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

fair at West Union and there met
number of their friends who were
at Mobile.
AS the instruments were in very
poor condition they purchased a
new set of Monarch" drums of
Lyons & Healy, Chicago.
The Fourth at Preston
July 4th, the corps attended the
celebration at Preston, Mimi, hav-
been hired by the citizens of that
place. They left the morning of the
Sd with livery teams, arriving there
at p. m. After having a splendid
time they came home well satisfied
with the trip.
Nothing of importance occurred
until July 4th, 1887, when they
again went to Preston to play for
the celebration there. On coming
home the boys commenced to pre-
pare for the coming encampment to
be held at Chicago where a prize
was offered by the Chicago Daily
News, of a set of fine Monarch
drums and ivory-headed piccolos,
for the best drum corps, contest
open to the world.
Banner is Presented.
A short time before going, some
of the ladies of this city presented
the corps with a fine silk banner
which was entrusted to the care of
Melvin Marsh.
Championship of the World.
On Friday afternoon, Oct. l4th,
the corps composed of twenty men,
bers, left home for Chicago. Arriv-
ing there at z a. M, they were not
met at the depot and had to find the
officers of the drill in order to
secure transportation to the grounds
which were five miles out of the
city, where they arrived at IL a.
m. and were given a row of tents.
The grounds being very muddy, no
camp duty was given them except
dress parade at p. m. each day.
The drum corps contest was set for
Wednesday, October Goth, at 10 a.
m. 1t was a very cold day, the wind
blowing a gale from the northwest.
The boys were up early and had a
good practice. All reported prompt
ly at 10 O'Clock and marched to the
field until orders were received to
prepare for playing. The boys Sc
cured 1st place, Chicago I'd and Du-
buque Sd. They marched to the
ampitheatre, formed a circle, and
played, after which they gave
short drill, ending by forming a line
in front of the stand, doing it in
fine shape and receiving much ap-
plause. The Dubuque corps, who
drilled very nicely, but whose play
ing was SO inferior that in the
minds oil ali who heard the playing,
DEBORAH had the prize. At dress
parade, in which all the companies
and the monster band of 600 pieces
took part, were drawn up in front
of the grand stand, the various prize
winners were read with the eXcep-
ton OF the drum corps prize, after
which all were moved to the right
of the stand where Col. King an
nounced 1st prize, DEBORAH drum
corps; I'd prize, Dubuque drum
corps. At this announcement there
was a general hurrah and Drum
Major Burdick proposed three
cheers for the Dubuqpe's which
were given with all the enthusiasm
possible. The compliment was re-
turned but with less zeal. Ranks
were broken and kilograms sent
home to eager friends. The next
day a telegram we received from
Ben Bear bearing congratulations
and saying that thousands of cheers
were sent skyward in our behalf
After serenading the Daily News and
receiving the following notice, the
corps left for home Tuesday morn
ing
1.-THE DEBORAH drum corps, which
took the prize offered by the Daily
News, serenaded this Office last
night. The selections were very
finely executed. The boys are a
bright lot and understand their
business. The members of the corps
are: N. A. Burdick, drum major;
Thompson, Lomen, Reum, Oberhol-
ser, Bergeson, AL Anderson, Cad
well and w. Anderson, fifers; i.
Anderson, Neufert, Morss, Hansen,
Slack, Lee, Ingvolstad and Small,
snare drums; Marsh and Abbey,
bass; M. Marsh, color bearer
The Home Reception.
Arriving home Wednesday morn
ing they were met at the depot by
the college band, an enormous
broom brigade, composed of both
cnvac ond 10 roo cr0uI ~ o;t;un,o