The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-02
BRUNSON'S LATEST LETTER.
Did He and His Wife Perish on the
LuckIeSS EIbe?
Dates Give Hope That They We're Not
LOSt-A SOldier'S Greeting
to His Troop.

Regret at the reported loss of Captain
and Mrs. ]. NJ. Brunson Baroness Won
Barnekow) in the Elbe disaster was rem
dered more poignant yesterday by the re-
ceipt of letter from the young commander
addressed to his troop of the National
Guard. The letter is a stirring one and
shows the high views of the young soldier
in regard to his calling and its response
bilities.
But there are other surrounding facts in
connection with the letter which will cause
it to be scanned with peculiar interest. 1t
will be observed that it is dated on board
the Prussia, Thursday evening, January II.
The writer speaks of landing in France on
the 10Th for a stay of twelve or twenty-four
hours, evidently intending thereafter to
proceed to his original destination, Berlin.
Now the luckless Elbe left Bremerhaven
Tuesday afternoon, the 22d ult., not allow
ing time for the Brunsons to reach Berlin
and return.
The inference is that either letters re-
ceived en- route caused the pair to change
their plans-not go to Berlin at ALL but
transfer themselves and belongings to a
west-bound steamer-or else the report of
their having been included among the lost
on the Elbe is erroneous, resulting from
confusion of recent passenger lists. The
letter reads as follows:
Thursday, 7:3OPM Am Bord s. S. Prussia
des Postdampfers Atlantic Ocean. Latitude 40
deg. % min, longitude deg. IL min.
Den January IL 1895 Hamburg Amerika
line.
To the officers and members Of the First Troop
CdUdIrg, n. q. C.-GENTLEMEN: Owing to the fact
that circumstances, over which had no con-
troll, conspired to suddenly start me off for
Europe, y was rendered unable, through lack
OF time, to make any extended preparation.
Hence was unable TO take formal leave of YOU
or to wish you all q Merry Christmas or
Happy New Year. 1t is now too late to wish you
the former, but not so the latter for 1895 is
still very healthy infant. Accordingly l do
wish with all my heart that each and every
one of you will find the current year replete
with happiness; that every day will be as bright
as your brightest dreams have pictured them,
and that not single hour will be tinged with
sadness or regret. l can add nothing more to
my wish except that you will in the future
stand Loyalty together like men and make the
First Troop all that it should be.
Prior to my departure confided the affairs
of the troop to Lieutenant Waller, he being
next in. command at that time on account of
the absence OF Lieutenant Parker on leave. /
gave him the balance from the first and only
allowance l received from the State, and, in
compliance with the law, sent an 1tem1Zed
statement to the adjutant-general. l had not
sufficient time to submit statement to you
(the troop, but if these is any anxiety about
q copy can readily be obtained from the adj
jutant-general. If there is no anxiety on that
account you shall have the statement on my
return, as all the vouchers have been duly pre-
served. The account of the ridefo San Rafael
is held by Lieutenant Waller and will be sub
mitted on demand.
/ merely write of these matters in order that
there may be no misunderstanding.
The term of my absence is as yet problemati-
CAL but it will not be many days before | will
know definitely. NY trip has been most de-
Or nj nv mo
that there is no place in America like Califor
mia, and there is no city would live in other
than San Francisco The temperature at st.
Paul, Mimi, was 20 deg. below zero. At Chi
cago 10 deg. below. The streets of Washington
were covered with snow and ice, and in New
York the weather was miserable. In none of
these cities is living so cheap as in San Fran
cisco Verify we live in paradise, but it is
not until we leave it that we realize it.
1t is now eleven days since we saw land, but
we are on what is virtually floating pail
ace, and in consequence none of us are exces-
sively anxious TO get ashore. Tomorrow, how
ever, we will sight the Scilly Islands, off the
southern coast of England, and on Saturday
morning we will land for twelve or twenty-four
hours at Havre in France. 1t is from there
that l shall send this letter But enough;
have probably already too severely taxed your
conclude. All of you who have been in the
service any length of time probably have real
lied that the bed of the national guardsman is
not very easy one. The regulars look down
upon him with contempt and the generality of
citizens damn him with great big D. To cap
all, the service is replete with abuses. So is
the army, and considering its opportunities, it
does not deserve half the praise which should
be awarded to the citizen soldiery.
The day'may not be so far distant when our
country will need the services of every man
capable of bearing arms Not until then will
the true value of the National Guards be real
! lied and appreciated. II ever such an occasion
does arise an immense army will have to be
raised, and the men who officer that army will
be the men who have humbly served in the
National Guards Military knowledge viii then
be at premium and even the smallest knowl-
edge will be valuable
In our humble way we are evincing far more
patriotism than the men who sheer at us; for
without the incentive of reward we are pre-
pairing ourselves for the time when our coun-
| try will soreiy need u.s.
Therefore, persevere, take pride in what
may some day be your vocation and become
imbued with the spirit of discipline. Yield to
| your officers implicit obedience, and in all
matters affecting the welfare of the troops
stand together one man
With hest wishes 1 remain most cordially
yours JOHN NJ. BRUNsoN,
Captain First Troop Cavalry, n. g. C.
Suing for Aliruouv