Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-05
GONE TO SHOOT.
The Fourteenth Regiment, With About SoV
Men in Line, Ordered TO Johnsfown-
They Go With Ball Cartridges
Several Other Imple.
nents Of War.

ments Of War.
The Fourteenth Regiment was ordered out
yesterday and is now in Johnstown.
1t was about 10 o'clock yesterday morning
that Colonel P. D. Parchment, commander Of
the regiment received the orders which he and
all other members of the regiment had been
expecting for two days. They were very brief.
and SIMPLY directed the regiment to report at
Johnstown at once, with ball cartridges and
three days cooked provisions in their haver-
sacks.
On Monday the regiment could have
turned out 500 men. When the orders came
not more that 25O, all told, could be mustered,
even upon four hours notice.
After Colonel Parchment received his orders,
arrangements were made for a special train to
leave Union depot at o'clock in the after
noon, bearing the troops. Then it was found
that they could not be got together in time to
leave at that hour, and it was 233 P. M. when
the regiment actually got away. A stop was
made at East Liberty where company OF %
men got aboard. making the entire number
about 3O0
Colonel Parchment was at the headquarters
in the lower Diamond Market House, about
o'clock. in full uniform and gum boots, urging
the men to hurry up.
II know nothing at all about the reasons why
the regiment was not ordered out sooner" he
said to DISPATCH reporter. I'VE were will
ing and anxious to go on Saturday, but we
could not go without orders. Adjutant Cen
eral Hastings was on the ground, and he GER
tainly could tell better than anyone else what
was needed. When he found that troops were
needed he sent for them. If any company OF
the regiment had got ready to go out without
official orders.I certainly would have disbanded
it. The State Guard cannot act without au-
thority."
81 think we will have about 800 men," con-
tinued Colonel Perchment. I'VE could have
had more yesterday. but am not in position
to blame anyone for the delay in issuing the
orders to go. My understanding of the tele-
grams have received is that JohnstOwn is to
be placed under martial law, but / know moth
ing yet in regard to the arrangements. Will
report with my regiment to Adjutant General
Hastings, who will, have nodoubt, have all
arrangements made for our work"
The other officers of the regiment would not
express any opinion regarding the delay in
ordering out the command. :
Colonel Parchment said he had received sew
eral kilograms concerning deeds of vandalisme
but had left all the messages at his home. ID r
said, further, that ne had no idea whether os
not more troops would be needed. He was
only sorry that the delay had caused the rank
of his regiment to be so limited.
The officers and men of the Eighteenth Reg
iment are somewhat indignant at the powers
that be. They have 4S0 men ready and willing
to go to Johnstown at moments notice, and
think that they should have been ordered in
stead of the Fourteenth. 1t is rumored that if
not allowed to go IN military capacity num-
Der will tender their services as privBte cit1-
zens DR.. Wyley, surgeon of the regiment,
claims that there is urgent need of the militia
to clear away debris and help extricate bodies.
The doctor says: ut is now five days since the
disaster, and fear that the dead bodies, not
only of human beings, but also of cows, pigs,
horses etc., will cause an epidemic. l think
what is best for the greatest number of people
should be done, and l am in favor OF cremating
ALL The danger menacing Pittsburg de-
mands it."
Governor Beaver has ordered the officers on
his own. the Division and the Second Brigade
stats of the National Guard to report to Adju-
tant-General Hastings at Johnstown. General
Wylie came down from Franklin with his staff
last night and will go up this morning. Quar-
termaster Brown, of the Eighteenth Regiment,
was also ordered to report TO General Hastings
and went out last night.