The times., 1901-03-10
MUSICIANS AT A BANQUET
Members of the Marine Band at
Their Second Annual Dinner.
Celebration of Their Departure on a
Concert Tour - Flowers From Mrs.
McNInIcy-The Origin and History
of the Famous Orgnuizatiou.

The members of the Marine Band laid
aside their tuneful instruments last night
and gathered about the banquet table at
Fritz Reuters Hotel. where an elaborate
menu was served II was the organiza-
tons second anniversary dinner, and the
occasion was a most enjoyable one. BY
the remarkably good work which the
band under the direction Of Lieut. W. II.
Santelmann. has done during the past
week at the Inauguration ceremonies. the
pleasures of the event were well earned.
Nearly all of the seventy-two members
of the famed musical organization were
present in uniform, and as their guests
they had several officers of the Marine
Corps.
Following the custom Of a number of
years, the Secretary Of the Navy has
consented to allow the band to take an
extensive trip. through the South and
West, and the banquet last night was in
part in celebration of their departure.
Lieutenant Santemann, the talented d-
rector of the band. officiated as toast
master. During the progress of the din
ner messenger from the White House
arrived and presented to Lieutenant San
telmann large bouquet of lilies of the
valley from Mrs. Mckinley. The honored
guests of the evening were Lieutenant
Snyder, Lieut.. r II. Brown, Lieut. r. P
Dewey, Lieut.. J. X. Tracey, Lieut. Will
liam Bracket, and Lieut.. II. d. South.
who responded to impromptu toasts. The
members of the band present We're:
William H. Santelmann, Walter F. Smith.
Reuben Bradley Percy S Angle William Au A.
r. Banker. Frank Baptista, John Baptsta,
Ferdinand c. Beckert Frederick Boettcher Pat
rick Brennan. Taylor Rranson. Howard D. Clapp,
GuSlieimo De Luca, Arthur DE Marco, Alfonso
DE Nncenty, Harry Eaton, Samuel EOppoucCi,
John Esputa Samuel FIRTH Alfred GacChetti
Joseph GiOvannini, Arcangeio Guerreri Achile
GuimOnd, Herman Jaeger Joseph JeagEp Sam
uel johnson. William b. Judge William Ken
drck, William keppler, Frank \. King Charles
W. Kruger, Louis VI. Kruger. LauritZ VI. Larsen
Otto Lchnert, Jacinto Licarione. Julius Loefaer
Leo \. Mazzullo, Edward McIntire. Robert Nc
klnnon. William II. Miller, Jean b. II. Moere-
mans, Giuseppe Moino, Charles L. Morgan. Fred
Naecker. Carl NeumaUn. Josef Oliveri Frederick
PAtz>ehke, Vincent Petrola Fred Pfeifer Henry
Repetti, Henry Romer. Robert f. Secl Theodore
Michele Stanisci, Harry \. Stone Henry Stop
sack Samuel H. Taylor William Tavlor john
ter Linden Louis Tleux. Arthur Tregina H. P
Van den Bossche, Edward Van Loock Jacques
Louis Nanpoucke Frederick Walen. W II. Wal
ton, \. O. Nacker, +. o. Weber Henry p
Nerrcs and Hans Wunderlich.
The banquet last night brings to mind
the story of how the Marine Band was
founded. The organization had its origin
in some very curious circumstances. Early
in the present century an American man
of-war was cruising in the Mediterranean
and had orders to go from Naples TO Nice
1t had no band. and, lively social season
being expected, the commanding officer of
the vessel, Captain ONeill, who was
somewhat noted for his eccentr.cities. sent
a boats crew ashore with orders to cap
ture and impress as Seamen the first
strolling band they came across. This
was dore and the kidnapped musicians
were brought to Washington at the end
Of the cruise, Notwithstanding the siren
uous protests on their part.
They appealed to the President of the
United States. He decided that they
should be sent back to Italy and thev
were put on board another warship bound
for the Mediterranean. Just then the war
OF lSl2 broke out; the war vessel carrying
the musicians encountered British ship
fought her, captured her, and returned to
New York with the prize. BY this time
the musicians had changed their minds
and they decided TO enlist in the Marine
Corps.
Thus was formed the nucleus Of the
famous Marine Band. Many descendants
of these original musicians Of the organi-
ZattOu now live in Washington. One OF
these MUSICIANS was named Carusi and
he was the first leader Of the band His
son was proprietor Of the famous Carusi
tASSeIlD4( Rooms, IN Whlcn number OF
luauguratiOns balls We're held
On August IS, 1856 the Marine Band re
ceiVed its first official recognition. Con-
gress then passed a bill 10 this effect:
The marines who compose the Marine
Band shall be entitled to 81 a month each
in addition 70 their pay as non-commis-
stoned officers. musicians, and privates of
the Marine Corps, as long as they shall
perform. by order Of the Secretary of the
Navy or other superior officer. on the
Capitol Grounds or the Presidents
Grounds.
Sousa. the most famous leader Of the
Marine Band. assumed the baton in 1850.
His father was a musician I'm the band,
and h. himself was trained In the OrEani-
Zaton almost from childhood. Franklin
Pierce, one of the musicians formerly en-
ployed in the band, enlisted in the British
Army during the Crimean war. He was
attached to Prince Albert's own HussaTs,
who formed part Of the historic 600 in
the charge at BalaklaVs.