The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-22
THE ARMY SHOW AT DIES MONIES

The most interesting, attractive
and inspiring public exhibition ever
given in Iowa is in progress this week
at the state capital. Uncle Sans
brave soldier boys to the number OF
$500 are present from practically
every fort in the middle west and are
giving military tournament that is
being witnessed by thousands of de-
lighted and enthusiastic spectators
The arena is on the state fair grounds
wherein a camp has been established
known as Camp Corse in honor Of
the general Of that name who distin-
guished himself so greatly by his brav-
cry and gallantry In the Civil war.
The initial performance was given on
10000 people. Besides review of all
the troops there was an infantry drill
under Butts manual, saddle squad
drills, Roman races. infantry and
bareback squad drills, artillery drills
/ and evolutions, wallscaling contest,
an exemplifcation Of building and lie
molishing bridges and tug-of-war
| contest.
Perhaps the most exciting event OF
1 the day was the building and demol-
fishing of two-span spar bridge eighty
4 feet long by the Third battalion engin-
GERS. The bridge material was unload
ed from wagons, the bridge erected
crossed by the wagons and two troops
of cavalry and company of infantry
while withstanding an attack from a
company of infantry and troop of
cavalry, and the bridge then blown up
with dynamite-all in the almost in.
credibly short time of four minutes
and ten seconds. This established a
new record for the accomplishment of
the feat The Sixteenth engineer corps
held the previous record with seven
minutes and three seconds.
Another stirring event was the wall
scaling contest. This was won by the
Third battalion of the Sixteenth in
fantry in competition with the Second
and Third battalions Thirteenth infan-
try and Second battalion Sixteenth in
fantry. The wall to be scaled
was sixteen feet high squad
of eight men were stationed
in line twenty-five yards from the
obstruction At signal from a
pistol they ran to the wall, surmount-
ed it, ran fifteen yards farther and
there discharged five shots each
while in the recumbent position The
time made in this event by the Third
battalion of the Sixteenth was 81 sec.
onds The second money was taken
by the Second battalion of the same
regiment in 20 seconds, and third
money by the Second battalion of the
Thirteenth infantry in 30ia seconds.
The riding in the Roman standing
races and by the bareback squad OF
the Fifteenth cavalry was better than
anything to be seen in Buffalo Bill's
the day Repeatedly the daring bare.
back riders dismounted while the
horses were galloping at full speed
jumped over two horses running side
by side and with another bound re-
seated themselves There was also a
fine exhibition drill by a saddle squad
Of the Second cavalry-the gray horse
troop. The horses We're under perfect
control and astonished all present by
the perfection of their movements. AS
fitting climax to the drill all the
horses laid down and served as bull
warks while the troopers fired over
their PROSTATE bodies.
The whole scene presented by the
manoeuvers was one never to be forgo
ten. The tournament will continue