The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-15
PRAISED C0LoRED TROOPS.
COL. OBEAR AND OTHERS THOUGHT
THEY SHOWED UP WELL.

twentieth Annual Parade of the Lo-
cal Battalion Took Place Yester-
day MOrning-It Was Participated
in by the Fulton Guards of Atlanta
and the Lincoln Guards of Macon.
col. j. II. Deveaux Was in Com
mand The organiza lions That
Participated-A Number of the Men
Were Unable to Withstand the En-
cessive Heat.
The twentieth annual parade of the
First Battalion of Infantry, Georgia state
Troops, colored, was held yesterday morn
ing, thousands of the coored popula ton
and a great many white people watching
the display from the sidewalks as the SOL
diers marched through the principal
streets and commenting favorably upon
the excellent appearance they presented
That the colored troops could make such
a credkable display and exhibit such
knowledge of the drill regulations was a
revelation TO many of the white people
who observed them, and many compli-
ments resulted.
The parade started from the corner of
East Broad and Liberty streets, with Col
J. II. Deveaux, commanding the battlion,
at its head Accompanying the colonel
were the members of his staff, Adjutant
Sol. C. johnson. Lieut.. j. H. Bugg, In
spector of Rifle Practice. and Chaplain
] J. Durham. A brass band furnished
the music for the march, which proved
long and exceedingly hot and tiresome.
So hot was it, in fact that there We're
three outright prostrations, the soldiers
falling in the ranks and having to be TAX
en- to the sidewalk, where they were cared
for until the arrival of the police ambu-
lance. The men were taken TO their homes
and last accounts received from them in
dicated that they were resting easily and
that there would probably be no fatal re-
suits. That they were knocked out by the
heat, though, there could be no doubt, for
all three were clearly insensible and ply
sicians had to be secured in order to re-
store them to consciousness and insure re-
covery
The three ambulance cases were by no
means the only ones. though no others
were SO serious. There were several who
had to drop out of ranks along the line of
march, and, when the parade terminated
al the Park Extension, there were a num-
Der who decided they could not stand in
ranks for the inspection to which the
companies We're to be subjected by Col.
w G. Obear. They had 10 leave and lie
down in the shade. The weather was
sweltering, even in the shade, and il was
easily understood that the soldiers were
having hard time marching in the sun.
The Fulton Guards of Atlanta and the
Lincoln Guards of Macon were the visit
ing companies. They are the only col
ored military commands in the state out
side of Savannah The local companies
that participated in the parade were the
Chatham Light Infantry, the Lincolns,
the Savannah Light Infantry and the Col
Quit Blues. Bringing up the rear were
the Georgia Artillery, with two cannon,
the battery being under command of
Capt. ]. C. Simmons.
The troops marched to Bryan street,
and then proceeded out Bull and Dray-
ton to the Park Extension, where the in
specuon was to take place. Col. Obear
came down from Atlanta for the special
purpose of making it. His report will
be favorable to che colored troops, as he
expressed himself to a representative of
the Morning News as having been well
pleased with the showing made. The Wis
iting companies he thought, deserved par
ticular praise for the interest and enthus-
iasm that had prompted them TO pay their
own railroad fare from Atlanta and Ma
con to participate in the parade.
Upon the conclusion of the inspection,
the companies took electric cars for Lin
coin Park, west of the city, where a pic
mic and dancing were enjoyed.