Evening star., 1933-02-26

coran Cadet Corps Veterans Association
celebrated the fftieth anniversary of the old
Corcoran Cadet Corps at the knights OF Co
lumbus Hall and many we're the "reminiscences
OF how the boys got their start in the ,home
of Dr. James T. Sothoron, 1919 1 street, its
a-mory being in the basement of 1923 X street.
the residence of Pay Inspector James E. Hoy.
U. S. N.
The corps was first organized in the Spring
of 1882, and then, after coming to more per-
feet understanding, was reorganized on Feb
ruary o. 1883, which makes it just half
century old this month, from the latter date.
John Irwin was elected captain at the origi-
nal formation, when a battalion of two COM
panies was formed. On the reorganization in
1888, Capt Irwin made major command
ing: c. Eugene Edwards, captain of Company
A. and c. T. DAILY, captain of Company B.
Soon, however, the two companies were con-
solidated into one and Capt. Edwards made
captain of the whole body
The original roster of charter members as
printed some time ago contains the following
names: Capt John Irwin. Capt. c. E. Ed
wards, Capt. c. T. DAILY, Lieuts. Elmer
Sothoron. Smith Hawley, Charles Skerritt,
James Watson, B. H. Monroe, Pvts. Charles
Meyer. James Hilton, George Howe. Fielder
Plummer, William H. Grovermann, w. c. Luce,
A. L, ONeil, Walter Humphrey. Charles Sim
HIOIlS. rIeQ OuVaU, 1neOQOre OuVall. w. E.
Coburn, William Gwynne, S. H. Gwynne,
Charles Turner, Will Tibbe Harvey Eiker,
Logan Prosise, William Morrow Bert Summers,
Harry Bryan, Matthew Jurdintson, William
Taylor George Bowie, j. B. K. Lee. H. E.
Mockbee, August Wilmer, Jesse Lashorn Gus
tave Hartig, Leroy Kellogg. John Endere. Ralph
Given, Gerald Graves, Noble Walker Charles
Boss. Samuel Cotton and Louis Lindheimer
THE Corcoran Cadets were very wise and for
tunate in the selection of their name. which
they took from one of our most highly respected
citizens of that period and whom We cannot
recall without asociating him with acts OF
kindness and philanthropy. He was one of
our most successful financiers and has left to
us as one of his greatest monuments the Cor
coran Gallery of Art. His building and endowing
of the Louise Home for the benefit of Southern
gentlewomen will ever cause his memory to be
revered by the women of the Southland.
Many will recall his palatial residence which
stood at the corner of Connecticut avenue and
H street, where now stands the Chamber OF
Commerce of the United States and which
was formerly the residence of Daniel Webster
when that noted American was Secretary OF
State.
Naturally, soldier companies are usually
composed of young men, but with the Corcoran
Cadets, the ages If anything, averaged slightly
less than those of other local companies But
what they might have lacked in age they
made up for in determination and enthusiasm
Their leader for so many years. Capt. C.
Eugene Edwards, was not of the original mem
bers of 1882, but came with the cadets about
six months after the first organization and set
things to going right He originally was q
member of the Georgetown zouaves, and from
the time he transferred his field of activity to
the Corcorans the latters success was assured.
He died little more than a year ago, and
the veteran association felt it had sustained a
very serious loss
From the first the boys-for many of them
were but Is years old-drilled with wooden
rifles until they could do better and this sug-
gested the giving of the fair held in the Au-
tumn of 1883, when enough money was made
to buy 40 condemned u S. Army rifles Of
the pattern of 1865 Another fair was held