The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-21
TREATED AS BRUTES
ARMY REGULATIONS TO THE CON-
TRARY NOTWITHSTANDING

No Authority For Cruelty and Brutality
| Bot. Az the Same, Cruelty ID Still Prac
ticed and Has Been More So Than u
| Preseut-Even the Hero Custer Gould
Be = BeastIy Tyrant when He Lihsd-
Case Of Private Hammond . Modsrs
| Instance-Ths Case OF Private Ians-
Military Brutality in Other Lands
Chicago, Oct. THE Unitei States
army comprises as well disciplined a
body Of troops as any in the world. Its
officers for the most part are gentlemen
! its privatesc are brave men, who re-
spond readily to the call Of duty. how
ever dangerous it may be. Yet human
nature in bad form exists among some
OF the officers, and in a worse form
among some Of the privates. For this
reason punishments like that inflicted
upon Private Hammond by Captain Low
ering at Fort Sheridan have not been
uncommon in the army.
OF late years, however, unusual modes
This is partly due 10 the fact that a
better class of men enlist in the service,
and their piccadilloes are not aggravat-
ing. Then, too, the cadets at eWst Point
are more thoroughly innoculated with
the idea that brutality does not mean
discipline. The army regulations on the
subject are strict and to the point
Under the head of Military Disci-
pine" the regula atoms say:
Section l. All pesons in the military
service are required to obey strictly and
to execute promptly the lawful orders of
their supefors.
Sec. 2. Military authorities will be ex-
ercised with firnness, kindness and JUS
tice. Punishments must conform to law
and follow offenses as promptly as cir
cumstsnces will permit.
Sec 8. Superiors are forbidden to in
jure those under their authority by tyr
annical or capricious conduct or by
abusive language.
Sec f. Courtesy among military men
is indispensa Die to discipline; respect to
superiors will not be confined to obed-
fence to duty, but will bet extended TO
all occasions.
LAW REGARDING PUNISHMENTS.
Now the law on the subject Of punish
ment in the RAINY is plain and explicit.
Imprisonment and fines are the only
methods recognized. The imprisonment
may extend from a three days confne-
ment in the guard house to term OF
years in military prison. Nothing is
said about solitary confinement, and Ii
IS a question whether that is legal or
not But any other method of punish
ment is clearly outside the law and is
administered only at the officers risk OF
a court-martial.
The sections Of the army regulations
quoted in the foregoing are recent en-
actment. Before their passage brutality
often was found in the army. An effort
was made in many cases to make the
offending soldier suffer in mind as well
as body. Famous officers were not ex-
empt from thisp reelection. wen Cen
eral Custer, whose melancholy death Is
still mourned in the army, was prone 10
this method of punishment.
Custer was in command Of post in
Kansas shortly after the massacre by
Sitting Bull and mis- braves. George Will
son, a private in one OF his favorite
troops, had been guilty of some minor
offense. In those days the commanding
officer Of post was as much of an auto
crat as the captain of a ship. No court
martial was considered necessary. Gus
ter ordered Wilson to carry the log.
The punishment consisted in attaching
one end OF a chain to the offenders leg
and the other end to log weighing
about twenty pounds. The the private
was forced to shoulder the log and
march a beat about 200 yards. At the
end of the four hours sentence the log
would have increased in weight so that
it was a heavy burden. Then the ig-
nominy Of the position would add 10 the
trials Of the offender. The thought that
he was suffering disgrace in a public
manner, that everyone who saw him
knew he had been guilty Of unmilitary
behavior preyed upon his mind. His
discontinue was increased by the gibes
OF his fellow soldiers as they passed
him on the parade ground.
CARRYING THE LOG.
It's rays with that intense heat charac-
teristic of western prairie. It was
worse than any march he mad ever been
on. Two hundred wards thraightaHay,
then 200 yards back The monotony was
terrible. Sweat rolled down his face In
rivulets. The log wore away the skin
on his shoulder. He could have no
water.
As punishment II was sublime; as
penance it was awful.
When the bugal blew the signal for
review Wilson's punishment was at an
end.
MY Cod" said he as the chain was
taken from his leg, Il am thirsty. I
could drink like a horse"
You could" said Custer, who had
overheard the remark. Then you will.
I'll make you drink like horse"
With a hearty laugh the commander
then ordered a saddle place upon VIII
sons back. II was one OF those cum
berous cavalry saddle used in the old
hays, and was fastened around mis- chest
with the regular belly band. Then a
pair OF bits were placed in his mouth
and the reins let out behin5.
Drive him 70 the creek" said Custer
70 Corporal McGinniss>
The corporal and attendant guard
thought the matter a joke.
Witha "cluck. cluck" and get up
they drove Wilson TO the creek a bug
Ter blew the "dis-nount."
Drink" ordered Custer. as the bugle
sounded.
Wilson kneeled down.
That isn't the way. You don't look
Ike horse. Lie down"
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