The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
HARD LUCK INFANTRY
FOLLOWS TRAGEDY IN
THE REGIMENT AT SHERIDAN.
Soldiers Shot and Killed and Assaults
ON Colonel Crofton Made the
Fifteenth Notorious.

New York Press.
There are crack regiments and there are
hoodooed regiments. If ever a military or
ganization had a persistent run OF hard
luck it is the Fifteenth United States In
fantry at Fort Sheridan, just north OF Chi
cago.
Another murder at Sheridan exclaimed
the regulars when they heard several days
ago that private Allen had shot private
Call. They had quarreled at mess and
agreed to settle 1t by boxing. In the bout
Allen was worsted, and he went to the bar
racks for his revolver. Returning. he fired
at Call, wounding him 50 severely that he
died day or two after. At the same time,
by an accidental discharge of the gun, Al
len was wounded, but will recover.
In the last three years one officer Of the
Fifteenth killed brother officer; deserter.
while attempting to escape. was bored
through, the first man to die by the bullet
Of the Krag-Jorgensen rifle; lieutenant
struck the commanding officer in the face
with mis- fist; another subaltern fired several
shots point blank at the commandment; two
months ago Colonel Crofton. in command.
was requested to apply for retirement and
refused to do SO; and now comes the en-
listed mans murder
At the beginning of the series of calam-
tiles the Fifteenth Infantry quickly got
bad name 1t was roasted by nearly every
Chicago newspaper, and its transfer TO
less-desirable post was almost decided on
at Washington. Then came the Pullman
strike in the summer of 49, and the regi-
ment did such faithful duty in Chicago in
the face of the most exasperating conduct
Of the mob that every '9 ana
the subject of transfer was dropped. Wom-
en- stood at the curbstones by the ranks
gutter and flung them into the faces of the
rank and file. The foulest epthets, the
heaviest brickbats were hurled at the blue
barked. All this and more is told in one
OF Capt. Charles Kings stories. The forti-
tude with which the Fifteenth endured
a measure. to the comparative esteem in
which Chicago holds the regulars, except
when it needs them to put down riots.
LIEUTENANT KILLS CAPTAIN.
But the serial story of calamity continued.
The first chapter was the killing of Captain
Hedberg by Lieutenant Nancy in 1893. Capt.
Hedberg was a martinez. dislked by enlisted
men and officers. On one occasion the boat
in which he was rowing on the lake tipped
over, and couple Of privates rescued him.
When the three had reached the beach, He'd
berg threw a fit because his saviors didn't
berg preferred charges against them, but the
finding of the garrison court-martial was
mot guilty"
he had but little sympathy. With or with
out justice. Hedberg accused First Lieut..
James Nancy of showing her too much at
had some words, and Nancy drew his re-
volver and shot the captain Nancy was
tried by court-martial. entered a plea OF self
defense, and was acquitted. The civil courts
took up the case, but Nancy was cleared.
Next in the series was a hand-to-hand
and Col. Robert E. Crofton. Welsh made a
savage attack on his colonel on the parade,
struck him several blows in the face, and
who hurried from the line. Welsh, who was
graduated from West Point in 1877, the year
OF the big railway strike. was examined as
because Of disability incident to the service.
The third chapter was the shooting of a
deserter by sentinel. The prisoner. with
guard, when. of sudden, he bolted for
freedom Several sentinels covered other
on his knee and fired. His aim was true.
The Krag-Jorgensen bullet went through
the deserter's head, into and through an
clay bank. The deserter, who had a red
record In the army. had achieved distinc-
tion- He was the first man to be killed with
the new army rife. The penetrating power
Of the Krag-Jorgensen had been tried on
cadavers, but never before on a living man.
Il ne Sentlnei, IL was nelu, naQ done merely
his duty. and court Of inquiry exonerated
him.
SHOT AT THE COMMANDANT.
Chapter was similar to Chapter Pan
other assault on the Colonel = pistol, in
stead of fists, being used. First Lieut.. Sam
uel s. Pague, who finished his four years at
West Point the month that Custer and his
five troops were wiped out on the Little Big
Horn-June, 1S76-had some grievance, real
or fancied. against Colonel Crofton. Meeting
him In the garrison one day, he drew his re-
volver and fired three or four shots point
blank at his commanding officer. The aim
was too good for the shots 10 go wild, but
they missed by enough TO gave the Colonel
his Office. and. with the Colonel overpowered
Pague. Pague's punishment was dismissal
from the army
That the alleged grievances OF Welsh and
Pague against their colonel could have had
little foundation is shown by the fact that
no blame has been attached 10 Colonel Croft
ton fer assaults. But IL was felt by the
the post and the regiment must IN some
way be responsible for the apparent iaxity
OF discipline there. So couple OF months
ago the news was out that Colonel Lamont.
Secretary Of War. intimated TO Colonel Croft
ton that the department would be pleased
70 consider his application for retirement
Colonel Crofton. however. conveyed the inn
forward such application. The department
couldn't force him TO do II. and the Colonel
went on serving out the two years or more
yet before his retirement will become COM
pulsory. e has been proved In the case OF
Eener1]e that they con forcibU be retired.