The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-28

popular style Of music. which does not
seem, however, to impair his personal
rine Band. wherein lies a compIime mt
for the people.
In Existence Since 1913.
July II. 1898. an act of Congress was
approved by President John Adams for
establishing and organizing a marine
corps. In this act provision was made
hfers, one to be appointed drum or
f1fe major by the commandant of the
corps. This fife and drum corps acted
1902. when Capt. Daniel Mcneil of the
twenty-eighth gun corvette Boston
brought to this country from Napolis,
Italy. thirteen Italian musicians.
The archives of the marine corps
were destroyed by the British when
they burned Washington in 1914 and
no account of Capt. McNeilrs enter
that while the Boston was at Messina
band belonging to one of the reGi-
/ ments, quartered at that city, came
from the New World what music was
like. The wild man." il seems ap-
preciated the concert too. much, for
Choir. made sail and stood out to sea.
In spite of the frantic appeals and
protests of the unfortunate musicians.
lantic and made America in due time
with the musicians aboard.
OF course the United States govern
ment was not going. to war over lot
of kidnapped musicians. SO Capt. Nc
Nlelrs act was promptly disavowed
by the Navy Department and that Of
ficer was not again put in a position
could get the better of his A discretion ie tom
1t is interesting to note. however.
that the government was not so
their homes. but transferred them to
Lieut.. Col. w. w. Burrows command.
for duty at headquarters. United States
Marine Corps Mari ne Barracks; Was sro
musicians became homesick anS were
homeward bound on the frigate Che,-
apeake when that ship was captured.
thrown on their beam ends. so to
speak.
These Italians playing regular band
the nucleus of the splendid organiza-
ton of today.
Open Air Concerts InauEurated.
There is no record of the band hav-
ing performed other than ordinary
routine military duty until the sum
mer of 1854. in which year open air
concerts at the White House and
The band was then under the leader
ship of Antonio Pons. In 1856 Congress
voted extra compensation for the MEM
bers of the band for the open air con-
certs.
These concerts grew in public ia
vor to such an extent that the COM
mandant of the Marine Corps. Col.
John Harris. recommended to Congress
that the organization, which up to
that time had been officially known as
fife and drum corps. be rated as
band. and provided for a principal
musician. seven first. eight second, and
fifteen third class musicians. Congress
recognized the advisability of improv-
ing the organization which played at
the official functions at the White
House and at national and interna ton
al affairs in general and approved the
recommends ton of Col. Harris, SO on
July 25. 1851. President Lincoln affixed
his signature to an act that marked
the recognition by law of the first
band in the United States military
service The band was then under
the leadership of Francis Scala. who
did much in establishing a creditable
musical reputation for the band.
President Mckinley Appreciative.
The status of the band remained the
same until 1899 when President Nc
Kinley approved an act of Congress
which improved the condition Of the
band considerably. Col. Charles Hey
wood, commandant of the United
States Marine Corps. recommended that
on account Of its playing at national
and international affairs as repre-
sentative band his musical organiza-
ton be Increased from thirty to sixty
men and also that their salary be In.