The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-01

OF vegetables was particularly sbup.
osas 4c was shown, however
that TOO much coffee and sugar had been
saved and turned over to the co,nmissary
Tor its equivalent in money, and that tho
messes had not been conducted iudiclousIy.
There was no misappropriation of this mon
| ey. and It was all placed to the credit of tho
otnerent messeA The charges that non.
! commissioned officers were taking advantage
OF the RECRUITS, and were running games Of
chance, such as stud poker, chuch. a. luck
and tho like, aud thereby getting a part of
the monthly wages of the men. wcra Gus,
tained. Only one case of what might bo
termed harsh Treatment by the non-com-
missloncd officers was discovered, and this
branch of the allegations
PRACTICALLY FE1.. TO TIE GROUND.
The assertion that the men were strun, ~,
by their thumbs In the guard house was dis.
proved, although it had slight bnsis
Drunken and refractory prisoners. for their
own safety and that of other soldiers. and of
the government property, were p!nced in n
large cage and their wrists handcuttcd on tnc
outside OF the bars, but this was neither
narsh nor cruel treatment. and WINS ycn.r.
ally necessary. The statements of MIR. Wood.
iSSHa u bf Rsnxms 10 nr' Athes toMcetreu
matters within bis knowledge, but the stories
told him BY other enlisted men could not be
authenticated Many of these stories were
exaggerated, and wero traditions which had
been handed down for years from ono re-
tailed the case Of man who had been struck
down in the guard house by u sergeant and
lett to die there without medicinal attend
AnCH M fNnnNntjnn y,oto IL l..
covered for this story. That feeling pre-
vailed among the men that any of them who
complained to their commissioned officers
would in some WY suffer for it, was found
to be undeniable. but could he traced TO no
definite course and appeared to be simply IN
indcfinable fear having little or no basis.
Tho deserSions from the post averaged about
25O year for the past three years. i his is
In excess Of desertions ut other posts, but
Capt. Ebstein says he thinks it traceabe to
the fact that it is In the West near large
city, and the force composed of cavalry re-
cruits It was not duo, he is sure there, to
FOOD or trcatment Many men. he says, en-
list IN the East for no other purpose than to
get West. while many others enter the army
from sort Of restlessness or
BECAUSE OF FAMILY TROUBLES.
absolutely necessary in the army, and it is
then found some morning that they have
Qeaerted, and the number increases with the
proximity or tho post to Il large city where
they can hide. Jefferson Barracks, Cart.
Ebstein says, is particularly unfortunate in
the matter OF dcsertions, owing to the fact
that nianv Of the recruits are srcpeatcrs." or
chronic dcseriers. 1t Is a cavalry post, and
t0e9A ho h,,,, al,
served in the artillery Or tho infantry, enlist
In the cavalry. knowing that cavalry
recruits are sent to Jefferson Barracks AM,
that the probabilities arc strongly against
their seeing any officers thcrc with whom
they previously served Tho result of tho
investigation, Capt Ebstcin thinks, will be
decidedly beneficial as it will result in right
Ing many grievances which have gradually
crept into the service. Col. Bernard has
been placed In command us Jefferson Bar
racks and has already taken steps to correct
evils found to exist The cookn. and serv-
ing Of the food has been improved, and
other things tending to increase the comfort
of the men have been looked after.
Secretary Proctor will in IL few days order to
other stations tho non com missioned officers
who have been running games OF chance,
and will take measures to prevent such
things occurring in the future: Srcaking
OF the food served the enlisted men, Capt
Ebbtein said that the army had never been
eftsas fac. .tiap. aaM... Me.f .fonId .s,,eak from
In the army, and had risen from the ranks
tie did not believe any men ever deserted
because of tue food. The soldiers through
out the country were better fed than the
laboring Glasses In the ueighborhood.