The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-06
A ROMANCE OF FORT WARREN.
Complications Following the Mar
ringe of Lieut.. Lang.

Washington Special TO Boston Herald.
The War Department officials are Begin
ming to be interested in the situation at
Fort Warren. Boston harbor. Something
must shortly be done to relieve the embar-
rassment likely TO result from the presence
at that station OF a commissioner officer
law Of the former. TIL enlisted mar 10
Commissary Sergeant William Kenkle.
instant. He is an industrious soldier. with
an excellent record, and respected by all
who know him. He is a noncommissioned
officer, who is always an enlisted man.
Mr.. Kenkle'S daughter. an mplis
young woman, with a good education and
pleasing disposition, admired generally
was married some months ago to Lieut.. c.
T.. Lang. an artillery officer then at West
Point. where he had just graduated.
Lang has a home at Glencoe, ~. Y. and
is at present on leave, on the
tons OF the army surgeons. He is anxious
to go upon the retired list. claiming that
he is unable to perform the duties of an
army officer. This desire is resisted by the
Washington authorities. mainly for tho
hea5on mat Lang has as yet no duty and;
outlive any temporary trouble with which
he Is afflicted, and still be able TO render
the service which is deemed due the gov
eminent from an officer who was educated
at such cost at the military academy. Lang
persists in his contention. and he has been
periodically examined by the surgeons. and
GUAR reported as not yet qualified for
duty. although, too. not sufficiently in
capacitated to go upon the retired list.
Lang s friends have circulated the story
that he was being prosecuted by army Of
hcers and their wives because he married
an enlisted mans daughter.
II is denied that there is any truth I'm
these reports. Mrs Lang has been accorded
every courtesy. say army officers. IN New
YORK and Washington, and when she was
here recently, In her husbands behalf. she
hersef said there had been no discourtesy
shown her. The agitation has. however.
served to keep Lang on leave. when he
might nave DRan moro QRVQralV dealt re
according to the statements made AT the
War Department.
While Lang was on duty at Fort Warren
recently. his wife used the little steam
launch which plies between the island and
city proper On one of these trips she was
ao accompanied by a companion. who Glanced
10 be the daughter of the commissary SER
geant stationed at the post. On the boat
there are two cabins. one fore and one aft,
one for the enlisted men and their families
families.
on the trip in question Mrs. Lang and
her friend returned from Boston and en-
tered the officers compartment. A wife Of
one of the officers Of the post objected TO
the presence OF the sergeant's daughter
woman. IL il said, refused 10 leave the
cabin. basing her refusal on the ground
as was Mrs. Lang. There was. OF course.
a controversy between the Fort Warren
husbands and fathers. and the whole az
fair terminated with the transfer OF the
sergeant.
The commissary general of subsistence
absent from Washington. as was Ad-
jutant-general Ruggles at the time and the
transfer OF the TWO commissary sergeants
was directed almost mechanically with the
remarkable result that. Without intention.
Commissary Sergeant William Kenkle.
Mrs. Lang's father. went 10 Fort Warren
TO further ~complicate matters.
Al first IL was thought that the Washing
ton officials were disposed to rub II into"
Lang. but the whole thing was an accf-
dent. OF course Sergeant Kenkle. under the
circumstances. viii have 10 be assigned To
another station. IL Lang returns TO duty
at the conclusion OF his present leave.
which will be in a few weeks.