The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-06
DIDN'T DARE PEEP
FouTth's RebelliouS Off
GERS as Quiet as Lambs
at Last Nights
Meeting.
COL. ABEREETHY STILL ON TOP
Hew the Honors Will Be Distrib-
uted if he Should
Resign.

Nothing but the regular routine bust
ness VIII be transacted at ~tonight's meet
Ing. You can rest assured that the recent
unp~leasantness will not be mentioned"
So spoke Colonel Abernethy previous to
the meeting Of the Board of Officers of the
Fourth Regiment last evening. The
Colonel appeared somewhat nervous. but
bore an air Of determination that BODIED
40 good to any of his subordinates who
might in any way question his right to
criticize publicly his actions as Colonel
of the Fourth Regiment.
Colonel Abernethy was standing outside
of the entrance to the Adjutant's Office
in the Armory, and as each officer APP
preached they respectfully salut-
ed the Colonel, and he with
a cheerful Good evening"" re-
turned their salute. Notwithstanding
this utwar appearances of calm and ser
entity, the gallant Coloners Indignation
was at a fever heat and his usual placid
spirit was ruffied.
BY half-past eight most of the mem
bers of the Board had ar
rived and were waiting for the
meeting to be called to order. The
Colonel had not as yet entered the
room. As the officers were waiting very
few remarks were passed.
Finally the door was opened and Colonel
Abernethy appeared. He walked across
the floor to the Presidents desk, ana
seating himself, raped with his gavel
ard called in a firm voice, sCome to order,
gentleman" This opened what was ex-
pected to be a very stormy meeting, but
which really developed into a meeting OF
harmony. Nothing was said about the
recent events which melted so many OH
GERS to tender their designations, and moth
ing was seen of the designations. Only
the regular routine business was trans
acted.
When the Colonel took the chair Adju-
fant Gerardin and the Judge Advocate
J. Werner Bruins. took seats very near
MIN. Adjutant Gerardin acts as Secre-
tary of the meeting and is accustomed
to seat himself near the presiding officer.
but the appearance of the Judge Advo-
cate was what cast a dismal feeling over
the members of the resignation squad. (
It was whispered over the room that ne
was there for the purpose OF securing lne
necessary evidence to make an interest
ing case in the event a ceurt-martiai
should be ordered. This put a stop, 1t
is said, to any rebellious conduct on the
part of the officers. The Advocates ser
vices were not required. The meeting
adjourned as quietly as it had opened.
The presence of Adjutant Gerardin and
Judge Advocate Bruins was given as the
reason Of the quietness of the hitherto
talkative gentlemen Another reason
given was to the effect that Colonel Abb
ernethy, through a friend, had made the
statement that as soon as the trouble
had blown over he would resign, but
that at this time he would not resign.
The Colonel Is said to have remarked
II VIII not resign under fire." which
Is taken to convey an intention to go out
when quiet and order again prevail. This
however was only a rumoP. and could not
be substantiated. The Colonel would
neither confirm nor deny the statement.
officers at a conference held recently in
a nearby resort, and they decided to
remain quiet and see if the Colonel would
really resign. However, nothing was
said during the entire meeting. and the
officers departed just as they had ar
rived. saluting their superior officer in
a respectful anner, and he returned the
salute with a CHEEKY goodnight"
Thu the matter will rest pending the
resignation of Colonel A~bernethy. Should
the Colonel resign. his successor would
be Major Robert J.. Smith of the First
Battalion. The position of Lieutenant
Colonel. now held by William B. Mason,
will most likely be made vacant, as his
term of enlistment has expired, and it
was only through the persuasion of Col.
A~bernethy that he remained with the
regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Mason's
successor will probably be Major Joseph
f.. Brensinger of the Second Battalion.
This will leave the positions of Major
OF the First and Second Battalions va
cant, and this. Colonel Abernethy's
friends claim, is the chance these "re-
signing officers are looking for. A few
not satisfied with a Captains shoulder
straps are seeking the gold leaves of
a Major, and some ambitious Lieutenants
shoulder straps. The candidates for the
positions of Major Will probably be Cap
tain J. Howard BuInsted of Company 4,
captain H. Fl. Brinkerhoff of Company
Z, Captain A. L. Steele of Company E.,
ana captain s. G. Bouker of Company G..