Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-05-26

grounds at 10 p. M, the boys were
met at the gate by the Busche
them to their quarters where the
Mobile (Ala.) Rifles were drawn up
in line to receive them. Here the
boys suffered for the want of drink
ing water, all water being full of
sulphur, but the rifles brought a
large barrel of fresh Alabama spring
water and all quenched their thirst
and were loud in their praise.
Another Championship.
Companies being here from Bos-
ton, Mass, Atlanta, Ca, Washing
ton, D. c., Dallas, Tex, and a great
many other places, the corps had a
chance to gain fresh laurels. While
here F. L. Davis & Bro, the leading
jewellers, offered a pair of Tennessee
rosewood, gold-headed drumsticks,
to the leader of the best drum corps.
OF course the boys entered, but while
they were playing the Crescent
Rifles OF New Orlans interrupted
them by marching through their
ranks, but despite this, they receiv-
ed the prize, and again were pro-
nounced the champions.
The boys were great favorites
here, the people having heard of
their great reputation, and not hav-
ing heard drum corps since the
war. One evening the boys were in
the city serenading, and having
played for nearly three hours, were
uTic 10 or h,,t
not on account of the mass of peo-
pie who filled the street for two
blocks. The boys were compelled to
call on the police and military to
aid them i'll getting to the hotel.
After having a splendid time for a
week, on account of the hospitality
of the people, especially Mrs. ex-
President Polk and the young ladies
of the high school, who sent flowers
to the boys and invited them to at
tend an ice cream festival, and TAX
ing good care of them, after see
ing the sights of the city and look
ing over the historic battlefield,
they left for home arriving three
days later, tired, but ready for the
annual encampment to be held at
Cedar Falls, in August.
With Co. G at Cedar Falls.
August 16th the boys left home
with Co. G. for Cedar Falls, and
spent week in camp. On return
ing home they were surprised to
read the following in one of the Du-
buque papers:
In the drum corps contest the Du-
buque and DEBORAH were the only
The contest was con-
Quoted by thorough musicians, and
they awarded the prize to the Du-
buquers."
To the best of the knowledge of
the corps, no prize was offered or
played for. The boys were mad.
Yes, mad, 10 think that an organiza-
ton composed of young men, such as
the Dubuque corps was composed of,
would so far forget themselves as to
publish such statement, when there
was no truth in the matter. A re-
traction was demanded, and be it
said to their credit, n satisfactory
one was published.
Nothing of Importance occurred
worth mentioning until the next
February, 1855, when the corps re-
The Republican publish
ed the following in March, 1884:
A Reorganization.
THE interest that DEBORAH once
took in her celebrated drum corps,
and which so nearly died out after
their return from Nashville, last
May, that not receiving even proper
or merited support, the corps was
obliged to disband, seems at last re-
viving. This interest has slumbered
well and long, and several attempts
made from time to time to reorgan-
ize, all have failed, and it is not till
the matter has been brought up
to the attention of the
public.
Through the energy and perse-
verance of E. NJ. Christopherson and
the interest he took in this once
honored DEBORAH institution, a pa
per has been circulated among the
business men of this place in it's in
terest until their generous response
to the sum asked, has warranted
steps to be taken for its re-organiza-
ton.
"A meeting was held by the men,
bers little over week ago, to de-
eide upon a course to be pursued.
Along with the transaction of other
business, the following officers were
elected:
Drum major, c. j. Weiser; mu-
steal director, F. M. Coleman; Sec
rotary, Charles Thompson.
This new company, though not
SO large as before on account of
many having been called away, COM
prises eleven members as follows:
Filters, Fred Reum, August Neu-
fert, Arthur Anundsen and Fred
Thompson; drummers, Frank Cole
man, Charles Thompson, Frank
Smout and Will Lee; bass drum
meis, Henry Telford and Lou Geller-
man.
THE uniforms have been ordered
from Chicago, and will be the finest
ever worn. In this uniform they
will present an attractive appear
ance, and when they will have again
reached the degree of perfection
they once achieved, they will have
no fear of the criticism of even the
most critical.
1T ought to be source of much
pleasure to every true-hearted De-
corahian to think that this organic
alton, once so famous, whose name
was upon every lip, and through