The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-09-07
FAMOUS BAND EN-
ROUTE TO G. A. R.

A special train pulled into the
Western Pacific station at $3.50 o'clock
last evening. This was the third
special from the east and had been
scheduled to arrive here at 3 clock
yesterday morning, but was delayed.
1t was composed of three Pullmans and
diner, carrying the Geo. w. Cook drum
corps and band, of Denver
Denver is candidate for the 1913
Encampment, and for the purpose of
emphasizing its claims to the honor,
the delegation was accompanied by
the George w. Cook drum corps and
band, composed of 20 pieces. When
tn etrain arrived at Winnemucca, the
musicians were in the dining car, eating
their supper. Yardmaster Leary, who
had telephoned all over town inviting
citizens to attend band concert upon
the arrival of the train, explained the
situation to General Cook and the
latter assured the waiting crowd that
they should have all the music thew
wanted, even if necessary to hold the
train for that purpose.
As soon as they had finished eating,
the band lined up on the station plat
form and rendered four popular airs,
" Boston, - Everybody's Doing It. I"
Melody of Patriotic Airs and a selec-
tion from Madam Sherry.
At the conclusion of the concert the
train pulled out, having been held for
30 minutes, with the best wishes of
Winnemucca citizens for Denver IS
success in capturing next years En-
campment.
Brief History of the Fomous Band.
The George w. Cook drum corps and
band was organized in the winter of
1888, when Major G. II. B Heale form
ed a drum corps composed of two
snar drums, two flies. and a bass
drum. That year the corps attended
the National Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic at Co
lumbus, Ohio. That was it's first trip.
Since that time the corps has had SOC
members in its ranks and now has 20
members, and is composed of drums,
trombone, comets, clarinets and pic
colos, and has travelled over 100, 600
miles by rail The corps travels in
three cars which are occupied from the
time they leave Denver until their re
turn.
The organization was honored at the
Buffalo, N. Y, reunion of the G. A. X.
| in 1897 by being chosen above all
musical organizations present to lead
the grand parade. There were over
45, 900 veterans in line in this parade.
The corps also acted as escort to Pres
ident Mckinley and was personally
complimented by him. 1t attended the
Columbian exposition at Chicago in
| 1898, where 1T was the guest of the ex-
position company, and also took part
in the dedication OF the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition at st. Louis in April
/ 1908, and attended the exposition in
/ 1904, where it was highly compliment
| ed by the officials. Gen. George W
/ Cook, whose name the organization
bears, was a drummer boy in an In
diana regiment during the war, and is
now past senior vice-commander in
chief and past department commander
of the G. A. r. of the Department OF
Colorado and Wyoming. Gen. Cook al
ways accompanies the organization or
it's trips and looks after its inancia
affairs. Major Heale has been leader
of the corps since its organization. He
! is not cornet soloist of recognized
ability, but is an expert on the snare
drum lie also does all of the arrang
ing for the musicians of the corps
The organization owns over 2,50t
worth of uniforms, instruments, flag!
and equipment. The people of Colo
RADIO take great pride in its success
and assist the members in many ways
The city of Denver furnishes a room
in the city hall for headquarters o.
the corps. This excellent record ha
been earned and maintained as the re
suit of conscientious effort on the par
of its members and leader