The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-12
NDTIuOUS COMPANY G.
Captain Bouker and Lieut..
0'Neill Of the Fourth Re-
sign Their Com
missions.
ALL OVER SERGEANT M'0AULEY
Disgraceful Conduct at a Company
Meeting -oiRcers to Re-
enlist.
ALL OVER SERGEANT M'OAULEY

The trouble which has been brewing for
some time in Company G., Fourth Regi-
ment. has resulted in the resignation of
Its commanding officers. Colonel Aber-
nethy received the designations of Cap
tain Samuel Bouke and Second Lieuten-
ant ONeill last night, and it is said on
good authority that he will recommend
that the Adjutant General accept them.
inasmuch as the men do not intend to
leave the regiment.
AS soon as their designations are off,
cially accepted. Bouker and O'Nein will
re-enlist as privates in Company A.
The differences between Captain Bouker
and the members of Company G date back
some two months to the time when Ser
geant McCauley was reduced to the ranks
for conduct unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman. AT one OF the compan
meetings. McCauley kept his seat while
addressing the chair. Captain Bouker
called him to task for it, and made him
stand while speaking. This angered Me-
Cauley. His comrades seemed inclined to
start a rebellion against Captain Bouker,
VINO for some reason had incurred their
displeasure. When Bouker, as Chairman,
kept his seat a few minutes later while
addressing the meeting, McCauley blurt-
ed out:-"What the HelPs the matter with
the Captains rising?'i
Captain Bouker called him to order, but
McCauley continued calling his superior
names. On this Captain Bouker based
charges of gross disrespect and insubor-
dination, on which he had Mccauley re-
duced to the ranks. First Lieutenant
Wallace Ereeland of Company G, was the
only officer in the regiment who showed
INV r-;<I H. l,+
the men of the mpa stood by him in
a body. They reelected him sergeant
three times. Twice the elections were
declared void because of irregularities,
and the third time Colonel Abernethy in
terfered and refused to %reappoint
McCauley. He went futher in upholding
Captain Bouker and said that MeCauley
could never. again hold any rank in the
regiment. After this occurrence there
was no peace in the company. When
AcCauley failed to regain his post, First
lieutenant yreeland resigned. The next
serious breach occurred when Private
William Crawford, one of the anti-Bouker
faction, hit a fellow private over the head
with a chair over a game of poker in the
company room. Second Lieutenant
ONeill, who had stood by his Captain
from the first of the trouble, presided at
the court martial. Ex-Lieutenant Vree-
land appeared as counsel for Crawford,
and as he ana O'Neill were sworn enc
mics the proceedings were brought to a
standstill before a verdict was reached.
Things soon came to such a pass that
Captain Bouker had absolutely no con-
troll over hts men. They persistenly alb
scented themselves from drills and re-
1used to obey his orders. Not one of
Them saluted him, as the regulations re-
qulre. and every time a private of an
other company gave him the salute they
would call him down for it. It was APP
parent TO everybody in the regiment that
sooner or later Bouke and ONNeill would
have to get out-of Company G, and it was
feared that they would also resign from
the regiment.
Bouker is the OUNCES Captain in point
Of years in the National Guard of this
state, and he is held in high estimation
py MS superiors- Coionel Abernethy ave
II out that he would not accept Bouk-
er,s resignation if it meant his leaving
the regiment: This placed Bouker in a
i Reeu Mitb Preal camnanv He Heic could nas do sa roth
INTO worse disorder every day, and he
could not leave his command.
In Captain Bouker's extremity CAPTAIN
Bumstead saw his opportunity. 1t is
Captain Bumstead's great ambition to
capture the perpetual challenge cup for
efficient Workmanship for Company A.
Bouker is a crack shot, while O'Neill
is5sn expert sharp-shooter. Bumstead,
therefore. went to the unhappy officers
OF Company G and invited them to enlist
as p~riyates in his company. 1t is said
that he promised to exempt them from
the company drills. They accepted his
offer and Colonel Abernethy will now op-
pose no objection to their resigning.
The members of Company G will hold a
meeting or Thursday night next. when
they will reward ex-Lieutenant Vreeland.
taincy. Bourke and O'Neill are not the
only crack marksmen Captain Bumstead is
after He tried to get Private Fluger,. of
Company H. to transfer to Company A.
Fluger was agreeable, but Captain O;Sul-
Ivan, of Company H would not sign the
transfer papers,
Sergeant William Varick of Company L,
son of DR.. w. w. ,Varick, of the County
Board of Health, has applied for a trans
fer to the Gun Detachment.