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 22
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The rifle committee has not been idle the past month, judging from the prizes it has won to date, and I am advised that the trophies will be shot for on nearly every drill-night until the close of the season. The McAlpins seemed to monopo- lize things pretty much during the last competition, the Captain having the high score in the first class, with Dave looking after their interests in the third class. They have probably won for the first and last time this season, however, as I overheard Bob Simpson, Dick Hanson and "Spits" say that they were · going to the rifle range to make a killing from now on. It is to be presumed that the beautiful flasks which were on exhibition in Company room recently were the incentive.
The census received an addition recently at the home of Al Watkins. It is said that the little one looks like its father, but the mother is reconciled as the child is bright and healthy.
Another Cragin in the Company. If this keeps up the 69th will have to sur- render the green flag. The Irish tendency in the Company was further em- phasized when at the recent mess dinner, "Jack Le Boot" and Stratton en- deavored to illustrate "the survival of the fittest" with the gloves. It was a mess all right before they got through.
1903 1
Inspection is over and the Company can well feel proud of its showing- all present but one, and that one, Sergeant Vernon Brown, ill with typhoid fever, but who, I am glad to add, is now doing nicely and who has assured us that he will again be hot-footing it around the Armory floor with us in January. I say January, for by a strange, and I might add unfortunate, coincidence, Christmas and New Year's fall on Thursdays, so we must of necessity dispense with drills until January 8. We all feel it to be a severe deprivation, but occa- sionally one is called upon to shoulder such hardships.
I understand that the Inspecting Officers commended the Company very highly and assured Captain McAlpin that the showing was above criticism. To Al Delafield, who attended to the dressing of the lockers and many other details, much praise is due.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
In summing up I must not overlook "Smitty the Intrepid" who turned over his squad of recruits so masterfully drilled that they executed the ceremony of inspection as perfectly as did the older men in the Company.
Sad to relate, another good man is wanted from our ranks to fill the office of Battalion Adjutant in the 71st Regiment, and this lot has fallen to Chauncey Perrine. We are all glad to know that he has been tendered this splendid pro- motion, but sorry to lose one of our old "standbys."
The Cragin family-on whose nationality I dwelt most sparingly in the last issue-has been much in evidence of late. Just to have the family satisfactorily represented, our old friend "Cally" is back in the ranks, after an absence of two years.
At the recent Fall Games, Cragin Number 4, I believe-at all events the youngest acquisition, just out of the squad-did some creditable running in the 880-yard run for the Officers' Cup, made a game effort and all but beat out the winner at the tape.
Naturally this is not the place for me to sound the praises of the "Left Squad, First Section," especially as I am honored in being the leader of the above, but notwithstanding my modesty I feel that I must chronicle one achieve- ment of this squad, if only for the benefit of the clamoring public. This squad has long been known, and rightly so, as the "banner squad"; it has always been preeminent in the Ninth Company doings and has generally been conceded incomparable. When on the 18th of December the match for the best five scores in any squad was shot-prizes of wrist watches having been offered by the non- commissioned officers-the banner squad conceived the notion of annexing the prizes and incidentally showing the other squads their places. Of course we had much to contend with-two Cragins in the First Squad tell the story, for it's hard to down the Irish-and at the conclusion of the match it was seen, after the smoke had cleared away, that they had tied us at 214, but on closer inspec- tion it was found that our off-shoulder score, in reality the only real test of a marksman, exceeded theirs, so as usual we were installed at the head of the . procession.
-CHAS. A. SLOSSON
PROMOTIONS
Another month has come around, and once more we are extolling the merits of the Ninth Company, for the aggregation has performed some deeds more or less meritorious, of late. To begin with-there has been considerable doing among the "crowned heads." I refer to our commissioned officer, Second Lieu- tenant Buchanan Houston, who is now our full-fledged First Lieutenant. If "Bug" can hold down his new job as creditably as the one he just vacated, and we know he can, we shall be perfectly satisfied. And could anyone be found better equipped to fill the Second Lieutenant's place than our First Sergeant, Wm. A. O'Connor, who was promptly nominated, and whom we propose to elect just as soon as possible.
"Smitty, the Intrepid," once more looms up! We don't like to dwell on this individual in every issue, but he has a way of jumping into prominence every
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month, so much so, that not to exploit his doings in these pages would be an injustice to him.
It seems that in this particular instance "Smitty's" rôle is that of a "grafter." I don't know what a "grafter" is, but am informed the word suits "Smitty's" . case. The recent awkward squad, which "The Intrepid" has been drilling, recently took him to Munchenheim's to dinner-reckless fellows !- and then to the Broadway Theatre to see "The Silver Slipper," sitting 'way down front. The crowd made such a fuss, and applauded so strenuously, that Sam Bernard added, when singing his song, that if the uproar was genuine "He would be satisfied with life."
A great Company match has been concluded for prizes offered by three of the younger members, Messrs. Gene Horton, Sam Folsom, and Al Delafield. The match was remarkable in that seventy-six competed; the Company record, by the way. While on the shooting topic we might add that our team, composed of Captain McAlpin, First Sergeant O'Connor, Sergeant Potter, and Privates Cally and Bill Cragin, ran a close second in the recent Steele Trophy match. The thanks of the Company are due them. Not only did we tie our record, but Company C had to break the Regimental record in order to win.
Our hockey team, on whose ability I dwelt several issues back, is now play- ing in great form under the leadership of Captain Dave McAlpin. The McAlpin clan seem to control the destinies of the Company, more or less, "Benny" at the helm, and Dave well up in things pertaining to athletics. The team has had a practice hour at the St. Nicholas Rink weekly between 5 and 6 p.m. As its members have difficulty in seeing the puck in broad daylight, imagine the article they put up under the glim of the electric lights. Now they have arranged for a practice tour at midday.
Dave recently led his cohorts out to the wilds of Jersey to do battle with some team that professed to know the game. That they were ignorant of the first prin- ciples was apparent from the outset, for the Ninth Company made a great record, scoring a goal, the first since hockey was added to the Company's ac- complishments, and being defeated only 8 to 1. But the indefatigable Captain Dave sallied forth once more with his hockeyites, this time to subdue some schoolboys up at Holbrook's School, at Ossining. After admonishing his men not to be too rough with the boys-chiefly Harry Stratton, who, by the way, is not in the best condition to play his usual spectacular game, as at the present time he is suffering with a congestion of hot air on the lungs-the game started.
Once more our team's proficiency was apparent, and profiting by its Jersey experience, it managed to hold the schoolboys down to two goals, and several times came perilously near scoring themselves. Stratton fell through the ice, thereby adding zest to the game. "Smitty, the Intrepid," is the self-appointed manager of the team. Is it to be wondered at then, that, the team is making such huge strides ?
Jack "Le Boot" is forming a "gym" class. Anyone who wants to get strong quickly under Jack's guidance is eligible. Hurry up and get in your application, thereby avoiding the rush and waiting list.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
On December 30, 1903, the Company ended the old year, with another famous "Dutch" -- a theatre party at the New Amsterdam, and something. to eat after, at Brown's chop house. Corporal Smith, Privates Hahn, McAlister, and Spitzka composed the committee in charge, but the self-appointed com- mittee of "one" ran the whole show. Everything was well arranged and everyone had a good time. Organized at short notice, but few of the veterans were with us, the famous trio, Captains Landon and Du Val and Colonel Cleveland being the guests of honor.
Captain Landon started the speech-making with a few words as usual, retir- ing in favor of Captain Du Val, recently returned from a trip around the world. The Captain's description of the trip and his frequent comparison of the foreign militia with his "Standard of Excellence" (7th Regiment, Company I), showed he was always thinking of us, as did his letter, written to us in the Far East, on the first drill night, which, though not noted at the time, was highly appreciated by the Company. Colonel Cleveland followed with his ex- periences with the U.S.A. in the manœuvers in the West. A few more speeches and it was time to go home, with the memory of another evening pleasantly spent.
-CHAS. A. SLOSSON
"CROSS OF HONOR" MEN January 1904
During the past month the Company has had two more names added to the roll of "Cross of Honor" men: Captain McAlpin has completed his tenth year of service. In glancing over his record one can notice his rapid advancement. It certainly is to be hoped, for our sakes, that he has reached the end of his rapid advancement, and will complete his next ten years as Captain of Com- pany I.
Corporal Berrian has completed his tenth year and not missed a roll call; one cannot make such a record without great sacrifices on many occasions, and the Company extends its heartiest congratulations to both Captain McAlpin and Corporal Berrian.
THE 66TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER, MARCH 7, 1904 AND THE POET LAUREATE OF THE NINTH
The poet laureate of the Ninth Company is Captain Horace C. Du Val. On the occasion of the celebration of the Company's sixty-ninth anniversary on Monday evening, March 9, 1904, at the New York Athletic Club, Captain Du Val supplied the versification which lent rhyme to the jollification. "I care not who may make their laws if I can write their songs" is one of Captain Du Val's most serviceable mottoes. For this occasion the bard of 42nd Street wrote four songs, all of which immediately became popular. To exemplify his style, one song is herewith given:
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Here's health to the Has Beens, Their places are filled, They're known only as The men who once drilled; Who rooted and worked In the seasons gone by, Who did what they could For old Company I; Who drop in sometimes After drill or parade,
To gaze at the wreck That their absence has made,
Who shake hands with Albert, Sam Folsom or Bill, And find that the Company's Flourishing still.
Why, flourishing-bless you, It's leaping ahead, "Toujours Pret" never waits For the quick or the dead. It's all very well For Has Beens to say, "Just think of the things That occurred in my day";
The days when Miles Palmer was young And when Bert,
Charley Warren and Frank Were on deck and alert, When Preston was acting And Billy Wall sang, And danced till his fame Thro' the armory rang; When Roberts and Taylor Who now wear the blue Were showing in shooting What "I" teams could do, But Has Been, old man, If sadness you feel,
Forget it at once- Captain Ben's at the wheel.
Take a look at the percentages, Figure them out, And you'll find that old "I" Is alive without doubt.
Attendance at Company Drill or parade Just smashes all records Old timers have made; And the old touch of elbow Is dying? Not much, Come around and enjoy A Ninth Company Dutch. Hear Captain McAlpin, The silver-tongued say
How the Company's breaking All records today ; How Houston and Billy O'Connor Are great In keeping their part of the Work up to date;
How if there is any Crack shooting to do, He's only to throw In a Cragin or two;
For a model First Sergeant Just look at LeBout,
While Holly as scribe Is the sort that will suit.
Shall I call off the rest? There's a hundred and three,
Each bound we shall stay At the top of the tree;
Each true to the other, Each working for all, Resolved that no star From the banner shall fall.
Here's health to the Has Beens, Their places are filled, They're known only now As men who have drilled; But let every Has Been Before he departs, Be sure there's a Roll Call Deep down in our hearts Where all are marked present, Where with us they vie In spreading the glories of Company ."I".
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
DINNER TO THE OFFICERS AND RIFLE COMMITTEE, COMPANY I, 7th REGIMENT, N.G.N.Y. "Toujours Pret"
March 26, 1904
133 West 77th St.
POST NO. 3 G. P. NICHOLS
GENERAL ORDERS FOR SENTINELS ON POST
1. To take charge of this post and all eatables and "booze" in view.
2. To sit at my post in a military manner, keeping constantly on the alert for a fresh bottle, eating and drinking everything within sight or hearing.
3. To report every breach of etiquette or regulations that I am instructed to enforce.
4. To repeat all calls for "booze" from posts more distant from the head of the table than my own.
5. To quit my post only when properly "edged."
6. To receive, transmit and obey all orders to drink from, and allow myself to be relieved by, the Commanding Officer or others present at the table.
7. To hold conversation with everyone except myself; leave that for the morning after.
8. In case of fire or disorder of the stomach, blame the Commissary and take another drink.
9. To allow no one to become a nuisance in the vicinity of my post.
10. In any case not covered by instructions, to call the waiter and order another drink.
11. To salute all drinks and bottles or magnums not corked.
12. Between oysters and coffee to turn out the guard for all drinks entitled to the compli- ment, for all bottles and magnums not corked and for all parties approaching my post, except the waiter and reliefs or detachments of the Commissary Department.
13. At night after challenging any person or party to drink, to advance no further, but call others to join in the "loving cup," repeating the answer to the challenge.
RIFLE COMMITTEE
Company I, 7th Regiment, N.G.N.Y. 1903-1904 Lieutenant W. A. O'Connor, Chairman Corporal W. H. Mote, Secretary
Corporal A. D. Smith
Private T. W. G. Corning
Corporal P. A. Paddock
Private L. M. Cowdrey
Private W. B. Cragin, Jr. Private K. Myers
Private C. H. Loughman Private G. P. Nichols
Private A. O. Sherwood
REVIEW BY SIR HOWARD VINCENT AND THE OFFER OF THE VINCENT SHIELD
November 1904
An event extraordinary in the history of the Regiment which intensified an existing international friendship was the review and parade on Thursday evening, October 6, in honor of Colonel Sir Howard Vincent, K.C.M.G., V.D., M.P., Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII, and for twenty years Colonel of the Queen's Westminster Volunteers. The guest of honor was apparently greatly gratified with his reception, and the Regiment, officers and men, were intensely interested in Sir Howard's address to them after the inspection.
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The Colonel said, in part :
"The Queen's Westminsters in the great metropolis of the Old Country, and the 7th Regiment of the National Guard in the commercial capital of the New World, are sister corps. Their history is contemporaneous, their traditions are the same. They both consist of the same class of citizens-in the recent words of the Inspector General of the United States-'lawyers, doctors, bankers,
Captain Adjutant D. W. C. Falls
Sir Howard Vincent
Captain F. G. Landon
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
brokers, and many college men who attained high rank in athletics and sports- a class of men valuable to the State and country in peace or war.'
"Both Regiments lead the van of the citizen soldiery by which the Anglo- Saxon race provides for its defense, instead of by the forced or conscript mili- tary service of: foreign nations. Both set an example to the country of what a citizen owes to the State for the freedom and liberty of glorious youth.
"My great aim has been to draw closer together the two sister Regiments on either side of the Atlantic, composed as they are of brothers, descended from a common ancestry, in whose veins runs the same blood, whose hearts beat with the same feeling, who speak the same language, who owe allegiance, in the main, to the same religion and to the same code of civil and moral law.
"I invited you, Colonel Appleton, five years ago to send a company of the 7th Regiment, of the National Guard of New York, to march at the head of the Queen's Westminsters at the Centenary Review held in 1899, before our present august sovereign, King Edward VII.
CAPT FRANCIS G. LANDON & CAP .: & ADJI DE WITT FALLS 7 -RECIMENT & TH NATIONAL GUARD & NEW YORK U.S. A. VISITED THE QUEENS WESTMINSTER VOLUNTEERS - OFFICIAL DELEGATES TO THE POTAL CENTENARY REVIEW 1699. THE ANCLO SANEK ALLIANCE FLOURISH
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"The idea was too novel. It was not practicable to put it 'right away' into execution. But you deputed two officers, Captain and Adjutant De Witt Clinton Falls and Captain Francis Landon, to represent the 7th.
"They will have told you if we received them with open arms. They will have told you of the reception they met with from Queen Victoria, of great and glorious memory.
"They left a keen desire on the part of the Queen's Westminsters to see more of the 7th, its officers and members.
"Colonel Appleton, with your approval and that of Colonel Trollope, to whom I have just handed over, after twenty years in command, the active charge of what Field Marshal Lord Roberts was pleased last year to term 'the most complete regiment he had ever seen,' I propose to offer in grateful recollection of this occasion a silver challenge shield, to be competed for as often as may be convenient, between the 7th Regiment and the Queen's Westmin- sters, on any conditions that may be mutually arranged, providing that they be the most sporting possible and designed to bring out the best qualities rather of the men than of their rifles. Perhaps next year, July 1905, Captain Landon, whom we know so well and like so much, may bring over this team of gallant riflemen before us who have done such a credit to the 7th at Creedmoor, to fetch the shield across the ocean. If so, we shall hope to come over to your centenary in 1906 to bring it back, albeit America has the habit of obtaining and keeping everything within sight. It matters not which wins. All we want is friendly emu- lation, not national rivalry."
COMPANY I AT THE 46TH GAMES -
Prolonged vocal demonstration of the loudest kind, strenuous handshakes, cracks on the back and faces covered with delight were some of the signs, on the night of December 3, 1904, which showed that the Ninth Company had been to the 46th Games. Our track team had accomplished what no other of our teams had ever done and furnished the biggest surprise of the year. Com- posed almost entirely of new men, points had been won in practically every event in which we were entered and as a result the Ninth Company room, so far as athletics are concerned, is the trophy room of the Regiment, with a big chance ·of remaining so.
Now, it is only right to give an individual puff to each man who helped put us in what might be fairly called the lead, and Elsworth Cragin, because of his having won more points than any other man on the team, deserves first mention. He put up a splendid race in the 1,000-yard handicap, securing second place, and surprised everybody by winning the 220-yard dash.
Forrest stands next in the number of points scored and also has a cup to show for his night's work. He won the 100-yard novice in gallant style, and
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
in the military relay race, catch-as-catch-can, first two falls to count, did some clever work and certainly deserves a part of the purse and a share in the "picture privileges."
Moir, the "dark horse," the sleeper, the last man in many a hard-fought race, came to life as he never had before and, taking the piece from Forrest, bounded off the mark like a catamount and quickly increasing the cadence to one thousand a minute, dashed away after the leaders, the lower part of his body looking like an electric fan.
Fleetest of the sergeants and admiral of the fleet (for is he not chairman of the Athletic Committee?), Harry L. Stratton comes next on the list of star performers. Trained to the minute on "Turkish Trophies" he set a smoking pace in every event he entered, broke the tape in the 100-yard handicap heats and finished second in the finals. In the inter-company relay race he ran last man, and, though an unfortunate occurrence made him drop the handkerchief, he did not stand around and "chew the rag" but picked it up and with a mili- tary stride which did not admit of any loss of distance at the turns, he made up a lot of lost ground and finished second.
"Shorty" Eakin and Dr. Noble helped win the "Military Trophy" by com- ing in third in the Rescue Race. The doctor was right there when the pistol went off and started down the Armory as if he had received a hurry call from a sure-pay two-dollar patient.
1905 DINNER FOR CAPTAIN LANDON
Ex-Captain Francis G. Landon was entertained by the former non-commis- sioned officers of the Ninth Company, 7th Regiment, on Friday, January 6, 1905, at the University Club. For the seven years Captain Landon was the commanding officer of the Ninth Company he made it a rule to entertain his non-commissioned staff on New Year's Eve. This year they turned the tables on their old commander, gave him the dinner, and bade him farewell on his jour- ney to Europe, where he will assume the diplomatic duties to which he has been assigned in Berlin. The dinner was not a formal one and no set speeches were made.
Among those present were Captain Horace C. Du Val, Robert M. Lyman, Arthur W. Little, Clemens F. Muller, John L. Roberts, William F. Wall, Charles W. Whitney, Newton E. Stout, Herbert Groesbeck, Henry V. Keep, Captain Benjamin H. McAlpin, Frank A. Patterson, W. B. Cowperthwait, W. A. O'Connor, Thomas B. Aldrich, Vernon C. Brown, Clinton S. Martin, John A. Le Boutillier, Buchanan Houston, Byrd W. Wenman, J. Westervelt Clark, Louis C. Berrian, H. L. Stratton, A. D. Smith, George J. Weaver, S. D. Fulton, W. H. Mote, Eugene Horton, D. Chauncey and George W. Chauncey.
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An unusual photograph of Company I men containing
1 Colonel of the 7th Regiment
1 Lieutenant Colonel
1 Major
4 Captains of Company I
Hayes Houston Stratton
McAlpin Houston Hubby Hayes 1
2 Captains of other com- § Stratton-L panies of the Regiment \ Nichols-F
8 First Sergeants of Company I
L McAlpin Houston Le Boutillier Mote
Hubby
Paddock
Hayes Nichols
Top Row (left to right)-Aiken, Lawrence, Stratton, Hubby, Loughman, Paddock Center Row-Hayes, Houston, McAlpin, Le Boutiller, Nichols Bottom Row-Mote, Smith
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
MORE COMPANY POLITICS
George P. Nichols of late has been supplying the enthusiasm which Captain McAlpin believed to be lacking, insofar as it related to filling vacancies among the Lance Corporals. Backed by "Slate Maker" Robbins, he made a very pretty running fight against Elsworth Cragin to fill one of these vacancies, but the prolific Cragin family tree contained too many "rooters," and long before the last brother had cast his vote George was framing his congratula- tory telegram; nothing daunted, however, and believing that he who runs and fights away lives to run another day, George was induced to supply the en- thusiasm in filling the other existing vacancy. "Padrone" Ballard had a strong candidate in Kellock Myers, and even the wise ones looked for a close finish. The campaign which followed the nominations proved to be one of the cleanest on record. The Myers contingent threw no mud, while those who held Nichols close to the chest used no coin to procure votes. The election which took place January 5 was so evenly contested that no one should feel sore. Myers won out by a few votes, but George will bear watching; he is a clever two-handed boy, and if he stays straight will not have to go to Sing Sing to wear "stripes."
1905 ONE HUNDRED PER CENT!
Too much can never be said of our part in the Regimental Inspection, Feb- ruary 7. One hundred and three men said "yes," and there were no promises broken. To realize what this achievement means, it is only necessary to say
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