The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-18
COMFY WON MEDAL
HE WAS THE VICTOR IN PRIZE
DRILL OF SAVANNAH CADETS.
WAS A SPLENDID CONTEST.
MANY SPECTATORS WATCHED
STRUGGLE FOR THE HONOR.


Capt. j. II. West-Dfvision Into
PIatoons to Facilitate the Drill.
The Last Five. Men, Left Standing
in Each Platoon Were Combined
for Further Drilling to Ascertain
. That One Most Perfect in the Ex-
ecutiOn of the ManuaI-This Prov
ed to BE Private n. NJ. COney-CoI.
Gordon Presented the Medal.
Dancing Then Enjoyed.
The annual prize drill of the Savan-
nah Cadets was held last night at the
Guards Hall, and the medal was won
by Private N. NJ. Coney who proved
the best versed in the manual of arms
of all the fifty-five men who partici-
pated. The very large assembly of
spectators applauded long and loudly
when Private j. H. Elton. Jr., who had
stuck bravely to the task that he had
set himself of being the last survivor
in the desperate fight that the men
were waging against the Vigilant eyes
of their officers, at last made an error
leaving Private Coney the observed of
all observers and the winner of the
medal. ~.
1t was a brave fight that Private
Elton had made, however, and the APP
plause for the winner did not quite
drown the feeling of regret that the
other good soldier aroused when he
erred in some minor detail of the move
ment of draw cartridge" 1t had
been a pretty contest, both between the
two who stood last and among the ten,
five from each platoon, who, with every
nerve strained. mind intent upon the
proper execution of the orders given.
strove long and earnestly to handle
their pieces without fault and win the
coveted trophy. sel 5s1 iii I'll
Capt. ]. T. Westswas in command of
the Cadets when they marched into
the hall to the spirited march that was
played by the excellent orchestra of the
First Regiment Band. Almost half the
hall had been taken up with seats,
which had been arranged for the Ca
diets guests, but there was still room
enough for the drill. The company
presented a striking appearance as it
marched into the, hall, and the APP
drill, began with the appearance of the
command.
1t was announced by Capt. West
that the company would be divided
into platoons; that each platoon would
be drilled down until but five men re-
manned, and that these ten men would
be drilled until but one, the. medal
winner, was left standing Lieut.. James
C. Tyson and Lieut.. A. j. Thorpe as
sisted, alternating with Capt. West in
giving the commands. ALI the officers
watched carefully for mistakes, throw
ing the men out whenever they were
discovered in an error. psi
Long and careful preparation for the
drill had been madese This was evil
dent to the trained eyes of the many
officers and men of other commands
who were present. They expressed the
warmest admiration FOR the manner in
which the men acquitted themselves,
rejecting credit upon their officers and
testifying to their own aptness and
ability by having mastered the in
tricaeies and difficulties of the manual.
After all the movements in the man
ual had been gone over time and again,
the first platoon fefaliy dwinded down
to the following five men: Sergt w.
B. Purse, Sergt H. j. Brooks, Corpl
r. c. Thomson, Private N. M. Coney
and Private William H. Artley. They
were roundly applauded when the re-
tire,nent Of the sixth man left them as
the platoon's representatives in the
struggle that was to follow against
five men from the second platoon
1t was just as difficult task for
the officers to bring the second platoon
down to five men, as it had been in
the case of the first platoon, but even
tually there were left Corpl. G. b. Ell
ton, Corpl. c. P. Dusenberry, Private
j. H. Elton, Jr., Private Arthur Levy
and Private F. deviation. They. too,
were applauded when It was seen that
their survival marked them as the fit
test. fef- ssEs
The keenest interest of the drill was
centered in the final battle of the
giants. The ten men were all good
soldiers, and it remained for the ordeal
of the manual to prove to the sa it's
faction of the crowd which was the
best. All, therefore, and especially
those familiar with military, listened
to every command and watched its
execution. After a time they saw~-the
men begin to drop Slowly they fell
away, in the following order: Corp1
Elton, Private Artley, Sergt. Brooks,
Sergt. Purse, Private Levy, Corpl
and Corpl! Thomson, until
only Private Elton and Private Coney
were left. Finally draw cartridge"
proved a Waterloo for Private Elton.
The company crowded about Private
Coney, anxious to congratulate the
winner. Then the company was form
ed, and Luiet, Col. JLA. Gordon adj.
dressed the assembly. Col. Gordon
spoke forcefully of the need for mill
tary, of the training and preparation
for an emergency that are ever in pro-
gress among the volunteers, of their
efficiency. of the pains taken by Of
ficers and by men. and, finally, of the
excellence of the Cadets and the splen-
did record of the company.
In presenting the medal to Private
Coney, Col. Gordon said that it was
that it should fall to one
who bore the name of Coney. Capt
Walter F. Coney, when an enlisted man
in the Cadets, won the medal more
than once, and two years ago it was
won by Lieut.. w. NJ Coney. who was
then an enlisted man In the company.
Last year it was won by Sergt. Thorpe.
since elected lieutenant, and it is now
again in the possession of Coney.
Capt. West announced after the pre-
sentation that refreshments would be
served and the floor cleared for dane )
ing, inviting the guests to remain for