The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-16
COMFY THE PRIZE WINNER.
,voN MEDAL IN THE SAVANNAH
CADETS SPLENDID DRILL.

Good and Was Watched by the
Many Spectators with Vast Inter
est-Was Amid Applause That Pri-
x.te Wilbur VI. COney Won, Sergt.
Prise Standing as the Last But
one-How the Drill Was Managed
md the Ten Hono-ed by Standing
in the Last Squad.
The savannah Cadets prize drill at the
Guards' Hall last night was largely at
tended and added another 10 the many
brilliant successes, military and social
,bat have been scored by the company
When. after midnight, the guests of the
cadets began to leave the hall, there was
not one who was not singing the praises
of the command.
The drill was fine exhibition of the
training the young soldiers have received
from their officers, and sufficient COM
mentary upon the pains and care the lat
Ter have shown in preparing them for the
exhibition, giving up many social pleas
ures 10 attend the practice drills and in
struct in the details that go to make up
the well-drilled man.
It was shortly after O. clock that the
company filed into the hall, having been
formed in the rooms below Already the
hall had been filled by the friends Of the
Cadets, rows of chairs occupying quite one
half the space. Sufficient room was left
however, for the command to be put
through the manual the branch of the
drill regulations in which the contest was
held.
Many ladies', admirers of the Cadets,
were present, while the uniforms of the
company were supplemented by a liberal
sprinkling of those from other commands
in the city. The effect, in so far as color
reached, was pleasing, the red of the
Guards and the artillery facing the gray
of their uniforms, the blue of the infantry
and the resplendent trimmings Of the Hus-
sars serving TO give the scene a dash of
the bizarre that is not found in those gath
erings where effects in coloring are de-
pendent upon the gowns of the ladies.
The Cadets were under command of
Capt j. T. West, First Lieutenant j. c.
Tyson and Second Lieutenant Walter E.
Couey, who is 10 be commissioned captain
and adjutant of the First Regiment, assist
ing him. When the company marched in
to the hall, fifty strong, the audience
greeted it with applause. and soon the
command had been divided into platoons
in order TO admit of alignment in single
rank for the manual. That was done in
order that the officers might better watch
for errors in it's execution. /
From the first 1t was clearly evident to
the spectators that they might expect to
witness a creditable performance. There
was a snap and quickness about the move
ments that indicated plainly the ability
of the company to drill. Had there been
any doubt of this it would have been
speedily dispelled by the way in which
the men stood to their places, only an
occasional one being dropped out from
time to time as the quick eyes of the
three officers perceived some mistake in
the execution
After long siege the first platoon had
been skeetonized by the dropping out Of
man after man until but the following
five remained: Sergt. Harty, Corpl.
Brooks, Private Herman, Private Smith
and Private Butler. The plan was for
those to take their places with the others
of the same platoon who had fallen by
the wayside until the second platoon
might be reduced to the same number
Then the ten men Of the two patoons
who had demonstrated their superiority
were to struggle for the medal.
The exhibition given by the second
platoon was fully as interesting as that
OF the first. II is possible that the second
platoon stood the test just a shade better.
Finally, however, the number was reduced
TO the desired five, and a brief rest was
then given the winners for the last trial.
Those standing last in tie second platoon
were Sergt. Purse, Privates Coney, Adams,
Elton and Dusenberry.
The principal interest was conferred in
the trial of the ten 1t was clear that
there would be difficulty encountered in
drilling them down. For some time the
ten stood without waverng, but then
there was one to drop The unfortunate
was Private Butler who was closely fol-
lowed by Private Herman. Then Private
smith, Sergt. Harry Private Elton, Priv
ale Adams Private Duser berry, Corpl
Brooks and Sergt. Purse followed in the
order given. Private Wilbur NJ COMFY
vas then left lying all alone, as it was OH
the order to lie down" ahat Sergt. Purse
was put out of the competition.
1t was in a storm of applause that Pri-
Vate Coney won. When the command.
port arms had been given, and he had
neen dismissed, the winner was sought by
MS comrades and friends, all of whom
were eager to congratulate him. There
was yet the Formally of the presentation
Of the medal however, and Capt. West
'aHed upon Col. Jordan F. Brooks to be-
STOW the prize upon the fortunate win
ner
Cob Brooks referred in pleasing terms to
MS long connection with the company,
ana congratulated the Cadets upon the
success OF their drill He spoke of the af-
Iecuon and esteem in which he holds the
Command, and the regret he feels to be no
longer actively upon it's roll. Deprecating-
~ ne spoke of Capt. West having secured
HHi TO make the presentation, saying that
"hen he was captain of the Cadets and
Iohducted such drills he had always shown
ueter Judgment. obtaining the services of
one better qualified than himself to make
speech. In lieu of the ability to make
euch speech as he would like, the Colonel
eald' though others had no reason to COM
pam OF what they heard. that the COM
pahy would have to accept the undying
It, ~
capt. Walter r. Coney, when an enlist
ga man of the Cadets, was wont to win all
ay prizes without mentioning the Cap
1Ilh specifically, Col. Brooks said il SEEM
eu that the name of Coney was destined
10 ne ever that Of the prize winner In the