The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-27
ADESERTER'S STORY.
He Found Service in Uncle Sans
Army UncOngenial, and
TRAVELLED THE WORLD OVER.
He Became Prisoner In Peru and was
Sentenced to be ShOt-Other Adventures
by Land and Sea.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examlner Dispatch
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Dec. ga most TO
mantle story of two soldiers who had fore
sworn the flag of their country only to be
conquered by disease and forced to surren-
der, can be told from this city. "Officer,
we are deserters from the United States
army and unable to procure employment.
We are sick, tired, detected and desire to
surrender ourselves"
These words were spoken to Officer Dill
Ion on Nam street yesterday by one of two
young men who certainly appeared in a
sorry condition. He escorted the men to
the Central Police station where they gave
their names as Elmore- Campbell and Viii
liam Donnelly, stating they were deserters
from the army The authorities at Little
Rock were notified and the recruiting
sergeant in Memphis was also notified.
The prisoners will be turned over to the
United States army authorities to-day.
This morning Officer Dillon will be richer
by $50 than before the arrest, as the United
States pays $50 per head for all deserters
apprehended and turned over.
Gilmore Campbell told romantic story of
his life. He said his father was a wealthy
citizen of New York and was well known.
his name being Charles E. Campbell. His
two sisters, are wives of wealthy druggists
in Jersey City. He ran away from home at
the age OF fourteen, and since that time has
travelled all over the world. He enlisted at
Governors island, New York in 1874 and
was transferred thence to Fort Townsend,
Washington. He first deserted from the
army in August, 1876, and made his way to
Moodyville, b. c., where he worked in
saw mill two years. Then he proceeded to
San Francisco, where he re-enlisted in
Company B, Eighth infantry, under the
assumed name of Jesse Livingston. The
discovery was soon made that he was de-
serter. He was court martialed and SEN
tence to two years in the military prison
at AIcatras island. Being sick, he was sent
to the military hospital, from which he es-
capped, hiding in citizens house adjoining
the hospital for three days, while search
was being made by the guards. He made
his way to Reno, Nevada, thence to San
Francisco. where he enlisted in the navy
under different name. He proceeded on
the steamer to CallaO, deserted was cap
tured and double ironed. He was in irons
ten day, when he was given his liberty on
deck. The officers of the vessel were very tys
rannlCaI, anu Upeu mutluy was discussed
and plotted by the crew. The vessel was
enroute to Valparaiso and they determined
to quit there al all hazards. Late during
the night of the vessels near approach to
the port they took possession of a coal tug
that lay near the vessel and safely made
their way TO shore. Efforts were made to
recaptEre the deserters, but they success
fully evaded the officers. Campbell was
without money, and with several others of
the company Joined the GILLIAN navy at the
time of the war with Peru, being assigned
to the man-O' war Huscar, as fireman He
soon tired of this and deserted from Il e
Oh n IL i
TO Moliendo, Peru, suffering many hard
ships, being forty eight hours without
food or water while travelling a sandy
desert. He was taken prisoner by the
PeruVlans at Moliendo, transported inland
to Arequipa, distance of $50 miles, where
he was sentenced to be shot as a spy
Through the influence of the American
consul he procured release, was put I'M
der patrol and compelled to report at the
guard house every morning. After several
weeks he managed to escape and hid in the
German consuPs car all the way to
MoliendO The Chilians meanwhile having
captured the fort from the Peruvians, the
American consul at Moliendo procured him
a passport to PisaQua, Peru, where he pro-
cured employment IN a machine shop. In
a few months this became monotonous
to his rowing disposition, and he
proceeded to lquique, Peru, where
he remained five weeks. War was
still raging between Chill and Peru.
He made his way back to Callao and sailed
on an English merchantmen for Liverpool.
He remained in Liverpool six weeks, set
ting sail on a merchant vessel for Bahia,
Brazil. At the latter port he was taken
sick with inflammation of the stomach, and
after recovering, was sent back to England
by the English consul. Again he joined a
merchantmen o Ind for Rosario in the Ar
gentine republic He deserted the mer-
chairman and joined the American st eamer
Ella, bound for Boston. He then proceeded
to New York, where he worked as barber
Pride, he said would not permit him to
make himself known to his family, though
he often saw his father on the street IN a
few months he left New York and has
Travelled since that time all over the coun-
try.
But exposure and hardships at last told
upon him, and at present heis afflicted with
paralysis of the hands and feet, these mem
bers having lost the sense OF feeling en-
tirely. He arrived in Memphis about three
weeks ago a sick man. The reason there
are so many desertel from the army, he
claims, is largely due 10 the easy manner in
which soldiers can procure liquor from the
suffer They get drunk, become Disguised
with soldiers life, and longing to return
to their homes invariably seizes them after !
protracted spree.