Huntsville gazette., 1894-04-28
THE COMMONWEAL.

Trouble in the Kelly Contingent-Gen.
/ Kelly Proves Himself a Discipline rian-
Col. Baker Stripped OF His Straps, and
Removed From His Command for Con-
duct Unbecoming an Oficer-A Court
| Martial Ordered-Kelly Sustained by
| His Captains.
+ NEoLA, Ia, April 2i.-The Industrial
| army, after twenty-one days Of hard
ships In overcoming obstacles appar-
emily almost BILE, of an
external character, in its contact with
| state. county and city officials, and
after suffering the pangs of hunger
| and lnclement weather, has met with
an internal enemy that proposes to
disrupt it, if prompt measures are not
applied.
The army was in perfect uproar
yesterday morning at breakfast, and
Gen. Kelly was kept busy pacifying
the men. After breakfast was over,
and the men weH arranging to break
camp, preparatory to leaving by wagon
for Avoca, the climax was reached.
Col. Baker, of the first regiment. San
Francisco, left the camp to attend to
some duties at the commissary head
quarters, located in the city hall.
While he was securing the medicine
and clothing for the sick men Kelly
approached him abruptly and snatched
his straps from his shoulders, relieving
hlm from command as colonel, and dis
| missing him from the army.
Col. Baker was ordered from the hall,
and upon refusing to go, was thrown
out bodily by the general Gen. Kelly
threatened Baker with arrest if any
further disturbance was created
The trouble between Gen. Kelly and
Col. Baker started in camp Sunday
night in tent over a couple of wom
en-. Gen. Kelly, when asked why he
took such a course. said:
Col. Baker was removed for viola
ton of army orders by being out of
camp last night under suspicious cir
cumstances and being under the influ-
ence of liquor.
When asked what the suspicious cir
cumstances were, he said that Col Ba-
ker had been seen with couple OF
women of unsavory reputation.
conference was held between Kelly
and the captains to act upon the posi-
ton taken by Kelly, and the captains
sustained Gen. Kelly's action
A vote of the army was taken and
Kelly was sustained there also
court martial was TO be held at Avoca
last evening and a new appointment
made to fill the vacancy, provided
Baker was found guilty.
C1I II ~
toxicated, and says that he was out
Sunday night as an escort to some I'm
derwood women who were visiting the
army. He claims to have been snu bbed
and ignored by Gen. Kelly ever since
the army started from the coast.
San Francisco Co. G, with Capt Nor
ris in command, refused to fall in line
when orders were given by Gen. Kelly,
and when asked for their reasons, said
they understood Col. Baker was to be
relieved, and that they would not &c
without him. They also said that
they understood that the general
intended to disband the company
and separate the men into other
companies, and place them under
other officers. The general told them
that he must separate them because of
the dissensions which have arisen
among this company, and gave the
men the alternative of going into other
companies or quitting the army. They
chose the latter course, aud when the
army started they separated and
walked down the track alone to the
number Of something like fifty.
There is all sorts of talk afoat as to
the dissensions, but it is believed that
this company will return to the fold
when it is found that they will not
fare SO well as deserters as they did II
the service of the general.
The army is still in high favor with
the people and farmers.
The people here are glad to get rid
of the army and have business with
the railroads resumed. The signs,
Railroads for Rent" pasted about
town, have been torn down. Gen.
Kelly has notified authorities along the
Rock Island route to look out for Co.
c, the deserters, as they are imposters.
The route taken by the army is along
the Rock Island road, which branches
off from the Milwaukee at this point
Trouble is anticipated at Des Moines
among the miners if railroad facilities
are not given the army. Kelly is as
cool, calm and considerate as ever, and
hopeful of peaceful journey.