The Blackpool Herald. — 1886-07-30 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

BLACKPOOL.  The ten companies which compose the 2nd L.R.V., and whose headquarters are at Blackburn, finished their week's encampment at Blackpool on Saturday. All the officers whose names we gave in our last issue were present at the inspection, which took place on Friday afternoon, and the strength of the battalion on parade was as follows : —26 officers, 54 sergeants, 53 band, trumpeters, or buglers, 801 rank and file, total 934. There were absent with leave one officer and 72 rank and file. The total enrolled strength is 27 officers, 54 sergeants, 53 band and trumpeters, 873 rank and file, bringing the number composing the battalion up to 1,007. The inspecting officer, Colonel Cook, of the 30th Regimental District, arrived on the parade ground about three o'clock. The men, under the command of Colonel Robinson, were waiting, drawn up in line. After the general salute, Colonel Cook rode down the line, and minutely inspected the men and their clothing. The battalion then broke into column to the right, and marched past, and returned at the double, the march past in quarter column being dispensed with. The eolumn then wheeled and formed line to the right on the rear company. Having been put through the bayonet exercise by Major Bleackley, an advance was made in line of half-battalions, and volleys were fired from flank to centre. They then formed square and fired volleys. Advancing in echelon from the left, a halt was made, and there was more firing. The battalion then formed quarter-column on No. 5 and retired to the bottom of the hill where preparation was made for the extended attack, which was to give a brilliant finish to the afternoon's drill. The battalion advanced in skirmishing order, firing volleys, and finally the band striking up and the men cheering, , the assault, with fixed bayonets, was made upon the enemy. in this instance represented by a few startled spectators who were finding a precarious shelter from the blinding rain on the leeside of one of the large tents. Twenty rounds of cartridge had been supplied to each volunteer. The men were afterwards formed in quarter column, to receive the criticisms of the Inspecting officer on I the afternoon's manceuvres.—Colonel Cook said that was the fourth time he had had the pleasure lof inspecting the battalion, and he could assure 'them that, in spite of the great annoyances of wind j and rain, they had accomplished their work I remarkably well. The march past was very good indeed, and the rest of the exercises, with one or two exceptions—which were hardly their fault— was performed very satisfactorily. The extend for attack was done very well, but he wanted to see the section commanders keep their men more in hand. Of course, allowances could be made for a certain appearance of hurriedness, but he considered that on the whole they had displayed great steadiness. He hoped that next year, if he had the pleasure of seeing them, they would be favoured with more pleasant weather. He should regret losing the privilege of inspecting' such a fine body of men. He had determined to visit them, come wind, rain, lightning, or thunder, and he was pleased to see them, in spite of the tempestuous weather, looking so soldierlike and cheerful. Turning to Colonel Robinson, he congratulated him on the efficiency of the battalion; the men had been shaken about a bit, but they had acquitted themselves very satisfactorily indeed. The battalion was then marched into camp, and the men, wet to the skin, were dismissed to their quarters. The week's training was brought to a close on Saturday, when .the regiment left Blackpool by special train.  The .hrrio York World proposes a public testimonia to Mr. Gladstone as an expression of the esteem in which he is held by the American people, and the sympathy they feel with the struggle in which he is engaged.  At Portland on Friday a convict made a murderous assault on Assistant Warder Evans with a hammer. Evans evaded the full force of the blow, and in the subsequent struggle the convict seized a pick and renewed the attack. Evans drew his sword and tried to run his absailant through the body, but the weapon bent up like hoop iron, and his baton also splintered. Other warders coming up, the prisoner was removed, and Evans, who was injured about the head, was taken to the infirmary.  "