The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-15
Salvation Army Captain Thomas
vii Be On Duty Again in
Few Days.
He Il Surprised Over the Reports
About His Oondi-
tion.


organ in Helena have been treated foz
several DAYS past.to highly colored, grossly
exaggerated statements concerning the con-
dition Of Captain Thomas Of the Salvation
army, who was struck by somebody about
week AGO. That the object is to make po-
litical capital out of the affair 10 plain to
everybody. The condition Of Captain
Thomas il not at all serious. His true con-
dition was stated in these columns yester-
day.
The affair happened 90 quickly that very
few people saw it. City Marshal Cronin ia
indirectly charged by the Journal with
being al eyewitness to the affair. Il knew
nothing at all about it." said Mr.. Cronin
yesterday, II was not present when it oc-
CURED and did not know the thing hap
pened until read it in the papers,
Yesterday warrants were issued on COM
plant Of Salvationist namd Corbett for
Curtis, Thos. Dennison, and VIM. j. Fuchs,
charged with the assault upon Captain
Thomas.
Col. Curtis said in connection with the
affair: II was not in the hat brigade at the
time the collision with the Salvation Army
occurred, and know nothing of 1t from per-
sonal observation. There Is an attempt to
make political capital out of the whole
b business J: which will react against the
Harry woolrich said: Il was one Of the
brigade, and one Of the soldiers on the rear
end Of the army column thought We were
intruding upon them. They spread out on
the street and we were anxious to pass
them when one of the soldiers hauled of
and struck me. struck back at him as
captain interfered and somebody struck
him. The whole affair didn't last ten GEO.
onds and we proceeded on our way.
DR.. Rockman was requested by several
persons to visit Captain Thomas, who was
found resting comfortably at st. Peters
hospital where he had been removed from
the barracks in order to be properly cared
for.
"Why this thing is all nonsense" said
DR.. Rockman to an INDEPENDENT reporter
after he had examined the captain. Prob
ably the most unconcerned man about the
whole affair ia Captain Thomas himself.
He said he was greatly surprised at the ex-
aggerated reports as to his condition. He
is not or never was seriously injured.
Aside from slight scar on his head and
bruise ON his shoulder blade he is not at all
injured, and will be out in two or three
days. The captain said he did not desire
any such notoriety in the matter; that he
would have readily forgiven his assailant
had he apolojlzed. why they have had
me dead, or at the point of death, or going
crazy OR SOW6CulNX else MOT0 6eIIOu6s
laughingly said the captain, when in fact
have never been suffering great PAIN
DIR. Rockman said that any symptoms of
delirium the captain may have shown we're
due to opiates administered to him and not
from any other cause. He is a man Of deli
permanent, and he was undoubtedly
shocked. but to read the papers, one would
be led to believe that the man was mangled
nearly toa jelly, when IN fact he was only
slightly injured and can't see any reason
ter"
In connection with his arrest the post
master said: "a member of the army came
into the postoffice yesterday and asked me
where Col. Curtis was. He assured me he
I told him he was addressing Col. Curtis,
and asked him what he wanted. He said
no more only that he just wanted to see
him, and then he left"
There is, of course, no reason why some
body was not arrested before in connection
or any officer seen the affair, he would have
caused the arrest of the guilty persons
But they did not, and Mr.. Cronin says that
no complaint had been made to him.
On the 9Th inst. there were two parades
of silk hat brigades. The first was during
the .'silk hat brigade" and several promi-
!. nent democrats took part in it. Later in
the evening, however, about eight o'clock.
a few straRglers donned with silk hats
formed an impromptu procession. headed
for popular resort on Main street, and 1t
was during the travels Of this remnant of
the brigade that the trouble with the Saliva
tion army occurred. Az for Mr.. Fuchs, his
friends say he was not in the parade.
The AFFAIR was entirely personal between
ohe injured man and two or three men, and
the attempt to make anything else out Of it
should b0 OrOmntlv Cnndamnad nr
Lesser. who has been attending the captain
for several days, says there Il no danger
and that he will easily recover. Il was
learned from the hospital last evening that
he would be out in few days.