Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-24

bucket, The constant mounting and. dis
mounting disconnected the horses to such
an extent that some very amusing Incl
dents occurred. Corporal Dodds of the
field battery was the first to get the ten
potatoes back to the starting point and
was awarded the first prize. Private Egana
of Troop g was second in this event Private
Jackson Troop E; Private Webb Troop F.
and Private Warren. Troop H, also ran.
A Mounted Melee.
The last event of the program was a
mounted melee in which teams from the
four troops of cavalry participated. The
melee consisted of broad sword combat on
horseback and was an exciting wind-up to
the days exercises. There were four teams
in the combat four men to a team. The
melee was in three rounds. First two
teams fought, then the winners of the
first combat fought a new team and the
victors of this fight fought the last team,
the winning team in the last match being
declared the victor of the melee.
The members of the teams were dressed
in padded jackets, helmets and gloves and
carried wooden bread swords. On the crest
of the helmet and the left breast of each
man were pinned paper flowers, red, blue,
white and yellow, being used to distinguish
the teams The object of the contest was
to cut the flower from the helmet and
breast Of the opposing team. The fight was
fast and furious from the beginning of the
first round to the end of the contest. 1t
was nip and tuck between the men all the
way through every contestant showing the
utmost skill in the management of his horse
and the handling of his weapon. The blows
that were struck were no love licks either,
and several bruises and cuts were received
before the contest was over. The team
from Troop G, including Corporals Bailey
and Waughtel and Privates Ellison and
White, were the final winners. The other
teams were: Troop E, Corporals Beck Sui
way, Van Goodat and Private Lee; Troop
1c TAox nory{
Laird and Private Holland; Troop H. Cor
porals Shaffer, Stewart, Moas and Private
Lattrom.
Prizes Presented.
Immediately after the exercises the
prizes, small amounts of cash. were pre-
sented to the winners by Lieut.. Martin.
The success of the meeting was due in a
large measure to the personal efforts OF
the officers who had 1t in charge. There
was no unnecessary delay in running OF
the events and no discomfort to the spec
tators, other than that caused by the I'M
pleasant weather. The committee on ar
rangements for the meeting included Capt.
Trout and Lieuts. Eby and Taulbee, and
these officers were ably assisted by Capt.
ThOs. ]. Lewis, post adjutant; Capt. Ste
phen NJ. Foote, Lieut.. Carpenter Lieut..
Smith. and almost every other officer sta
toned at the post. Col. Edgerly and Lieut..
Col. Schuyler were at every point In the
Helu Wnere tnelr services cOuld De OIL any
use, and all the other officers of the cav
airy, artillery and signal corps were on
hand to render what aid they could. This
is the last public event that will be held at
Fort Myer this season. Sunday morning
the composite troop, under the command OF
Capt. Brett, with Lieuts. Harvey and Taul-
bee, will depart for New York to participate
in the military athletic tournament to be
held in Madison Square Garden. commenc-
ing Monday evening. On May 1 Troops E
and H will leave Fort Myer for Ordway,
Md, where they will go into camp for six
weeks target practice. When these two
troops return Troops F and G will go to
Ordway. Throughout the summer the
troops will engage in practice marches and
practical military work. 1t is probable
that detachment Of the cavalry will go to
camp with the District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard in July.