The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
MUSICIANS AT A BANQUET
Members of the Marine Band at
Their Second Annual Dinner.
Celebration of Their Departure on N
Concert Tour - Flowers From Mrs.
MckinIcy-The Origin and History
of the Famous Organization.

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.
| Nearl.- 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 Santelmann, the talented di-
rector of the band. officiated as toast
master. During the progress of the din
ner n messenger from the White House
arrived and presented to Lieutenant San
teimann large bouquet of lilies of the
valley from Mrs. Mckinley The honored
Snyder, Lieut.. T. II. Brown. Lieut.. r. p.
Dewey, Lieut.. J. X. Tracey, Lieut. VIII
liam Brackett. and Lieut.. II. d. South.
who responded to impromptu toasts. The
members of the band present were:
William II. santemann, Walter F. Smith.
Reuben Bradley Percy s Angle William Au A.
r Banker. Frank Baptista John Baptista
Ferdinand c. Beckcrt Frederick Boettcher, Pat
rick Brennan. Taylor Branson, Howard D. CIapp,
tstlg He Itafs Ar.I,, IL
De Nincenty. Harry Eaton. Samuel Eoppollucci,
john Esputa. Samuel Firth Alfred Giacchet.i
Joseph 'iovannini, Arcangelo Guerrieri Achile
GullnOnd, Herman Jaeger, Joseph Ieagr Sam
uel johnson. William b. Judge William Ken
driek, William keppler. Frank A. King. Charles
W Kruger. Louis VI. Kruger, Lauritz " Larsen
Vtto Lehncrt, Jacinto Licarione, julius Loefier,
Leo a Mdzzuiln, Edward McIntire Robert Nc
hinnon, William II. Miller Jean b. H. Moere-
nam; giuseppe Molino, Charles l.. Morgan Fred
naecker, Carr Neumann, Josef Oliveri Frederick
kepett, Henry Romer, Robert f. Secl Theodore
Seyenhuysen, Harry G. Sims George Sousa
Michele Stanisei. Harry \. Stone. Henry Stop
sack. Samuel H. Taylor William TayIor Holm
ter Linden. Louis Tilleux Arthur Tregina II p
Van den Bossche. Edward Van Loock. Jacques
Louis Nanpoucke. Frederick Walen. W. H. Wal
Ton y 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
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 O'Neir who was
somewhat noted for his eccentr.cities. sent
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
or 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 they
We're put on board another warship bound
Tor 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- |
zation 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's |
Assembly Rooms. in which number of |
lnaugurations balls were held.
On August ls 1856. the Marine Band re- |
ceived its first official recognition. Con-
gress then passed "A bill to this effect. |
The marines who compose the Marine |
Band shall be entitled to 81 month each |
in addition to 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 ether superior officer on the |
Capitol Grounds or the Presidents |
Grounds.
Sousa, the most famous leader of the |
Marine Band, assumed the baton in 1850.
Ills father was a musician in the band, |
and he himself was trained In the orEani-
Zation almost from childhood Franklin
Pierce. one of the musicians formerly en- |
Floyed in the band enlisted in the British |
Army during the Crimean war. He was |
attached to Prince Albert own Hussars
who formed part of the historic COO in |
the charge at Balaklava.