The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-18
An OLD SOLDIER REPEATS.
REBEL sYMPATHIzER VOW Pc
T1TI0xs FOR A PENSION.
Lieut. Welcker, Who Fought the
xakiaas and Kiickftsts, and Took
Part In the Battle Of the Cascades,
says He Was Illegally Dismissed.

Part In the Battle of the Cascades,
says He Was Illegally DtsnisseA.
Special Dispatch TO the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, Dec n.-Niiilam L.
Wsleker. who saw considerable service as
hrst Lieutenant during the Indian wars Of
lsoS and is5s IN Washington and Oregon,
was dismissed from the service OF the
United States because OF his rebel sympa-
tnles AT the time OF the rebellion. Mr..
Weicker now feels that X would have been
an excellent thing 10 have remained in the
army OF the United States. and in long
printed petition TO congress declares that
his dismissal was void and that he Is stin
in the army. and furthermore. that in June.
1894. he became colonel In the United States
army, retired. He figures this out through
successive grades of promotion. and shows
that in 1894 he would have been retired by
law as colonel of ordnance at 81 years OF
age Although he says he came TO per-
ceIye that he was still an officer in the
United States army" some time ago. ne
finds himself unable to get any remunera-
ton therefor. and therefore asks from con-
gress that he be restored to what he con-
siders his proper rank.
Weicker was a graduate of West Point,
having been appointed from Tennessee. He
at Vancouver arsenal. Washington terri
tory. when Fort Sumpter was fred upon
He had previously seen active service I'M
der Gen George Wright in The campo gn
OF 1856 against the Yakima and kiick;tat
Indians. and was participant in the battle
OF the Cascades. When the war broke out
weicker thought his allegiance to the state
of Tennessee was greater than that when
he owed to the nation which had educated
him and provided him with a good office
and good salary. He sent his resignation
TO WASHINGTON and was relieved Of the
property and funds in his hands as COM
mander of the Vancouver arsenal. The
secretary OF war. who at that time was
Simon Cameron, did not see fit TO accept
the resignation. but issued an order dis
missing Weleker from the service.
Welcker now claims that since his resig-
nation was not accepted. an officer could
not be dismissed except through the ind
inzs of a court martial. After he left the
service he tried TO practice law at Inc
DalIes, Or, but people with secession SYM
pathiss were not in high feather In those
days and, as Mr.. Welcker puts 1t, rev
would have anything TO do with man
TINS branded hy the government" He
then went TO British Columbia. where ne
eked ott a scanty living for his wife and
little children for nearly two years more.
In the early part of 1865 he went TO Texas
and entered the Confederate army. serving
antil the final surrender. His political disa
biiities were, of course, removed by the
act of congress March 3. 1879
II is a very remarkable document. this
petition. which Is almost demand. of an
officer of the government who deserted it
in it's hour of need and returned TO the
South eventually 10 aid In Its overthrow,
and who now in his old age comes back
20 congress. half pleading. half threaten
ing, and asks for measure OF relief which
would practically amount to a tax upon
the people to make amends to a man for
the consequences of his own folly.
Representative Lewis has introduced
bill TO restore TO the pension rolls the
name of Julia Traynor. of Vancouver.
Wash. widow of Lawrence Traynor. late
a soldier. who was killed in action against
the Indians. Mrs Traynor. after the
death Of her husband. was granted PEN
sion of s. a month, She had not enjoyed
its benefits but five months when she for
feited II by marrying one William Ar
mold. then a corporal in the ordnance de-
tachment, stationed a Vancouver arsenal.
This was on August H. ISL. Not long
after that Arnold's torn OF enlistment
expired AS soon as he had procured his
discharge he left Vancouver, abandoning
his wife. and went TO England. his native
country. 10 reside. Since then he has
never written nor given any support 20
her. She does not know whether or not
she is a widow. but has recently COM
menced suit for divorce
In support of the bill restoring her pen
sion il petition signed by Gen. III. G.
Merriam. commanding the department OF
the Columbia, by nearly every one of the
commissioned officers stationed AT those
headquarters. and also by goody num-
4.
In Some respects this bin is similar 10
those which created such widespread ma
tional interest at the last session OF con-
gress. The difference is, that In those
bills. which were vetoed by President
Cleveland after they had passed both
houses of congress the beneficiarIes were
bona iide widows, the second husbands
having in each ease died. while in the
case OF Mrs. Trayndr- Arnold it is not
certain whether she is or IS not widow.
Watcher this will make any difference In
the action of congress remains 10 be seen.
An INCREASED pension has been granted
10 Joseph ". Gle. OF Centra!ia. and a
widows pension 10 Matilda j. Hail. OF
Marcus.
The pension OF Andrew C. Thompson.
OF 100 Tw%E.ty-first avenue. Seattle has
been increased to s. a month. dating from
Jaiy :. 1885,.
An original pension has been issued to
Albert Nichols. Of Castle Rock. a: S. Il
month and one of s. a month TO Mrs.
Mary Leach. II Farm ugton
The claim az Benjamin r. Dean. % SEE
attle. which was rejected July l.. 1885,.
w3ii not be feopened because no material
evidence has since beer flied. Tae .ned}~
cal examination OF L. E Sherwood. II
North Yakima. shows additional disahil-
Fal- h r-kS L. .f.R
has been advised 20 furnish further cyl
dence regarding them. rs by so doing he
VIII increase the rating Of his pension.
Similar Information has been sen. TO
Jesse Conrad Of Toledo. Wash.
David PStch!n has been ordered hefore
the board OF pension examining surgeons
a. New Whatcon. and William y. Kug-
giles. q: Dayton, has been ordered before
the Walia Walla board.
A petition with nearly No sfgners has
been laid before the river ard harhor COM
nllttee siTging thu Improvement OF the east
fork 81 thc Lewis river. which has he -
ftTovably reported upon bv the go,.ern-
ment engineers. as published IN tn, pgsf
Intelligence some time since The ne-
slsSouerS are citizens Of La Center ard ~
the country adjacent 10 Lewis river and
an are deeply interested IN the s.,r~.ss n
this improvement. Tire petitioners urre
that the trade tributary 30 THIS branch ~
Lewis river is already quite large ana =
rapidly growing. ana the difficulty IN uav-
Igating the east fork az Ia Center cannot
Ne overcome except as set forth IN the pa
port OF che government engineers xVfsA
these improvements made, Il Is asserted
boats can sFfpor; and expert freely at all
times % the year. the already er0sy re
trade Will increase. and tae advantages y
fha travelling putltc Will BE- grasrtx- fa..,t-