The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-05
FORGED TO
REAT
". P. i. Cadet Corps Were
Routed BY sDownpot1r Of Rain
at the Big Fair.
INTERPRETED WITH DRILL
Boys Have Had Unfortunate
Trip, Owing to Rain, Which
Has Occurred During Stay.
he photograph was taken BY one q

I " Z 4 F + . y & =
Especial to The Times-Dispatch)
WORLDS FAIR GROUNDS, ST.
LOUIS. MO-. June 1, 1so4-The Virginia
Polytechnic Institute cadets were routed
to-day on the Worlds Fair Grounds by
a downpour of rain. somewhat resem-
bling a cloudburst. Shortly before 10
O'Clock they started through the mud
from the camp in the direction of Plaza.
ST. Louis, where they were scheduled to
give an exhibition drill They had not
proceeded more than a. hundred yards
when dr.zzing rain began falling. But
they pluckily moved onward. the band
playing Dixie as they passed through
the archway in the Administration build
ing. they were cheered heartily by a
inrge crowd of Worlds Fair visitors and
attaches.
Arriving about 10 O'clock at the Plaza.
where an Immense crowd. including most
OF the fifty-six ladies who had accom-
panied them to st. Louis awaited them,
they began drilling under command OF
Colonel u. S. a. johnson, assisted ny
Major w. M. Brodie. chief of staff the
six companies. OF infantry had a
.uIll, iNIlllC Lllc NANNY $780,
sabre drill. The manoeuvres were
splendid. almost worthy OF West
Pointers,'' enthusiastically commented a
United States army veteran. one OF sew
eraI hundred persons who had braved the
rain to see the Virginians drill.
Beat Hasty Retreat.
The band played almost continuously
from one side Of the Plaza. Suddenly, at
1880, Just as tho drlll was becoming most
interesting, torrents of rain arrived. The
spectators scrambled toward the two
nearest shelters, the Palace of Varied IN
dustries, aud tho Palace of Mnnufac-
lures. Realizing that II he could con-
tinue In the downpour, some or the po!s
were almost certain to contract illness,
Colonel johnson wisely ordered double
nuick time retreat. The command was d.
vided into two detachments. one OF when
established temporary quarters N the
corridor OF the Palace of Varied Indus
tries. and the other In INC Palace OF
Manufactures. From corner o. the
former palace the band played "DlAle,
and other live airs, receiving hearty ap-
plauso from hundreds of Worlds Fair
visitors. %a
Will Drill Monday.
Your correspondent waded through the
mud this afternoon to the headquarters
tent Of Colonel Johnson who expressed
great disappointment over the persistence
OF the rain In thwarting the plans
mapped out for his command "a parade
was arranged for Thursday at the AS
min!stration Court" said the colonel
hut the court was SO full Of water
that the parade could not take pace.
Yesterday, despite the rain, we started 70
participate In the parade preceding the
dedication q the Indiana n'a, nala Whsn w.
rcnliea 10 lieutenant Height, the secre-
tary Of ceremonies he informed .u ns that nat
the Indictment weather had caused e11 !. nm m
ii q order the omission Of the military
feature. So although wn have been here
since Wednesday. we have not Sa, yst , mad
al opportunity to show tho folks here
what we can do 81 ,5s ~
None o. the 400 cadets IN, camp nra s ar I'LL IL
though Two q . ,hfG attsm axs e. arll Viii
be made Monday. 4,
DT Il N. MeBrlde president g !, The g
virginia Polytechnic Instltute, and his
n,arfyof fifteen are at the Insids Inn,
Most Of the women arS there, TOO,