The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-09-01
The MARINE BAND
History OF Uncle Sans Famous
Musical Organization.
STARTED BY A KIDNAPPING.
Tradition Says That the Original Band
Was Spirited Away From Sunny
Sicily by Captain Mcneil of the
American Frigate Boston.

American Frieate Boston.
One Of the best known and most
popular musical organizations in this
country Is the United States Marine
band. 1t 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 OF honor i'm
notable parades. Indeed, it is the
ablest and most famous military band
In the country.
There is an interesting tradition that
the original Marine band was kidnap-
ed from the sunny slopes Of Sicily.
The story goes that one Captain Nc
Neil of the American frigate Boston
was cruising I'm 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 q regimcntal
band play 50 tunefully that the bluff
old seadog became inspired. Ehe in
spiration was promptly put into eXecu-
ton. In his suayest manner he III
vited the Sicillans aboard his ship to
play for "a ball" The invitation was
accepted with alacrity, induced no
doubt by the prospect Of American
gold.
A few nights afterward the entire
organization was on board the frigate
with its instruments when the captain
suddenly found It eXpedicnt 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
were 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 Of
thirteen Italian musicians, which was
the inception of the organization as
an instrumental band.
An act to establish a marine corps
was approved by President John
Adams on July II, 1898. This law
provided for n drum and fife corps
consisting of sixteen drummers and
sixteen fifers, one Of whom should act !
as fife major. This constituted the
Marine band until the arrival OF the
Neapolitans, about three years later.
For several years the band had no |
special leader. First one member and |
then another acted as fife major. This |
practice continued until Aug. IL. 1915, |
when J. l.. Club, Of the sloop LcXing- |
ton, was regularly appointed and |
served until 1894. He was succeeded !
by Eutine Friquct, who served until |
Oct %, 1880, when Francis Schcnig |
was appointed, serving until Sept. 90,
1S43. Schcnig was relieved by Francis I
Scala, who served until 1913 and again |
from 1854 until Dec. 13, 1871.
1t was under Scala's leadership that |
the band first became famous. lie in
nuguratcd the open air concerts at the
White House and the capitol grounds,
for which congress allowed extra com.
pensation I'm 1856. These concerts
grew In such favor that steps were
to improve the organiza-
ton, which was still officially known
as q fife and drum corps. Legislation
was obtained to rcorganiZc it as
band, with n principal musician and
thirty members On July %, 1861,
President Lincoln affixed his signature
to a law that recognized the first band
MS part Of the military service OF the
United States.
Scala retired i'm 1871 after having
served i'm the band nearly thirty years,
twenty-five OF which he was it's leader
lie was succeeded by Henry Fries,
who served until Aug %, 1873 Louis
was appointed Sept ., 1873,
serving until oct %. 1880 ON oct.
30, 1880, John Philip Sousa was chosen
eader. Sousa had formerly been a
member of the band, as had his father.
The elder Sousa enlisted I'm 1861 under
the name Of SuaCca, but upon rc-cn-
istment he gave the name of Sousa,
which he continued to use thereafter.
Sousa left the service July 30, 1892,
20 organize n band of his own. and
francesca Fanciulll was appointed.
lie served until oct 3. 1897 When
his term expired he was not rcappoint-
ed, and the band was without a leader
lutil the following March, when Viii
lam II. Santelmann was appointed.
In 1898 the band was again reorgan-
zed. In order to bring it up to the
to which IL was entitled rs
The leading military band OF this coun-
Try a law was passed, which President
signed March 3, 1898, in
rreasing the band TO scycnty-three
consisting Of n leader with
The pay and allowance OF n first lieu
tenant Of the marine corpsa second
leader at SO n month and allowances,
thirty first class musicians st $50,
thirty second class musicians at $50, !