defenders and all that witnessed IL
are agreed that II will be o great homo:
for the precinct which beats the drill put
up by kenney's men and thus wrests the
flag from them.
After the inspecting party had congratu-
lated the men OF the Eighth precinct Oh
their magnificent showing. they departed
making the Ninth precinct their objective
point There Lieutenant Daley was await
ing them with as fine appearing and we'll
drilled team as any previously inspect
ed. The men moved like ciockwork
and executed the commands issued
to them like veterans. Their drill
was possibly more perfect in many de-
tails than any of the other precincts, but
they were lacking in some things. Taken
as whole, however, it can be said that
few il any of the precincts excelled the men
of No. 8, and ii would not be a great sur
prise if the flag went northeast. Those
who have watched the drill closely
throughout the week say that if No. 9 does
not get the flag the precinct that does can
feel assured that they certainly put up the
best possible drill when they got decision
over Lieutenant Daley's men.