Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-11-13
AND THE BANJO PLAYED ON.

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In telling some stories about General
Joseph P. Sanger Of the United States
army In the New York Commercial, .
writer relates one incident which 10 Of
much interest to Maine readers. II has
probably lost nothing with age and repe-
tition. "Years ago." says the narrator,
"Sanger, then holding the rank Of major,
was for two or three years detailed on
special detail by the War Department -
instructor In military tactics Ut Bowdoin
College. That was during the regime OF
General Chamberlain as president, and
the experiment came near breaking up
the ancient Institution. In the fall Of
1917, % an attraction at the Sagadahoc
County fair at Topsham, the Bowdoin
Battalion was invited to parade and give
an exhibition drill. Major Sanger WAS
In command and Francis H. Hatch
since then envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary from the re-
public OF Hawaii to the United States
was adjutant. The troops consisted OF
four companies Of infantry and one OF
artillery with four brass field pieces,
twelve FOUNDERS. The students had
been finely drilled and the exhibition
WAS bowling success. Probably TO-
600 people, mostly country folk, were
the spectators--and they not only filed
the grand stand and every available inch
of ground round about, but stood up In
wagons and on boxes, barrels and booths
to see the show.
"Finslly, President Chamberlain ap-
pesred In the judges stand, escortiug
Governor PerhAm, and made signal to
Major Sanger. Instantly the little
major gave the order to reverse the guns
so as to face the opposite side Of the field
and 10 fire the regular governors salute
Of II guns. The artillerists executed
the order with the precision Of West
Pointers, and bang! went four guns In
unison.
Christianity there WAS the widest con-
fusion all over the fair grounds. Women
and children shrieked, old farm horses
reared and dashed Oft anywhere TO &c,
away, the crowd started pell-mell and
began trampllng each other, fences and
ratings broke, frail booths collapsed as
the crowds on them moved precipitously
the exhibition cattle beloved, roosters
crowed, turkeys gobbled, dogs barked
aud amidst II sill the fair officials, be
gloved In white cotton and beribboned
In blue and gold, faced the fiery little
major and shook their fists In angry
protest. But the firing went on with
beautiful precision-'Actlon front, load
| In three time, fire'-while the major,
who had disuiounted, strutted serenely
back and forth In the rear Of the battery
Suddenly, In taking 4 few rapid PAGES
backward, one Of his spurs came In con
tact with an overturned piece Of sod, his
sword got entangled with his legs, snt
over went the little msjor, turning 4
complete somerssult! The crowd wal
too terrified TO laugh, the well-drillet
infantry at present arms never changed
countenance, and the UNBIASED com
msnder, az he regAined his feet, hi
dress uniform all sand and grass, wa,
| lust In time TO shout as the seventeenth
round exploded: Cease firing. Prepare
to shift the right Wheel And the artil
lery men obeyed with the precision o
veterans; within Ave minutes the who'll
battalion WAS marching out Of tn
grounds In fine form, with It's commsnd
er, now mounted, In the lead, and bow
Ing and saluting TO right and left a
acquaintance and friends recognizes
him.
"The smoke of battle hung heavy al
about, wrecked farm wagons and smsr
livery buggies lay In heaps by the way
side, bruised and bleeding men, womel
and children were everywhere 10 EVIL
dence, and the whole fair outfit seeme
temporarily to have gone tn smssh-bu
the band played The Girl Left Behiu'
Me- while the troops retired In perfec
order. Numerous lawsuits for damage
followed, and II was years before IN
fair association got things strsightene
out again. And II never made mil
tary drill feature Of It's cattle show
any more"