The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19
TACOMA MILITARY MATTERS.
Stories Of Camp Life Told by Return
ing Veterans.


TACOMA. July 1s-Especial. THE historian OF
company contributes the following 10 the
Tacoma bureau of the Posr-fNTELLIGEScER upon
the return of the company from Newcastle:
Company G, Captain William 5. Shank COM
manding, with the steady and regular move
ment OF regulars, and bronz-d with exposure,
arrived home Thursday afternoon from the
"seat of war Newcastle, where the company
had put in some excellent service. This COM
pany claims to have had the hardest and most
dangerous camp to control, and it speaks vol
umes for the ability displayed by the officers in
command and the conduct of the men, who
gained such an influence over the strikers that
everything possible was done TO make their duty
and stay pleasant one. The strikers expressed
themselves in glowing terms of the manner in
which they had been treated by Company q,
and expressed wish that if any trouble should
occur the colonel commanding would send
Company to this point.
The G company had sixty men in the field,
just one more than Company c, which was re-
ported a. having ffty-nine.
The company camp was under strict mill
tary discipline during the full fifteen days ser
vice, and it was noticeable that but for the posi-
tons in jeopardy of being lost every man was
sorry to leave.
The commissary department, in the willing
hands of Corporal Lyman, who was in charge
during Lieutenant Haifeld's absence, is worthy
Of mention
Much of the health of the camp came from
squads bathing daily in the lake near BY. The
boys taking advantage of the opportunity 10
wash their clothes as well and let them dry
while they were sporting in the water. as q con-
sequence they felt fresher and more willing to
work
Many stories will be told of incidents happen
good one on . sentry who was posted near the
bunkers, and had q delicious black berry pie and
q bouquet OF roses given TO him by lady living
near. Not wishing to be greedy he sent q note
by little girl to First Sergeant Mcdonald TO
come quick TO the bunkers. The sergeant, fear
ing something wrong, called detail and TOOK q
double quick for the post. The sentry, in the
meantime, had devoured half the Aforesaid
article, such was his hunger, and imagine his
surprise when in the distance he sees the rapidly
advancing rescuing detail coming over the hill.
The pie was taken by storm and repulsed with
great slaughter.
The strikers and townspeople were sorry to
see the boys go and gave them fine reception
before the train pulled out One old native of
the Emerald Isle was heard to say: MAY de
blessings of st. Patrick be amongst ye always"
Quite bugaboo was raised in the camp one
evening on account of q striker throwing a rock
at one OF the white miners. Deputy sheriff
Miller and Private Rowland, of C eomany made
serious mistakes, says a G company man. one in
arres;ing man whom he he had no right to ar
rest, there being no warrant and his not even
seeing the man DO any overt act, merely acting
on heresay. Rowland says thu G company man
acted in q very unsoldierly manner in
not going straight TO the commanding Off
Ger, Captain shank, and getting instructions.
Deputy Miller had no right, says Captain shank,
to summon Rowland or eritieise Captain
Shank, if he 30 felt inclined need not have PRO-
duced him and ne had no right to question
seemed to vary, he simply questioned the
negro and man who had pulled his revolver on
Ward, but let them go and held Ward until
ordered 10 release him. Captain Shank told
Sheriff Miller that, of course, If he wanted the
men held he would hold them az all hazards
and furthermore he wanted him 10 understand
that II he wanted him TO do anything he would
90 il, bat that he had a right to protest il he
thought IL was wrong. and he, Captain shank,
thought he should send up to Coal Creek ana
get the three men be had released and he would
send up detachment for them, this the deputy
sheriff declined to DO. They then went upstairs
and questioned Ward himself, and Miller sent
for Rowland, who had sscreted himself, being
fearful OF the mistake he had made and Row
land swors that he could not identity Ward as
the one who had thrown the rock. but he guessed
he was the man, picking him from q crowd of
twenty or thirty.
The dance given the soldiers at Newcastle by
the townspeople and strikers passed of quietly
with the exception of the disgraeeiul conduct
by Superintendent Corey aud MFs Cool, q
s,orekeepers wife, who forced their way in, ac-
companied oy four sullivan guards Corey was
besstiy drunk and behaved disgracefully. The
music stopped and the players refused to pro-
eeec further until Corey was removed as his
presence was q menace 10 the peace and order of
the evening. He left and tie osnce was kept
up until morning
sergeanl-M aior Spooner felt quite relieved on
assuming his new Office and wished il might
have Kept IN longer
The Rev. george r. Higgs, chaplain OF G CON-
pany, preached sunday evening 70 the boys
from the schoolhoase steps.
Privates Clark and Kelley were always giving
the bcys instructions. IN q kindly spirit and sd-
vice in matters pertaining 70 their duties, which
the boys appreciated.
Sergeant Bartlett was quite sick, but recovered
suite entity 10 get IN some good WORK before
breaking camp
Iii, estimated that the strikers have fully l6s
stands of arms secreted about Newcastle.