The San Francisco call., 1895-10-07

suggested that five years service on the
frontier of Arizona and New Mexico would
be good medicine for the Fifteenth.
The United States Army Register shows
that Colonel Robert E. A. Crofton was ap-
pointed captain Sixteenth Infantry in 1861
at the beginning of the war. He was born
IN Ireland and was not graduated at West
Point. 1t is probable that he had some
youthful training in the British military
| service and that, political influence at
Washington secured him an appointment
from Delaware to a captaincy in the United
States army. There is no record of any
promotion during the war period, but after
the war he was made major in the Four
teenth Infantry and transferred to the
Seventeenth Infantry. He was appointed
lieutenant-colonel of the Thirteenth In
fantry General Shermans old regiment)
( and finally appointed colonel of the Fiji
teenth Infantry October, 1886.
AS an incident tending to show that
Colonel Crofton can invoke peaceful inhu-
ences at Washington, the fact is cited that
the colonel's son, Lieutenant William NJ
Crofton of the First Infantry, was ap-
pointed from civil life to a heutenancy in
the First Infantry.
Officers who have served with Colonel
Crofton speak of him as a gentleman of
agreeable accomplishments. Among his
stanch friends in the army General Scho-
field is Teckoned as one of the most influ-
entail.
Lieutenant Pague, who tried to shoot
Colonel Crofton, is an Ohio man. He
! graduated at West Point in 1876 Lieu
tenant ]. Franklin Bell, A. D. c., staff of
General Forsyth, served with Mr.. Pague
on the frontier, but one might as we'll talk
to the sphinx of Egypt as to interview
Mr.. Bell on the topic of turmoil in the
Fifteenth Regiment.
1t is said in army circles that Lieutenant
81 i
killed Captain Hedburg, graduated at the
Kelley Institute once, and that Lieuten-
ant Pague, who fired at Colonel Crofton,
graduated from the same institution
twice. If it should be proved true that
the 'jag cure" develops such fighting
qualities in the soldier, General Miles
ought to organize regiment of Kelley
graduates for service In the next war.
The Friday afternoon concerts of the
Fifth Artillery Band at the Presidio are
becoming decidedly popular. Last Fri
day afternoon the throng of visitors from
the City was noticeable.
The 12-inch army rifle on the bluff above
Fort Point was tested again October with
the highest elevation and lowest depres-
sion possible in firing. With the piece
fully elevated the fight of the 1OOO-pound
proiectile was nine miles. When the gun
was depressed the projectile struck the
water not more than 400 yards from the
piece.
A large ship could not stand in so near the
shore as to be safely under the range of the
Pinch rife battery. If the piece could be
depressed sufficiently for the projectile to
hit the water line the upper line OF the
hull and decks could be pierced by q
plunging fire.
The gun now in position has stood the
severest tests of depression and accom-
plished everything that the engineers con-
templated. A big ironclad standing two
miles or so off shore might get the range
and smash the 12-inch rifle, as the guns Of
the battery do not disappear" but really
present target. The guns of the lower
battery of 10-inch rifles go down out of
sight as soon as they are discharged, hence
if hit at all they would have to be struck
at the moment of firing.
The mortar batteries are well concealed
and protected. They are powerful guns,
and cansbe worked by charts and electric
! ity with sufficient accuracy to lnflict great
damage on a hostile fleet.
Everything is quiet this week at the
front-the National Cemetery-but the
vigilance of the guard at the monument
has not been relaxed. 1t is said of this
monument to the memory of Fifth Ar
tillery soldiers that it has only one inscrip-
ton. but there are many designs upon 1t.
When anything is out OF Joint at the
Pregidio the blame is usually attached to
General Graham. If it be true that work
men employed on the new brick barracks
have been compelled to work more than
eight hours day the blame should be laid
to Colonel Kimball, the chief quarter
master of the department. Colonel KIM
ball says so himself, but has no knowledge
that the law in this respect has been dis
regarded. He says the men go to work at 8
A. NJ, take one hour off at noon and quit
for the day at P. M.
Mare Island Letter.
MARE ISLAND, CALL, Oct. g. For
some reason best known to the powers that