The Washington times., 1903-07-13
Marine Organization Cele-
brates the Anniversary In
formally at the Washing
ton Barracks.
Established by President
Adams, Various Leaders
Have Since Provided Of
flcial Melody.


Lieutenant Santelmann. the leader,
the organization, and one or two of the
compositions which were made famous
by the band in the past were played
Among these was the "Mocking Bird, -
arranged and dedicated to Harriet Lane.
the then mistress OF the White House,
who died only a few days ago.
Owing to the fact that no plans had
been made for anything extensive. the
officers OF the corps did not take any
part in the proceedings. Next year,
however. the anniversary is to be
much more gala affair. when there is to
be, most probably. a banquet and a
big concert
History of the Band
The band was organized under an
act passed by Congress in 1898, which
was signed by President John Adams
July IL. Two days later. July 13. the
musicians were enlisted and began
practieing.
The act did not provide music for the
marines with marked prodigality. 1t
allowed the enlistment of sixteen fifers
and the same number of drUmmers. a
fife major, who was Ito be allowed the
same extra pay and emoluments of an
officer serving in the field" under the act
was to be the head of the organization
The bandsmen were soldiers then arm
ed with the drums and flies, though
some of the officers of the corps are said
to have acquired by divers means in
struments with which the fifers and
drummers provided music at the early
festivities In the history Of the country
The possibilities of the corps finally
appealed 10 official Washington later,
and as there was nothing connected with
the Government to furnish music at the
official receptions and affairs generally.
1t was finally decided to make the or
ganization a full-fedged band with the
patronage OF the Government behind it..
Recruits From Abroad.
At this time the old sailing sIoop
Brandywine was stationed in the Medi-
terraneaa' Sea. and when she was about
to sail for home. Lieut. Col. Archibald
Henderson. the marine officer In com
mand. received instructions to enlist
musicians from among the melody low
ing natives Of Italy. At Naples. the op-
portunity came TO the marine command
ant so he managed TO collect thirteen
musicians. who came to this country to
play for Uncle Sam. Among them was
the late Francis Scala. the leader. who
died only couple of months ago at a
ripe old age.
These men injected the higher music
into the concerts and really laid the
foundation of excellence which makes
the band what it is today
Up to this time the Government did
not think 1t of sufficient importance 10
keep a record o: who the leader Of the
band happened to be. With the arrival OF
the Italians, however, the records were
begun. John L. Club. of the sloop Lex
ington, was appointed the first real
leader OF the band. August Il. 1915. and
he served in that capacity until 1924.
There were only eleven members in the
band at that time. Eutine FrIquet. an
Italian. succeeded Club at the head o,
the band, and he continued TO be the Off
cial music maker at the Capital until
1880. Next came Francis Schenig. who
served four years, and then Joseph Cur
vellier. who remained ffe major until
1912
First Open Air Concerts.
Antonio Pons. another Italian. sue
ceeded Curvellier, and he served until
May p. ls4s. Pons made a success. and
did much to build up the chara ,t.r 0:
the band. For some reason. he. ever.
which the records do not mention ne
tired OF the position, and at his own
request he was reduced to the ranks.
only to be made a sergeant and 10 ne
transferred rot long after TO the Ncdi-
terranean station.
The next hse major was Francis
Scala. who on this first enlistment
served until July 7. 1s4S. when he was
displaced by Fons. who seems to have
tired of his Mediterranean life.
Pons retired June Il. 1854. and Scala
was again given the baton. retaining IL
until December 1S. 1871. when he finally
severed his connection with the or-
ganization.
II was under Scala's leadership that
the open air concerts. like those given
today in the White House ground, were
begun. At this time Congress nasseA
an act allowing the musicians 81 a
month extra for eight OF these concerts
so cents a concert--which is in ef-
feet today. and to which the union ~
sicians OF Washington recently called
attention. in their complaint, that the
Marine Band men were not earnins their
money.
Famous Tunes.
These concerts became as popular In
those days as they are today and many
tunes were made famous by IL. one of
them being the much loved "Mocking
Bird" which Scala arranged and dedI-
Gated to Harriet Lane, the then mistress
of the White House, who died only few
days ago.
The "Mocking Bird" seemed 10 soften
the hearts of Congress toward the band
at that time. Just as II has softenod the
hearts of countless millions since and
Col. John Harris. who was then the
commandant OF the corps. recommended
through the proper channels to Congress