The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-08
GLORIES AT CULVER
INCIDENTS OF THE MILITARY ACAD-
ENVY COMMENCEMENT.
Mimic Warfare on the Shores of Lake
Maxinkuckee, Elaborate Drill
Exercises and a Ball.

boom of evening gun TO stir the echoes on
Lake Maxinkuckee this evening. Culver
Military Academy ended its gay and at
tractive commencement programme at noon
and closed for the summer.
Culver commencement is an elaborate
affair For five days, in military or social
way, there is something always doing.
Every sort of drill has been in progress.
One hour it is artillery drill; the cadet
cannoneers serve their pieces as nimbly as
cats. Now they simulate going into action.
with blank cartridges, load," Ready
FIRE." There is the click of breech blocks,
the squirting flames, and deafening roar.
Now cannoneer falls wounded, and then
another. and another. and the duties of all
these are still performed by the few that
remain.
Over on the range we hear the sharp, dis
tinctive crack of the ball cartridge. Com
petitive target practice is in progress.
Several signal squads are wigwagging
messages with their red and white flags
A detachment across the parade ground is
receiving instruction in litter drill and first
aid to the wounded.
After bit we see marching to the cav
airy stables a squad of 1.-THE. muscular
youngsters clad in khaki riding
breeches and loose blue shirts.
Directly we are to see dar-
ing exhibition of blanket riding that has
gained for the youthful members of the
Culver Black Horse Troop the reputa ton
OF being the most remarkable boy riders
in the world.
Each year new and daring stunts have
been added and this commencement the ex-
hibti0n has been unusually fine. In addi-
q he
mounting, and dismounting of galloping
horses, and the spectacular Graeco- Roman
riding, there has been riding standing with
folded arms. with back turned to the
horses heads, riding with feet pointed sky
ward and but shoulder and hand resting
on the horse, dismounting between two
a foot on either undulating back. These
and many other startling feats have en-
tertained the hundreds of Culver visitors
during the past week, bringing from the
the hush of excited suspense, and the
deafening clatter of enthusiastic applause
AFTERNOON DRILLS.
The afternoons have been occupied with
the splendid drills of the infantry bat
talon, and the pleasing Butts manual
This latter is a beautiful series of exer-
cises in which the cadets. without word Of
command, gracefully lunge to left or right
to front or rear, swinging their rifles in
perfect rhythm to catchy airs from the
band.
Yesterday afternoon the cadets engaged
in mimicry of war, giving a realistic and
thrilling sham battle. The battle opened
with surprise attack on the outpost,
which fell slowly back under a hot fire. A
section of heavy field artillery was pushed
forward to cover the retreat, which, under
a hot cannonade, was withdrawn under
cover OF an exciting cavalry charge. The
battle was then opened in earnest with a
thunder of cannonading. The bursting
of shells was simulated by bombs placed in
trees and buried in the earth, and exploded
by electricity at each shot from the field
pieces. The advance was taken up by
rushes with alternate volleys; the litter
bearers bore the wounded to the rear; then
came the buzz and rattle of rapid fire, and
then with a wild whoop and yell the final
charge, and the cadets in blue shirts drove
back their pro tenn. enemies, the cadets in
Khaki.
The days military exercises closed with
the beautiful battalion parade. The edges
of the formation ground, gay as a flower
garden with pretty girls in airy summer
costumes, formed a bright and animated
setting for the long, motionless line of
stalwart young soldiers. Gray and gold and
white and glittering brass without, and
trained muscles within that in rhythmic
march snappy manual of arms moved
with the precision of perfection.
The band sounded off merriy. the trum-
with the sharp report of the evening gun
the strains of the "Star-spangled Banner
mingling with its echoes. and to this inspir-
ing accompaniment the colors slowly trav-
eled down their hundred feet Of staff into
the arms of the guard below.
This was the last parade, and the cadet
officers were marching forward to salute
their commander for the last time. AS thew
approached he dismounted and received
their salutes foot, and in a few brief
words congratulated them on the successful
-
thanked them for their faithful and eff
cient service. Then with faultless lines
and rhythmic step the companies swung
past in review, and the last parade was
over.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
1t is not only with military display that
the cadets entertain their visitors. Dane
ing is cadet hobby. and the cadet dances
are models of their kind. Accustomed to
evolutions and intricate marchings, their
cotillions are marvels of pleasing grace and
beauty.
Last evenings ball was the last and the
browning social event 1t began with the
booming of the cannon at 10 at night and
closed amid the echoes Of the sunrise gun
this morning. 1t was a beautiful scene OF
brilliant lights, dazzling festoons of color,
dainty gowns contrasting prettily with
DTiSnt uHiIOrIIls ana Oh Stlll brighter faces,
and mirth and laughter, and all that goes
to make up cadet party. When boys can
drill all day and dance all night IL looks
like endurance was not the least of the
benefits of their training.
A unique social feature was the after
noon german given yesterday by Major and
Mrs. Gignilliat to the cadet commissioned
officers and the visiting alumni. The fig
ures were ingenious take offs" on cadet
life and created a whirwind of fun and
laughter. The alumni were reported for
various breaches of discipline and were
made to again walk extra duty in the ''bull
ring" from which their fair partners final
ly rescued them. Mr.. Sarony was hastily
summoned from New York for a picture of
the cadet officers. and the ladies were re-
of his portraits. These and similar mirth-
provoking stunts made brilliant success
of the daylight german. Mr.. II. b. Gaynor
Of Chicago led the figures, assisted by Mr.
Ira Patchin, of Des Moines, Ia
The formal graduating exercises took
place this morning. Representative Crum-
packer, of Valparaiso. delivered the diplo-
mas to the graduates after a brief and
striking address. Following are the honor
men for 1903: Elocution, F. F. Bays: excel
lence in drill. J: NJ. Hite; excellence In cav
airy, w. A. Colt; excellence in department,
f. G. Hukill; spelling. NJ. B. Sewers; best
shot, j. A. Pope; athletics, J.. A. Pope:
scholarship. r. II. Mowbray; the model ca
Diet, given by DR.. j. w. Younge H. c. BAYS:
special mention in U. S. A. Register c. Nc
Quad. w. c. Kramer F. A Schaf
At the conclusion of the graduation ex-
ercises the battalion was marched to the
parade ground An order appointing cadet
officers for the coming year was read, and
arms stacked and equipments laid on. The
commandant ordered Backward, guide
center!'' and Parade rest" and for a few
minutes the band played softly AUD Lang
Syne." Then sharp command of ''Atten-