Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-13
: s
WITH HORSE AND GUN
Exhibition in the Fort Myer
Riding Hall
OF THE HIGHEST ORDER
PREPARING FOR THE MADISON
SQUARE CONTESTS.
Drill by Composite Troop From Second
OF THE HIGHEST ORDER
Drill by Composite Troop From Second
Cavalry and Two Platoons OF 4th
Battery, Field Artillery.


crack riders Of the I'd Cavalry and the 4th
Battery of Field Artillery at Fort Myef yes
terday and as a result over thousand OF
the people who took the trouble to visit the
post were unable to get Into the riding
hall and witness the exhibition because
they lacked cards Of admission. The army
officers who have charge of these exhioi-
lions say that the exhibitions must be Kept
semi-private because Of the lack of accom-
moda tions for even a moderate garherinS
of spectators. The officers in charge OF the
cavalry exercises at Fort Myer would ike
nothing better than to have every one see
the crack riders Of their squa dron of whom
they are very proud. 1t is therefore re-
quested that persons desiring cards OF ad-
mission to the drills, number OF which
are to be given in the riding hall and In the
open before the team selected for compett-
ton goes to New York to contest at Madf-
son Square Garden, should make their re-
quests through the War Department, with
the understanding that the applicants are
willing to take their turn, and that they
will not be disappointed If the admission
cards are not forthcoming.
Yesterdays Exhibition.
The exhibition yesterday was Of the high
est order, and reflects great credit on the
officers who were responsible for the drill
ing and for the enlisted men and their
mounts. The training Of the horse enters
almost as largely into the equation of the
successful cavalry drill as the training Of
the man. and the horses Of the composite
troop which went through the exercises
70 be The dr WAS WAS
given from a composite troop of the second
squadron Of the I'd Cavalry, made up Of
Troops e, F. G and H. commanded. re.
spectively by Capts. John P. Wade, Lloyd
NJ. Brett, Stephen NJ. Kockersperger and
Harry @. Trout. The preliminary training
Of the men was carried on by their troop
commanders.
When the time came to select the team
that will contest for place in the great
military games in New York Capt. Lloyd
NJ. Brett of Troop F was selected as COM
mander of the composite troop, and Capt.
Brett selected the men who were to make
UP his command. The troop Is divided into
two sections one of which shows the reg
ular cavalry drill exercises as laid down In
the regulations, with such evolutions as the
troop commander has himself devised, and
the other consisted Of a bareback drill
without saddles or other accouterments.
The evolutions of the first were looked
ton to Capt Brett, as provided for troop
of cavalry of this size in the drill regula-
tons First Lieut.. Charles G. Harvey Of
Troop F commanded the first platoon and
H commanded the second platoon. A
greater portion of the drilling was done
with music, After the usual evolutions had
been gone through with Capt. Brett put his
command through series Of special eXer-
cises that are in the cavalry drill regula-
lions, but are seldom seen, such as side
stepping the horses to the right and left,
without disturbing the symmetry of the
alignment; throwing the horses and rising
again without leaving the saddle, and rid
ing with crossed stirrups, commonly called
Cossack drill, and which is supposed to be
peculiar to the horsemen of the steppes Of
IN ha
drill regulations of the United States cav
airy for many years. The cotillion was
then gone through with, and the men were
drawn up at the far end of the hall, troop
front; at the command they swooped down
In charge that made the building shake.
The horses were not pulled up until they
were within two or three feet of the end of
the hall, and then the troop was reformed
and passed out Of the hall.
Skill Of the Bareback Riders.
The bareback contingent was command
ed by Capt. Brett also. and he was assisted
by Second Lieut.. Charles NIGH. Eby of
Troop 3. The bareback riders showed the
highest skill in their work. They circled
around the hall by file and in tours, per-
forming the most marvellous feats. These
cavalry have all the tricks of the best cir
Gus riders, and few more without the
appliances and special clothing, harness.
etc, the circus rider uses. The men rode
standing on one horse, two horses. three
horses or four horses with perfect ease.
They would jump hurdles standing or vault
on their horses while the horses were going
over the hurdles. There were no falls and
no false moves at any time during the drill.
The horses were even more remarkable
than the men. The cavalry exercises were
concluded with an exhibition of jumping
over first two, then three and finally four
horses.
Drill of Field Artillery.
Two platoons of the 4th Battery of Field
Artillery without caissons were next
brought into the hall. Nos. 1 and men
of the cannoneers We're mounted on the
axle Of the gun carriage, the other two
being on the timber chest. The four guns
M. Foote, A. c. The drill Of the
battery was remarkable to the spec
tators because was done entirely
by signaling with the saber, no word Of
of the guns, during the entire drill. The
artillerymen proved themselves to be
drivers OF the most skillful kind. They
drove between stakes driven in the tan
park with space between just wide enough
FOR gun to pass at a walk, trot, gallop
and run, and finally the four guns circed
around the hall and fired five ounce charges
that shook the building and filled 1t with
smoke.
Distinguished Spectators.
The gallery at the END Of the hall was
crowded and people were hanging on the
windows. distinguished party occupied
the front row of benches in the center of
the gallery, and gaily dresses women were
to be seen in every section of the gallery.
Society had turned out en- masse to watch
the event and that portion Of 1t fortunate
enough to get inside the building thorough
ly enjoyed itself. Among the guests of
honor We're the Italian ambassador, Mrs
WadsWorth, Gen. Burt, Representative
Hull, Mr.. Addicks, Senator Hepburn Mrs
Haltdage, Senator Nelson, Senator Foster
da.), Senator Burrows. Assistant Attorney
General Hoyt Capt. Kilbreach Gen. Cor
bin. Representative Warner, Capt. Naylor
and Mrs. Cushman X. Davis.