Show competitive DRILL KNIGHTS TEMPLAR vast audience cheer the many Comm anderies competing prizes of great beauty and intrinsic value awarded i san francisco sept 7 following their great parade admittedly tho finest ever given by the order the knights templar today gathered at golden gate park to witness the drills the drill was held on the extensive lawn ordinarily devoted to baseball and other sports and on the grassy slopes surrounding it many thousands of spectators were congregated the day wag clear and warm but a gentle breeze from the ocean mitigated the temperature and prevented any discomfort tho competition was between st bernard no 35 drill corps of chicago louisville no 1 drill corps malta no 21 drill crops of binghamton N Y ivanhoe no 24 of milwaukee the vast audience seemed impartial and did not confine its cheering to any abne ot the competitors all were attired in attractive uniforms and their intricate evolutions were executed with the precision of perfectly working machinery the prizes awarded were of great beauty and intrinsic value and the task of the judges was not an easy one the competition drill was followed by exhibitions by corps of golden gate and the mounted drill corps from california neither of which would enter inep rivalry with their guests from beyond the sierras Follow lag this feature of the occasion there was a battalion parade and review of the four competing drill corps under the command of the right eminent sir frank W sumner past grand commander of california the prizes were then distributed by the grand commander of california during the day there were many excursions cur by water and land to various points many knights availing themselves of the opportunity to see much of the state as can be shown in brief trips from this city san francisco sept 7 the preliminary meeting of the grand encampment of the knights templar was held today the opening address of welcome was delivered by gov pardee of california on behalf of the knights of the stale who was followed by mayor on behalf of the knights of the city of san francisco the routine work of fhe first meeting consisted of appointing committees to handle the many questions which will come before the body the reports of the officers on the current events of the week and also upon the work of the last three years were received and referred to the committees the gand masters of the priory of england ireland and wales were present as invited guests BIG attendance chicago sept 7 officers of the interested te railroads estimate that by the nd of the week when the 50 rate ends at least forty thousand persons will have been ticketed from chicago to california it has been the largest movement ever recorded for a templar conclave from chicago alone more than sleepers have been bent which averaging seven cars to the train figures about forty three special trains this number has been tor the exclusive use of the knights no account being taken of cars attached to regular trains for the accommodation of the general public |