Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-18
GUNS BEST THE SABERS
Artillery Wins From Cavalry
at Fort Myer. J
ON ATHLETIC FIELD
CAPTURE SIX OUT OF THE EIGHT
EVENTS.
Yellow Colors Fly High Where Great
American Game Of Base
Ball is Tried.

and did not come within the proper meets
and bounds of the tourney as prescribed
in orders of the War Department, but 1t
served as salve to the wounded feelings
of the cavalrymen, because the final score
showed them to be so vastly superior at
the great American game. The team or
horse soldiers piled up sixteen TALES to
stand beside the two that were made by
the artillerymen. and to the spectators it
seemed that the cavalrymen could have
made runs ad infinitum if they had so de-
sired, while at least one of the runs scored
by the artillerymen was the result of
wholly inexcusable error on the part of
one Of their opponents. But base ball is
not the supreme test of athletic ability.
Running, jumping and tent pegging require
something of skill and address as well as
athletic ability, and in these things the
artillery eXcelled.
The field meet yesterday was one of tho
gala events of the year at Fort Myer. 1t
was made especially noteworthy to those
VINO participated because 1t is the last time
the troopers of the 7th Cavalry will have
an opportunity to compete for anything
in the United States for some time to
come, the squadron stationed at Fort Myer
being scheduled to sail for the Philippines
within the next six weeks. The Inaugural
ton of athletics under official sanction was
accomplished after much hard work about
two years ago. AT that time orders were
promulgated from the War Department
prescribing conditions under which meet
ings were to be held. A great wave of
thusiasm swept the army and both officers
and enlisted men took hold of the move
ment with proper spirit, and it moved Ike
Whirlwind for about six months and then
it died away. just like a whirlwind. The
original plan blocked out in the cir
cular sent to all army posts, involved the
establishment as regular events four sys-
TENS of meetings.
Basis Of System.
hoe of ba
letics. All the men stationed at any post
were requested to interest themselves IN
the form of athletics for which they
showed the best qualifications. Once each
month, when possible, these athletes were
to meet at post meets and contest for su-
premacy. The second division of the
scheme for army athletics involved the for
nation of athletic districts in the various
army departments and divisions. Several
posts were to be included in each district
The advisors of the Secretary of War at the
time the circular was sent out, two years
ago, plated the entire United States into
athletic districts for the benefit of the army.
District meetings We're to be held once in
three months often as possible and
the champions of the post meetings were
to compete at the district meets. The third
section of the scheme involved the eStab-
lishment of department athletic meets,
where the champions of the various district
meetings could contest, and the fourth and
l!di StCilOii pIOElutu lOT army neSlS
when the champions of all the departments
could compete for the championship Of the
army. 1t was expected the scheme would
stimulate athletics in the highest degree
and thus work for the benefit of the
listed force of the army. AS stated, this
plan was carried through with enthusiasm
for about six months, and then interest in
1t seems to have died away. There was no
officer at Fort Myer yesterday who could
remember when district meeting was
held in the local district or anywhere else
in the country, except, perhaps, in the De-
partment of the Gulf and none was sure
that such a meeting was held there Sew
eral officers had a faint recollection of a
department meeting at Chicago once, but
none was sure. A number of things have
interfered with the carrying out of the
scheme it is stated, but it is asserted that
the work of the joint athletic board of tie
army and navy, which has recently made
report to the President, will have the eff
feet of stimulating or reviving interest in
the games, and it is confidently asserted
that athletics have become such part and
parcel of military training that from now
on the system of meetings will be rigidIy
adhered to.
Highly Interesting Meet.
The meeting at Fort Myer yesterday was
highly interesting from every point of view
The men who participated in the various
events on the card We're, with few excep-
lions, good athletes and made excellent
showings. The program contained nine
events. The last event was cut out and
but eight were run. The baseball game
was not a part of the program Cor the
meeting and was simply designed to settle
dispute between the members of the 4th
Field Battery and the 7th Cavalry as to
which had the best team. The conditions
of the game were rather in favor of the
cavalrymen as they had an entire squad
ron to select the team from, whereas the
battery confined to its own organiza-
ton. The cavalrymen also had the adj
vantage of coaching from three officers, all
of whom played on the team, and two of
whom were noted base ball players at West
Point.
the running of the first event at $50
O'Clock yesterday morning. The prepara-
tons were made, but the meet was called
off because of the threatening weather. At
o'clock the athletes assembled on the
field, however, and started to work to finish
up the program. All drills and duties ex-
cept the necessary post guard fatigue and
care of the horses, We're suspended for the
occasion. Maj. w. ]. Nicholson, 7th Cav
airy, was superintendent of the meeting.
He was assisted by Lieuts. j. K. Herr and
E. M. Zell, 18th Cavalry, and Lieuts H. S.
Kilbourne, jr., and NJ. A. Cross of the Artil-
lery Corps. Capt. Stephen M. Foote, Artil-
lery Corps, was referee; Capt. Charles p.
Summerall, Artillery Corps; Capt. T. A.
Roberts, 18th Cavalry; Lieut.. Edward p.
Nones, Artillery Corps, and Lieut.. j. A.
Shannon, 7th Cavalry, were judges Chap
lain Charles c. Pierce, Artillery Corps, was
timekeeper; Lieut.. Evan H. Humphrey, 18th
Cavalry, was starter and Lieut.. Thomas H.
Jennings, 7th Cavalry, was clerk of the
course All officers and enlisted men sta
toned at Fort Myer were required by or
der to be present during the exercises.
There were no prizs of particular value but
the winners of the various events were
granted certain liberties. The winner of
each event was entitled to be given two
days pass and to be excused from one
tour of guard duty. The second best man
in each event was entitled to draw two
days pass.
which there was a goodly list of entries
The men We're well started and made a
good run. Sabin of the Sd Battery finished
first with Heater of the same organization
running well in second place, and Mondor
of the 4th Battery coming in third. The
second event, throwing the base ball was
won easily by Anderson of the 4th Battery