The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-03
BLUES BAND GOES
ON STRIKE, HALTS
DANCE TO CADETS
While Corporars Guard and
Richmond Police are Seeking
Strikers, Other Musicians are
Secured for Event.
Fifteen Members of Band Ar
rested During Night, All Of
Whom Get Ba;HMcn Want
ed Pay for Nights Music
Said to Be Cause.

One Of the most brilliant military
balls ever held in this city came near
being turned into a fiasco last night
when, with more than 500 persons.
men and women, impatientiy wait
ing on the floor for the music to
commence, the word was passed
around the hall that the Richmond
Blues band had struck
L, was declared 1t had refused to
play at the ball which the Blues were
giving in their armory al Sixth and
Marshall streets in honor OF the V.
NJ. l. cadets. who have been quar-
tered there during their visit in this
city
This news and the information that
Major L. W. Bowles had detailed Ser
Geant Bass and three members OF the
battalion to place all of the missing
musicians under arres. had about
the same effect on the brilliant gath
ering as a bomb dropped from the
ek.es would have produced upon
them, and instantly all was excite
ment.
Beautifully gowned women with
their escorts. both in uniform and
evening dress. rushed to the stair
ways aud the sidewalk TO await the
return OF the patrol wagon from the
Second police station, which had been
pressed into service and was rumor-
ed to be securing the city In search
OF the deserTers.
Get Ten in Short Time.
With Sergeant Bass and his three
men were Sergeant Johnson. of the
Second police station, and Officers
E-F4t4f.-.tfati H 4s%.tss%.r----
They returned in a short while
with ten OF the missing men. some
OF whom had been taken from their
beds and some of whom had been
picked up on The streets around
town.
These men were marched upstairs
under the armed guard and placed
In the guardroom for safe keeping.
In the lueanw hile n hurry call had
been sent out for musicians, some of
whom were obtained at the reception
at the governors mansion and some
OF whom were found In various places
In the city, and the dance went on
without further interruption.
The searching. party continued Its
work ard at o'clock this morning
fifteen of the members of the band had
been lodged behind the bars at the
Second station.
Philip Coiavita, James Il. Smith, r. l..
Heae. Luke stone II. Parkinson. Cor
| porai A. G. Van Pelt F. Nucciiii. II.
Luchini, G, w Baker. DrnmnaJor Fred
| u. Gam. n. w Redfovd. c, II. Atkinson,
Jake Schwartz w. j. Pedriehs and
Quartermaster Sergeant t. h. siaugh-
Ter.
Rail IL Furnished.
Eandmaster Coiavita furnished bail
for all Of the arrested men and Harry
Al. Smith was engaged TO defend them
before the general court marshall,
witch will be called on the Gath OF
February
When interviewed last night. Major
BoWles said that he had ordered the
men to put in their appearance to fur
nish the music fer the dance al
o'clock This order they had not
obeyed, and as they are all enlisted
men. he had deemed it sufficient pro-
vocation for ordering their arrest.
When asked II 1t were within the
Jurisdiction of 4 court martial TO meet
out Jail sentence as punishment,
Major Bowles said that such thing
under military ruling is possible.
Quartermaster Sergeant Slaughter
after being released on bail, made the
following statement this morning
sMajor Bowles issued an order a short
time ago for us to turn out for the
inauguration parade. This we did be-
eAuse we are all enlisted and are
giad to perform any military duty
which we may be detailed to.
None Of us will receive any COM
pensation for leaving our business du-
ties to take part In the demonstration
yesterday. and we did not think 1t fair
or just Of Major Bowles to order us
10 report at . o'clock at night TO fur
niah the music for the dance. We did
not consider this a military duty. and
through Drummajor Cans we inform
ed Major Bowies that we would not
play last night unless the sum OF $35
was paid for the services OF the entire
band.
Major Bowles sent back word that
unless we returned and obeyed orders
we need never enter the Armory
again. and that Is the way the matter
rested until later in tn evening when
We were placed under arrest
Major Bowles. understand, says
that our not putting in an appear
Ancc came as a surprise to him and
upset his plans for the dance. This
b not exactly so. as we issued our
ultimatum directly after the parade,
ava M Lrar, xs,hot ~ nvnnrf