USA > New York > The first hundred years : records and reminiscences of a century of Company I, Seventh Regiment, N.G.N.Y., 1838-1938 > Part 17
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In the female rôles, Mr. Lawrence, as "Celia," was massive and amusing. Mr. Sperry made a capital "Audrey," and Mr. McCormack, as the flirting typewriter, did very good work. Finally "Rosalind," the daughter of the banished Duke, was the character which Mr. William F. Wall assumed to introduce his famous skirt dancing. This year he has undoubtedly surpassed all his former successes. The audience never seems to have enough of the graceful swaying, bewildering revolutions and beautiful poses with which the dance was replete.
The Minuet was very gracefully danced, as was also the beautiful Dance of Diana's Nymphs.
The Metropolitan Male Quartette sang some exceedingly pretty glees.
-Gazette
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
The Minuet in "Asyoulikeit" J. A. Kip T. B. Taylor F. G. McDougall A. W. Little C. T. Hoeber
"ASYOULIKEIT" An Original Travesty of Shakespeare's Comedy By William Duncan Preston, Company "I," First Presented by COMPANY "I," SEVENTH REGIMENT, N.G., S.N.Y. At the Berkeley Lyceum, New York, 23 West 44th Street One week, commencing April 13, 1891, and Monday, May 11-Brooklyn Academy of Music
Monday, Tuesday and Saturday evenings for Company I Camp Fund. Wednesday evening for the benefit of Chapel Hill Fresh Air Mission.
Thursday evening for the benefit of the Staten Island Athletic Club Baseball team. Friday evening for the benefit of the Guild of St. Elizabeth, for work in Bellevue Hospital and on Blackwell's, Ward's and Hart's Islands.
Saturday matinée, Ta Kala Society benefit for funds to place elevator in Chapin Home.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Duke Frederick, by birth patrician, by nature a crank ? The Banished Duke, one of Nature's noblemen S
W. Prince Clagett
Jacques, a wag, a wit, a winner Orlando, a silly sentimentalist
Adam, an unconventional family retainer
Amiens, a loyal, lordly lord 2
Charles, a wrestler (Sh -! not a word) 5
Henry A. Bostwick, Jr. W. Duncan Preston William Alden Pratt
William S. Stewart
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
William, too "Dutch" for anything Touchstone, a fool first, last and forever Rosalind, capricious but sincere Celia, malaproprian in her misappropriations Audrey, the simplest of country maids Susie (a typewriter), the genuine article
Four citizens, plucked from the populace
Clinton S. Martin George G. Murray William F. Wall
Alexander M. Lawrence Frederic P. Sperry Frederic G. McCormack S. Theodore Hodgman William Seward
Walter H. Clark Augustus Trowbridge
THE MINUET
Ladies
E. Hunt Allen, Jr.
Gentlemen Edward J. Chaffee
Arthur W. Little
Clarence I. Hoeber
Frederic G. McCormack
Ira A. Kip, Jr.
Theodore B. Taylor
Frank G. McDougall
and afterwards they executed the "Dance of Diana's Nymphs"
Hunters, Citizens, Etc.
Walter H. Clark Byron W. Greene, Jr. John L. Roberts, Jr. Augustus Trowbridge
S. M. Evans S. Theodore Hodgman William Seward, Jr. Harry C. Wiltshaw
The Metropolitan Quartette-Webb, Byrne, Burke, and Woods.
ACT I .- The Storm Brewing. It Breaks.
Scene-Garden of the Palace of the Duke.
ACT II .- Gloom. "When at the worst affairs will amend." Sunlight. Scene 1 .- The Forest of Arden. Scene 2 .- Another part of the forest. Scene 3 .- Still another part of the forest.
Time : Afternoon and evening. Costumes : Historical, perhaps hysterical.
NOTE : As a matter of interest to the audience, the scenes in Act II will be changed without lowering the curtain.
1892 COMPANY I'S LARK
It is doubtful if the Broadway Theatre ever held a more friendly audience, nor one which more quickly caught several little "gags" introduced for its bene- fit, than when on Saturday, February 6, one hundred and fourteen members of "I" watched the performance of "The Lion Tamer", at that house. The fun commenced in the first act with a reference to the "She Trophy" (Covell) and continued throughout the evening. "Little double time," "new tactics," and other introduced lines, put the boys in a good humor, but when Mr. Wilson, crouching under the knives of the conspirators, wriggled all over the stage, and finally plaintively remarked "I can't see to shoot on this range," the house fairly shook with applause. The little verse introduced in the song, "The Isle of Lillipotu" (written by Lieutenant Du Val), also proved a great go, and won
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
round after round of applause. We have at last obtained a copy of the verse and insert it for the benefit of those unlucky enough to miss the treat.
In this wonderful Isle the Tactics new, We read so hard in the Book so Blue Are as easy as "A B C" to you-
In the Army of Lillipotu. You stop when you please in Company Drill, And chat and laugh till you've had your fill, At Double Time you all stand still-
In the Guard of Lillipotu. Quite stately, Sedately,
But not immediately,
Soldiers go, Their form to show,
In lovely gray, not blue. No dressing,
A blessing- In accents most caressing
The Captain stands,
And gives commands- In the Guard of Lillipotu. In the Isle of Lill-the Isle of Lilli-
Lillipo-Lillipotu.
In camp we sleep till ten o'clock, No morning drill for fear of shock; In Dress Parade we take some stock- In the Guard of Lillipotu.
After the play the Company adjourned to the Arena and listened to remarks by Captain Harper, Lieutenants Du Val and Gould, Adjutant Landon and others. While discussing the very excellent supper provided, a letter of regret was read from Colonel Appleton, whose name was greeted with hearty cheers. Among the ex-members present we noticed Adjutant Landon, Lieutenant Blake, Stearns, Smith and Weber, Sergeant Denison, Corporals Bontecou and Handy, and old comrades Close, Evans, Palmer, Masters, Cunningham and Talmadge. Our report would not be complete without mention of the very perfect manner in which the committee carried out all the arrangements for the evening.
CHRISTMAS PARTY DECEMBER 28, 1893
The Ninth Company gave its annual Christmas party at Jaeger's, on Thurs- day evening, December 28.
The committee, Messrs. Murray, Folsom, Wall and Neilson, had made good use of the short time allowed them for preparation, and had not only provided an excellent entertainment and supper, but had also persuaded a great many of the veterans, who thought they had outgrown the Company, to come and enjoy our fun with us. Among the ex-members whom I saw were Colonel Arthur, Adjutants Landon and Weaver, Lieutenants Weber, Smith and Clayton, Messrs.
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
Miles, L. Palmer, Joseph Dowd, Bert Denison, Frank M. Kelley, George Dominick and Sergeant Major Folsom.
The show was rather late in commencing, but the boys managed to amuse themselves by sampling the beer and the punch, and watching the manner in which two of our shortest members smoked cigars nearly as long as themselves. Tom Balantine, the comedian, headed the program, and gave some very amusing sketches. Then came pretty Mary Howell, who sang her songs so well that she was encored again and again, until finally in the last song, when she sang some- thing about being true to Jack, our Sixth Corporal, who bears that name, took it as a personal matter, and his friends had trouble to keep him among the audience.
Dan Quinn followed, with a large "repertoire" of splendid songs. Mr. Murray then led on the dancer of the evening, Lola Yberri, of the Eden Musee. She seemed to enjoy it as much as the boys, for she danced three long dances, and later in the evening repeated them, upon a unanimous call from the house.
After supper there was some more vaudeville, and it was not until the small hours of the morning that Company I sang "Auld Lang Syne," and dropped the curtain upon the last of its many entertainments for 1893.
1894 COMPANY DRILLS
SEVENTH N.Y .- In the drill of Company I, 7th N.Y., on February 8, at the armory, the order to fall in was promptly given at 8 p.m. by First Sergeant Cleveland, in response to which the men of the company very quickly took their places, forming in two ranks. As the company has adopted the permanent squad system, no time was wasted in forming in single rank and sizing company, as is done in some other regiments, but each man knew his place at once. The turnout was a sight to see, 451/2 files parading and three commissioned officers, the front of the company extending some 94 feet, or two-thirds across the drill hall. The company was turned over to Captain J. Thorne Harper, who put the command on the march in column of fours. Thence followed a vigorous drill consuming one and a half hours, mainly in movements by platoon. Lieutenant H. C. Du Val was chief of the First Platoon, and Lieutenant G. H. Gould of the Second Platoon, but at different times during the drill Captain Harper alternated in putting sergeants in command of platoons, in order that they could better familiarize themselves in positions which emergencies at any time may demand them to fill, a most excellent and common-sense idea. In the drill the entire schedule of movements by platoon were executed with uncommon precision. The marching by fours, fronts into line, obliques, column of platoons, line of platoon columns in column of fours, company front, etc., were excellent, some being executed in double time, and, in fact, were a revelation. The turns were marvels of accuracy, while the distances and intervals were correctly kept. The dressings during the forepart of the drill were a trifle slow, and in several instances, at the command march, the pieces were not brought to the right shoulder promptly by the entire company. During the latter part of drill ranks were opened and brought facing each other, were exercised in the manual with and without the numbers, which was exceedingly well done. In the loading and firing, however, at the command Recover Arms one or two careless men fired repeatedly at the latter command, but after the movement had been repeated a number of times, and the men cautioned, they learned that Recover Arms did not mean fire. The volley firing was well done, and with the exceptions noted, the entire drill was a model of perfectness, the result of earnest and intelligent work
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
and regular attendance. Captain Harper joined the Regiment in 1876, Lieutenant Du Val in 1870, and Lieutenant Gould in 1876.
-From the Army and Navy Journal, February 17, 1894.
The first of our "Home Talent Entertainments" was held in the Company room after drill on February 15. Nearly everyone stayed, either to assist in amusing the crowd or to be amused. Billy Wall, in his inimitable style, sang, "One of His Legs Is Longer Than It Really Ought to Be," "Katie," "Such a Nice Girl, Too," "The Dime Museum," and several other songs. Some of his gestures were really remarkable, and showed the results of hours of practice before the mirror. Jack Neilson played on his banjo nearly everything, from Moszkowski's "Spanish Dance" and "Vienna Forever" to "Isabella," "After the Ball," with "The Man That Broke the Bank" and "Daisy" on the hindmost seat of the "Elephant" from "Wang."
Bert Ashforth gave the real lovers of music a treat by playing on the man- dolin such sweet melodies as Braga's "Angels' Serenade," and "In Old Madrid." The evening was a great success, and everyone is looking forward with a great deal of pleasure to next month's entertainment.
-Gazette
THE BOY WHO MADE GOOD
The Discipline Committee was holding a reception, The room was full, but all the guests seemed filled with deep dejection, Lieutenant Gould, with frowning brow, assumed the rôle of host, And they who'd met him oftenest, were the men who feared him most.
A man walks up with trembling limb, his eyes upon the floor, And shows a card which reads, "Please present this at the door."
The chairman looks him through and through, then seems to be amused, "Detained from drill by business, eh ? Well, sir, you're not excused !"
Then Captain Harper rushes in, his face all wreathed in smiles, And gives us such a piece of news as drives away our trials. As there he stands, such silence reigns we can hear the drop of pins, And tells us in a joyful voice, "Wray Cleveland's just got twins."
"Committee come to order," shouts the chairman, in a rage, While the clerk, with withering glance, says, "You've made me blot my page."
But what's the good of being cross, for we must wish them joy, So here's to beauty for the girl, and chevrons for the boy !
THE PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN ARTHUR
"Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun; Decide all controversy by Infallible artillery." -Hudibras.
On November 13, as chronicled in last month's Company notes, the veteran and active members of the Ninth Company gathered in the Company room, after
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
our usual monthly meeting, to witness the unveiling of the portrait of ex-Captain Edward G. Arthur, painted by Carrol Beckwith.
It marked an epoch in the history of our Company in that its addition to our walls completes the full list of portraits of our ex-Captains.
Ex-Captain Arthur enlisted in the Ninth Company in December 1861. He was elected Corporal in 1862, Sergeant in 1867, First Sergeant in 1868, First Lieutenant in 1868 and Captain in 1869. In 1873 he resigned from the Com- pany, having served faithfully for twelve years.
When the Ninth Company became an infantry organization, Captain Arthur was our first commander, and he is the only ex-Captain of the Ninth Company who was brought up in the ranks of our Company. In 1869 he joined the Veteran Association, was five times reelected Captain of the Company Veterans, twice Lieutenant-Colonel of the Veterans, and served as Colonel of that organ- ization from 1891 to 1893.
The expressive and lifelike portrait of our ex-comrade was much admired. It represents Captain Arthur in fatigue uniform and overcoat. The cape turned back over the left shoulder shows the red lining and gives the picture a very bright and effective appearance. The artist, as is well known, is one of the most distinguished American painters.
THE BROOKLYN TROLLEY STRIKE OF 1895
On Monday, January 14, the conductors and motormen of all the Brooklyn trolley lines were ordered to quit work by the officers of their union and the "City of Churches" ceased to function as a going concern.
At first the police were able to cope with the situation and there was very little disorder, but, as usual in such cases, as the days went by and there seemed to be no signs of settlement, these men who had been law-abiding citizens be- fore, chose the unwise course of lawlessness.
Whenever cars attempted to leave the barns they made slight progress and were returned with smashed windows and other damaged parts. The police were exhausted in their efforts to protect the "replacements" of the trolley companies and the Mayor called out the Brooklyn regiments on January 19.
The presence of troops seemed to arouse the resentment and all the baser passions of the strikers who were reinforced by the tough element from various parts of the city. Even with the militia on hand not a car could be run on any of the roads-and, after an appeal to the Governor, the First Brigade was ordered out on Sunday, January 29.
By 11 o'clock Sunday evening fully two-thirds of the 7th Regiment were in the Armory, and when they marched out at 5 a.m. the next morning for Brooklyn there were one hundred men of Company I in the ranks.
After reaching the seat of war in East New York via the elevated roads Colonel Appleton divided the Regiment into three battalions or detachments and Companies E and I, under Captain Rhoads, were assigned to guard the car barns at Alabama and Jamaica Avenues where the rioting had been most
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
At the car barns, Brooklyn, 1895
threatening during the past week. One private of the 47th Regiment had been killed here on post. The presence of the New York Regiment and Captain Louis Wendel's battery of guns seemed to discourage the mob. There were only aggravating troubles of a minor nature and no mass attacks at Alabama Avenue.
The Company "scribe," Private Albert B. Ashforth, describes the tour in the issue of the Gazette for February 15, 1895:
When the call to arms on January 20 sounded it brought the members of the Ninth Company and of the Regiment hustling to the Armory from all sides. There was no hesita- tion about leaving our beds and warm firesides. From all sides the remark was heard that "when there is work to do I want to be there, and where the 7th goes I go." One hundred men were assembled at 5 o'clock ready for business, First Sergeant Cleveland and two drummers being absent. Sergeant Cleveland was in the Adirondacks and did not join us till Tuesday at East New York, where he came post haste the minute he got. the order.
The Fifth and Ninth Companies suffered much for want of sleep till reinforced by the Tenth Company on Tuesday, which helped us out on guard duty. Corporal Wall, Benson, Morrison and A. S. Taylor, who were on guard duty all day Monday and on Monday night at the outpost (later Tenth Company quarters), did not get a wink of sleep till Tuesday.
Many sterling qualities were brought forth during our life on the trolley cars. Dr. Beebe showed himself a ministering angel, and no amount of praise that I could give in my poor language would be sufficient to express the good work he did for us all. He was out among the men on guard night and day, and there were few who were on guard during the week to whom he did not bring hot coffee or some more substantial or stimulating
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
beverage. "Bob" Allen of the Tenth Company made himself popular among us by serving us hot coffee during the coldest nights to the guard when our comrades in the Ninth had completely forgotten us.
Chaffee, although dropped, came all the way from Pittsburgh to join us.
There was great hustling on our arrival at East New York to secure the most desirable situation for our residences, but as the cars kept running in and out of the depot this was not a very easy task.
Sergeant Fox, Corporals Nicoll and Wall, after getting nicely settled in one of the most superbly furnished cars of the road, found themselves riding out of the depot toward Fulton Street, and no amount of kicking would bring the car back, so they packed up their luggage and got out of the car as quickly as possible, much to the delight and amusement of the more fortunate.
Prout
Inside the car. Brooklyn Trolley Strike, 1895
Many of us who made our beds in the last cars, away at the back of the depot, frequently woke up the next morning right at the entrance. Nearly everybody made a visit to "Delmonico's," the second car on track number two, so called on account of the delicious and varied tempting morsels and old wines that could be had there. "Lady Gray" presided with great éclat at all banquets, even though not adorned by his "Callahan" brown derby.
Aldrich and Cragin, "the innocent," were head cook and bottle washer, respectively, the latter being appointed such because he was the first to get any bottles that appeared and first to see the bottom.
Right behind the above mentioned car, came that of the "directors"-truly a distinguished lot-Corporals Lyman, Adams, Coney, Hatch, Heye, and Owen holding daily discussions and confabs on the outlook of the strike.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Corporal Lyman met with a very sad experience in this same car. Having been on guard one night, he hied himself back, about 5 a.nı., with visions of delightful repose in the arms of Somnus, to find, much to his chagrin, that all the berths were full. There was nothing for him to do but sleep on the floor of the car, which made beautiful red streaks on one, like the marks on a beefsteak just taken from the broiler. George Heye (weighing, it is estimated, something less than four hundred pounds), having been awakened in his baby slumbers, put his feet over the side of his berth, gently placing them on the pit of Lyman's stomach, rose gradually to his feet to stretch, standing as he thought on a rather downy surface. He did not, however, become aware of the terrible danger he was in till the astonished Lyman took a long breath, overthrowing George right in the middle of his delightful stretch, which he finished on the floor, needless to say to the disgust and discomfort of the other peacefully-sleeping and weary protectors of an ungrateful republic.
Fisher distinguished himself one night while on guard by yelling at two men to move on, but when the searchlight was turned on them they proved to be unoffending protectors of the public peace.
McAlpin brought down the wrath of the other members of his car on his head by bringing a delicious steak in the car one night, which before morning emitted such a delightful odor that it compelled them to seek other quarters. The same car on the day we left registered seven hundred and ninety fares, or thereabouts-each fare representing one drink.
This sounds like a fairy tale, but it is not surprising when we remember that "Billy" McKewan, Williams second, and Sperry occupied this car, frequently receiving visits from such good company as Benson, Fouquet, Bert Brown who used to be, Power, and Scoville. We can all rejoice now that the Brooklyn war is over, and, as Lieutenant Du Val aptly wrote the other night while taking score in the rifle range:
We didn't fight the rioters, Or hear the cannons roar, But in our ears is ringing yet The yell to "Shut that door !" -ALBERT B. ASHFORTH
FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER MARCH 8, 1895 THE "BROOKLYN CAMPAIGN"
Dedicated to Company I, 7th Regiment, N.G.N.Y. Words and Music by Hazel Menzies Kelley
I. The gay and gallant Seventh always eager for the fray Were ordered off to Brooklyn one cold and stormy day, And Company I with bayonets keen all ready for the fight, Were ordered up to Halsey Street in sad and weary plight.
CHORUS Long live the boys of Company I, Long may their colors wave on high, The young ones and the old, The timid and the bold, Long live the boys of Company I.
II. From Halsey Street to Alabama Company I was sent, And quartered in the trolley car instead of in the tent, They nearly froze, they got no sleep, so thought it very hard, That when the shades of night did fall, The cry should be "On guard." CHORUS
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
CAMP ALABAMA January 218 10 284. 1895
57TH
NNIVERSARY,
DINNER SOCIETY of 9 th Co. VETERANS AND MEMBERS of COMPANY-"I"
Th Regiment N GN Seventh Rest. VETERAN-CLUB. FRIDAY. MARCH EIGHTH. ·1895.
III. The tearful friends they left behind to their dear boys did send, Eatables to strengthen them their country to defend, Turkeys, chickens, cakes and pies and sandwiches galore, But still those hungry mortals cried, "Dear maidens, send us more."
CHORUS
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
IV.
The Colonel and his staff were sitting in a trolley car, Planning for a battle which would send the rioters far, The lights went out; the Colonel cried, "Who's there ?"
Then looking out the door he said,
[in accents loud, "The moon's behind a cloud."
CHORUS
V.
The following piece of information I will tell to you, Was told to me in earnest but I don't believe 'tis true, The boys they learned to run the cars and every little while, Instead of ringing up a fare, They rang up for a "smile."
CHORUS
VI.
The cold and hungry 7th not so eager for the fray, Were ordered home from Brooklyn on a clear and sunny day, The Colonel of his boys was proud for gallant service done, In riot duty they had served but only called it fun.
CHORUS
CAPTAIN HARPER RESIGNS
On the foundation solidly laid by Captain Casey, Captain Harper, who had served his apprenticeship under him, builded so ably and well that the good ship "I" for years rode the crest of the wave and continued its career of uninterrupted success.
After eighteen years of faithful and untiring service, Captain Harper ten- dered his resignation on February 14, 1895. During his command the Ninth Company sometimes had a waiting list running as high as thirty-four men- while it never fell below the full complement of 103 men.
. CAPTAIN FRANCIS GRISWOLD LANDON
Upon the resignation of Captain Harper, the Company elected the Regi- mental Adjutant, Francis G. Landon, who enlisted under the famous Captain Casey, January 5, 1882. He was appointed Corporal, June 3, 1884; Sergeant, January 27, 1887; First Sergeant, December 6, 1887; Regimental Adjutant, January 5, 1891, and finally, Captain of the Ninth Company, April 16, 1895. This was the beginning of another era for Company I.
THE BICYCLE CORPS, 1895 AN EXTRACT FROM ORDERS
IV .- The Board of Officers having authorized the formation of a Bicycle Corps, and the requisite number of men having volunteered, the scheme of organization submitted by the officers named below is hereby approved, it being understood that no relief can be expected from the regular Regimental duties.
The Corps will be permitted to wear the uniform of the Regiment on its regular drills and also on road rides for instruction when under command of a commissioned officer.
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