The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-12
TT. Sheridan, Near Chicago, the
Scene of Another Horror.
Private Hammond is Tied by
the Feet
ANDDRAGGED 600 FEET
At the Command of Lieut.. Col.
cambridge.
Mutiny is Brewing and There
viii Be a Court Martial.

Chicago. Oct 12.-Charles Hammond,
the private who was dragged by a rope
tied to his feet from the guard house
at Ft. Sheridan to headquarters OF the
post has begun to serve IA day SEN
tence of solitary confinement, with a
bread and water diet. This decision of
the summary court at F't. sheridan
deals alone with HammOnd's refusal to
work as a prisoner. The finding was
returned by Lieutenant Colonel Balm
bridge. who was sitting during the ses-
sions. and was approved by Colonel
Robert II. Hail. the commanding ofh-
Ger of the post.
Captain Lowering, the officer whose
treatment of the rebelliOuS private mas
created such a storm OF discussion in
civic and army circles alike, Will un-
dergO no investigation. Colonel Han
asserts that his subordinate only obey
ed instructions as a soldier; that his
treatment of Hammond was wholly eX-
cusabIe under the circumstances and
that he would in no wise censUre the
behavior of the captain.
The whole affair will now probably
be reviewed by a general court martial
which viii be assembled at the in
stance OF General Brooke, department
commander. Colonel Hall has forward
ed to the latter official a statement Of
the cases further charging Prisoner
Hammond with disObeying orders.
Mutiny in whispered words is rife
among the enlisted men al Fort Sheri-
dan over the terrible punishment meted
out to their cOmrade.
Before many of the men Hammond
was dragged by a rope tied to his feet
from the guardhOuse TO headquarters,
200 yards away He had refused TO
obey the order of Captain Leonard A.
Lowering, the officer of the day, to get
up and walk to the summary court.
where he was to be tried
prisoner This punishment is said
to have never been inflicted before in
the army.
The soldiers saw Hammond dragged,
bruised and bleeding, along the road.
Many of them declare they saw Cap
tain Lowering thrust his sword at the
PROSTATE prisoner. Some declare they
are ready to take oath that the captain
kicked the defenseless private on the
head.
The terrible spectacle OF q soldier be
ing dragged by the feet over rough
stones, stone sidewalks and dusty roads
and bumped up and down stairWays
has aroused the men of the Fourth in
fantry to such fierce resentment that
there is hardly q soldier in the fort who
would not willingly undertake to pun
ish the captain for his brutality.
Charles Hammond got in the guard
house at Fort Sheridan in a peculiar
way. He is stationed at the barracks
at Plattsburg, n. Y. He is said to be
a Chicago boy. who enlisted a year ago
At any rate, he has relatives in this
city, and it was because he insisted on
coming to Chicago that all his troubles
began.
He asked for leave of absence two
weeks ago. His application was re-
fused. He had important business in
this city, and he determined to take
French leave. If soldier is absent
ten days without leave he is accounted
a deserter, and the punishment is
heavy when he is caught. Hammond
knew this. and on the ninth day he
went to Fort Sheridan and gave him
self up, saying that he had been absent
without leave.
He was put in the guardhouse to
await advices from Plattsburg as to
what should be done with him. Every
prisoner is supposed to do some work
about the fort those who have not
been convicted being assigned to light
er work than the others.
When Hammond was ordered out to
work he refused to go because no Off
Cial charges had been brought
against him. He questioned the legal
1ty OF the commander OF the Fourth to
order him to work before word had
been received from PIattsburg.
For this refusal to work Hammond
was ordered to appear before the sum
mary court at headquarters. Captain
Lowering was the officer of the day
Lieutenant Colonel Bainbridge was
holding the court. Captain Lowering
was told that Hammond refused to
walk to the court, as he did not think
it legal to force him to go to work
Lowering went to the guardhouse and
sent the sergeant of the guard to Ham
mOnd to order him to get up. Ham
mcnd again refused. The sergeant was
then ordered to tie up the refractory
prisoner. HammOnd'S feet were cross
ed and rope tied around them Sc
cureIy.
While Hammond was lying on the
covered porch of the guardhouse and
defenSeleSS, an eyewitness Sa q Lowering
ran up the steps, his face inflamed with
rage and his sword in his hand Get
up, - - you" yelled the captain
at the PROSTATE prisoner
Hammond did not saw a word TJa
could not get up anyway.
The captain Kicked Hammond on
the head when the prisoner would not
answer said this eyewitness but he
did not kick him to hurt him I saw
the captain thrust at the prisoner with
his sword. but 1 could not tell whether
the blade went through the clothes or
not
Captain Lowering ordered four men
TO take hold OF the rope and drag Ham
mond to the summary court Down
the steps of the guardhouse Hammond
was bumped. The prisoner jOinad his
hands behind his head to DTotect +te
latter against stones and rocks The
road was belnS nended near the guard
house and the prisoner was ORA coed
over the cut stones at a lively mace
Hammond made no resistance nor did
he utter a word either of uro+ast oT
abuse. His hands were cut ana bIea5-
ing as he was dragged along
When nearing the room yvhara t1,a
court was to be held, the prisoner was
dragged across the road in the dl1st
HammOnd's face was distorted v4-i+b
pain as he was hauled in front of the
Fourth, but his lips were tightly closed
as if to repress a cry He saw a hun
Gred soldiers boxing down on him and
On his ignOminy and shame. Across the