The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-09-02
THE MARINE Band
History Of Uncle Sans FamousX
Musical Organization. \
STARTED BY A KIDNAPPING.
Tradition Says That the Original Band
Was Spirited Away From Sunny
Sicily by Captain Mcneil Of the
An. sriean Frisate Boston,


popular musical organizations in thix>
country Is the United States MARI Y
band. II Is always selected to furnish
the music at important government
functions. such as inaugural balls and
receptions at the White House; and Is
always assigned the post ofAQpnor In
notable parades Indeed, 1t Is the
ablest and most famous military band
I'm the country.
There Is an interesting tradition that
the original Marine band was kidnap.
ed from the sunny slopes or Sicily.
The story goes that one Captain Me-
Neil of the American frigate Boston
WINS cruising In the Mediterranean,
when his soul yearned for the sound
OF real music. an art that had been
little developed In this young republic.
when ashore he heard regimental
band play so tunefully that the blum
old seadog became inspired. The In
spiratlon was promptly put into execu.
ton. In his suavest manner he liz
yited the Scilians aboard his ship n
play for "a ball" The invitation way
accepted with alacrity, induced no
doubt by the prospect OF American
gold.
few nights afterward the entire
organization was on board the frigate
with its instruments when the captain
suddenly found It expedient TO return
TO the United States. SO It was up
anchor and away before the aston
} Ished Sicilians could protest. There Is
no authentic record OF what became
OF this band of Italian musicians, as
many of the marine corps archives
we're destroyed in 1914
. The official records do show, how.
ever. that shortly after the marine
corps was organized. probably In 1901,
Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Hender-
son brought from Naples a group or
{ thirteen Italian musicians, which was
d the inception OF the organization as
r an instrumental band.
An act 10 establish n marine corps
was approved by President John
Adams ON July II. 179S. This law
Il provided for drum and fife corps
"a consisting of sixteen drummers ana
sixteen flfers, one OF whom should act
II MS fife major. This constituted the
Z? Marine band until the arrival OF the
Neapolitans, about three years later.
For several years the band had no
speclal leader. First one member and
" then another acted as fife major. This
10 practice continued until Aug. IA, ISL
when ]. l.. Club. of the sloop Lexir
,e ton. was regularly appointed and
4 served until 1924 He was succeeded
by Eutine Frlquet. who served until
oct. %. 1890 when Francis Schenig
was appointed. serving until Sept y,
"a 1s4s schenig was relieved by Francis
Scala, who served until 1S4S and again
10 from 1854 until Dec. 10, 1871.
1t was under Scalas leadership that
a the band first became famous. He IN
augurated the open air concerts NJ the
White House rnd the capitol grounds
for which congress allowed extra com
ur pensation In 1856. These concerts
grew In such favor that steps were
n undertaken 10 improve the organlZa
er ton, which was still officially known
- as a fife and drum corps Legislation
was obtained TO reorganize II ms
band, with n principal musician and
thirty members. On July %. 1861
cd President Lincoln affixed his signature
to n law that recognized the first Danc
e's as part OF the military service OF thu
he United States.
II. Scala retired in 1871 after hayini
served in the band nearly thirty years
twenty-five OF which he was its leader
He was succeeded by Henry Fries
IL who served until Aug %, 1873. Loui
Schneider was appointed Sept 2, 1919
serving until Oct. 20. 1880. On OCT
her 80. 1880, John Philip Sousa was chosel
IN leader. Sousa had formerly been
member OF the band. ms had his father
The elder Sousa enlisted I'm 1861 unde
the name OF Suacca, but upon re-en
'ou listment he gave the name OF Sousa
'"' which he continued TO use thereatteI
Sousa left the service July 30, Nv
TO organize band OF his own, IN
Francesca Fanciulll was appointed
He served until Oct. 3, 1897 VINE
his term expired he was not reappoin
..,,, ed, and the band was without leads
~ ~. until the following March. when WI
- liam III. Santelmann was appointed.
- In 1893 the band was again reorgai
lied In order 10 bring II up TO IN
standing TO which II was entitled Q
the leading military band of this coui
!, try law was passed. which Presidei
L. Mckinley signed March 3. 1898, II
-, creasIng the band TO seventy-thre
members. consisting OF a leader VII
the pay and allowance of first lie'
tenant OF the marine corps. u secon
.,y leader Mt S75 n month and alloRancs,
thirty first class musicians at
~, thirty second class musicians at
+. ten privates and n drum major. ~
members are enlisted for four years
John II. Cox In Washington Star.
LIS For. the Wheels.