Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-13
A FINE SHOW.
The Portland National Guardsmer
Give An Exhibition.
Troops Reviewed by Governor Hill and
His Staff.

The annual military exhibition by the
| military companies of Portland is an
event eagerly anticipated by the ma
iority of the citizens of this city and
| that of Wednesday evening III every re
spect far surpassed any of its predeces-
sors. Not only was it witnessed by an
immense throng but the evolutions per-
| formed were of a far more pretentious
| character than ever before.
Long before SIS, the hour at which
the exhibition was to commence, the
| tide OF humanity began to flow into
Railway square, and when the head of
| the military column reached the square
| it seemed as though at least 10000 peo-
pie had assembled to witness the
manoeuvers. Every point of vantage
was occupied and many were SO anX-
ious to obtain an unobstructed view,
| that they climbed telegraph poles and
| swarmed upon the roofs of railroads
| cars. Nearly all the rooms on the front
of the West End hotel were reserved
for city officials, military officers and
| invited guests and every window was
| occupied.
| The square was splendidly lighted,
| extra arc lamps having been installed
| for the occasion, while the movements
of the various commands were followed
by large search light located on the
roof of the hotel.
The military column consisting of
companies l., a, Z and b, the Signal
Corps and the Naval Brigade assembled
| at the arnory early in the evening and
| at 1.45 the column headed by a platoon
| of police under command of Inspector
Henderson and Chambers 1st Regiment
| Rand, moved up Middle to Congress
| street. At Monument square Co. NJ of
| Westbrook fell into line and then the
| column proceeded to Lieutenant Colonel
| Hale's residence on State street, from
| whence Governor Hill was escorted to
! Railroad square.
| Tie first thing on the program was a
guard mount by Co. Nj of Westbrook,
| which was performed In q highly
creditabe manner. All the details at
| Tenant upon guard mount were car
ricd out, Chambers Band assisting. In
the guard mount Captain Kennard of A
| company acted as officer of the day,
| captain Graham of NJ company as ad-
jutant, Lieutenant Lord of NJ COM
|
Lieutenant Cummings of NJ company as
| surcrnumerary officer of the guard.
| After the guard mount came a lively
and interesting exhibition of wall seal
ing py the Naval Reserves. This por-
ton of the program caught the fancy of
| the crowd and the sailors were heartily
applauded for their good work. Next
i'll order came a battalion drill by Com
| ~ - l,n
mand Of Major Welch. 1t was an
elaborate drill and in addition to the
regular movements there were street
column movements and extended order
| movements. During the latter the bat
| talon was supposed to be in action the
firing fine consisting Of Companies l.
| and Il under command of Captain Con-
| ley while the support consisted OF Com
| panieS A and Is under the command OF
| Ma ior WEIGH. The firing line advanced
| by ruShes. then charged and brought
! their portion of the program to a close
| by an exhibition of rapid firing during
| which a considerable amount of am
munition was used. The battalion drill
was splendidly executed and Major
| Welch and his command were highly
COMMUNICATED by all the military visi-
|
| tors.
| Following the battalion drill came
| battery drill by the Naval Reserves I'M
der the command of Lieutenant Bige-
| law. in which both the gattling gun and
| the one-pounder were used. This drill
was executed in double time and was
one of the most thrilling and exciting
events Of the evening. 1t was carried
4 nd
Bigelow's men handled their guns like
| veterans.
| The final thing on the program was
| the review in which Companies l.. A, F,
EB and NJ participated. and also the
Signal Corps and the Naval Reserves.
! The troops were reviewed by Governor
| Hill. Mayor Bothby, Mayor Warren OF
Westbrook. Col Kendall of the LIST
| Regiment and the following members
of the Governors staff: Adjutant Cen
eral Farnham, Brigadier General Hoyt
| Col. Dill, Col. Keefe, Col. Anderson,
Lieutenant Colonel Hale, and Major
Day.
lne troops having passed in review
started on their return to the armory.
Lieutenant Colonel Collins staff con-
sisted of Lieutenant j. E. Mcdonald OF
l. Company. who acted as adjutant,
and Lieutenant Mccarthy of | Com
pany of Lewiston.
Major Welch's staff consisted of
Lieutenant burlington, Regimental
Sergeant Major Bailey. Quartermaster
Sergeant Murch, Commissary Sergeant
Harris and Battalion Sergeant Major
Hamilton.
Sergeant Hatch of B company acted
rs drum major in thoroughly salts
factory manner.