The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-02-10
MUSIC PLAYSBIC
PART in U.S.. NAVY
Sea Fighters Always
Have Been Great
Lovers of Music
HISTORY OF BAND

NuNc IcCOSuiLcu TIE pIuCtlCal NdIuc Y
music in their profession, not only ii
peace but In time Of war. They real
!, ize that 1t stimulates the men to al
most superhuman efforts in battle
while in the piping times of peace
II is Of great assistance in keeping tn,
men contented, writes Edgar Stanton
Maclay, in copyrighted article iI
the September issue of the Daughters
! d the American Revolution Magazine
rhe title of the article is Music In
iihe Navy Massal ak s.E~ aaa..,--~
| Aside from the legends Of the relief
Of Lucknow during the Sepoy rebellion
(when, it is claimed, the distant
sounds Of bagpipes from Havelock's
advancing column reached the ears Of
he desperate defenders and tstimu-
lated them to hold out long enough to
save the English women and children
from massacre), and the playing of
our national songs by the band aboard
the United States flagship Trenton
Turing the disaster at Apia, when
many Of our sailors met death In the
hurricane, we know that music has
won for itself place of practical
value in army and navy organizations.
Fought Against Prejudice.
In the early days Of our navy mu-
sicians We're obliged to fight against
prejudice. Shortly before the Civil
war, when bandmaster put in
requisition for an additional instru-
ment, one of our well-known COM
manderS asked, Haven't we got
enough shooting irons on board with
out your getting one of those knock
out, loose-jointed trombonp =
From the fact that the first real
oand Of music in the United States
navy was deliberately stolen it would
seem that our man-of-warsmen of the
early days were "passionately fond Of
music" In 1902 the American 2S-gun
corvette Boston, Capt. Daniel Mcneil,
while on the Mediterranean station,
touched at Messina. In the exchange
If social cOurtesies band from one
If the regiments quartered. there came /.
aboard the Boston and treated the
Yankees to a real concerto" Nc
Neil was so pleased that he promptly
made sail for America with the mu.
sicians aboard-despite their protests
hat they had not provided for the
maintenance for their families during
his unexpected absence.
Another Spectacular Career.
Of course our government dis
vowed the act of Mcneil and directed
hat the musicians be returned to
heir homes at the first opportunity.
But social procedure moved slowly in
hose days and it was not until five
ears later, or in 1907, that seven Of
hese musicians boarded the American
rigate Chesapeake on their return
'oyage to the Mediterranean. But
carcely had the Chesapeake started
m this voyage when she was attacked
" the British frigate Leopard and
vas compelled to return to port; and
gain were these musicians thwarted
n their attempts to reach home.
Equally spectacular was the career
t the second regular band Of must.
ians recorded In our navy. This
and was not kidnapped but captured
Y our frigate United States, Captain
Decatur, when he defeated the British N
Iigate Macedonian in 1872. There
ere eight members of this band
ermans. Frenchmen and Italians
'ho had enlisted on q French battle
hip, were captured by the Portuguese,
nd while in Lisbon enlisted on the
[acedonian, only to be captured few
lonths later by the United States.
rom which we see that the life Of
le early sea musician was full of
larps and flats.
That the English naval oficer of that
ay appreciated music is shown by
le fact that Captain Garden (the
acedonian's commander) had these
usicians play under his cabin win
wv when he dined, "and when the
ardrOom officers messed they played
fore the door Of that sanctum, ~ex- ;
pit on Sundays, when Garden was in
e habit Of honoring the wardroom
It'll his presence-the band accom-
lnying him."
When these musicians enlisted on
e Macedonian clause In their con-
act stipulated that in case of battle
ey should not be called upon to fight
It should be safely slowed away in
e cable tier. Thus they came out
the battle with the United States ?
Decatur carried his cap
red band to New York and these :,
lsicians headed the "great" street :
rade in celebration Of this naval n
tory. o
From Humble Beginnings. b
It was from humble and irregular n
ginnings that our present Marine =
justly has won for itself J.
reputation for being one Of the finest y
val bands in the world-began It's Il
velopment. We have no record of q
regularly organized naval band Of
Isicians at the period Of the Revo-
ion; but on the reorganization Of 4
, navy in 1913 provision was made