Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-08
COLLECTION IS TAKEN UP
Two Bluecoats Look on, But Do Not
Interfere.
BIG CROWD IS DISAPPOINTED
Expected Developments Fail to Hap
pen-Senator McLaurin to De-
fend Musician in Police
Court.

TIE little company Of the Salvation
Army which holds nightly meetings at
ION and d streets northwest. found it's
audience waiting Tor them last night
The arrest Of the drummer Monday
night and the spectacular march to the
police station in which the Salvation
Army SAM and played their instruments
AMI at least thousand curious people
fiocked on behind to see the outcome, had
attracted a good-sIzed crowd.
If the audience was looking for trouble
or police interference 1t was disappointed.
1t heard a few scathing criticisms Of
the action Of the police, interspersed with
gospel hymns and sermons.
Two police officers on a corner near the
outdoor gospel meeting last night were
watched by the crowd. But the police
merely looked on out of interest, and
had no orders to interfere with the meet
ing.
Police Action Discussed.
The meeting was opened by Adjt. Wise
| man, who recounted several instances
wherein the army had encountered simlaf
stumbling blocks. His remarks touched
at first upon the legal aspects of his case
and by degrees warmed up into a speech
on martyrdom.
The drummer, who was arrested Mon
day night, was transferred last night te
| the tambourine division. A new recruit
was placed in charge of that awful
| law-breaking thing. bass drum" as one
| Of the salvationists described it.
| The crowd was anxious for the music
to start to see whether the various in
struments would be used. 1t was an
nounced that the first hymn would b.
accompanied by the bass drum.
BY the n1efest chance the policemen
waiting on the corner walked over Il
! the group just before the hymn started
| The crowd expected an arrest.
| The drummer, too seeing the police ap
proach. was seized with ah attack 81
| faiDtness in his right hand. Instead Of
| beating the bass drum he caressed 1,
gently and instead Of the loud thumpety.
thump-thump-thump there issued a soft
| purring sound that was drowned by tho
voices OF the half dozen singers.
Drum and Tambourines Beaten.
BY the time the second hymn was sunl
the police had disappeared. The hymn
being lively. the waiting tambourinists fell
the fever Of the ragtime tempo. 1t wa!
not long before they were beating thei
instruments and carrying on q regula
Salvation Army revival hymn.
ton. A hat was not passed, but Adjt
Wiseman automatically said something
about money and turned the bass drum Oh
its side on the ground. Some one threw
a quarter which struck the drum with
PUNK. Then a shower Of small coin
descended making great deal more nois,
than the drummer did at his first per
Torrance.
The police stopped the meeting Monda!
night and arrested ene of the members o
the army. The case will be tried to
morrow.
\ Senator McLaurin of Mississippi ha
been retained by the army as counsel
Maj Barter. division superintendent o
the army. arrived yesterday from Balti
more to take over tbs trouble.
Leaders of gospel bands visited Com
missioner West yesterday and lodged pro
tests against the action Of the police. Tn
Salvation Army and the Gospel Arm.
will be heard by the Commissioners to
morrow.
This will be the first hearing In tn
new board room in the new District build
ing.