The evening times., 1898-09-27
A REEL OF RED TAPE.
The War Department Could Not LO-
cate n Sick Volunteer.


New York, Sept. 27.-Red tape has pur-
sued a soldier even into his grave He
laid down his life, after weeks of suf-
fering, due to the rigors of the war and
the greater hardships of transport and
camp, and as he lay dead in his home
there came to his sorrow-stricken pa
rents, in answer to appeals sent long be-
fore, the confession of the Government
that there was no record of where he was.
The irony of red tape has deepened their
grief and resentment.
This soldier was Private William ].
Walsh, of Company d. Seventy-first
Regiment. His father, Patrick j. Walsh,
is builder, with an Office at No. SOB
Fifth Avenue. and has a comfortable
home at No. 76 Edgecombe Avenue.
Young Walsh was graduated from a bus
mess college in July last year, and en-
tered his fathers office Unknown to
his parents the boy, who was barely
nineteen years old. Joined the Seventy
hrst Regiment, but he told them of it
before the regiment went to Camp Black
Cheerful letters were received from him
from Southern camps and from Cuba
Inc last was written on the day follow
ing the battle about San Juan hill As
the weeks went by without a message
from the boy his father and mother be-
came worried. and started inquiries The
remnant of the Seyenty-first came home
but he was not with them. The only news
his parents could learn was that he had
been left in Cuba Mr.. Walsh visited
Camp Wikoff, and spent weary days In
vain search.
lie was there when the transport Rou-
manian arrived, but there was not an
Official who could tell him whether his
son was aboard He began again his
search of the big camp, and two days
later found the young soldier in the de-
tention hospital. worn down with Cuban
fever and dysentery.
Mr.. Walsh sent for his wife and for
week they stayed all day at the bedside
OF the sufferer, spending each night in
AmaSansett. A week ago last Thursday
they saw him put aboard the Shinnecock
and came TO this city to meet him. By
dint of perseverance they obtained per-
mission to take charge of him, and the
dying soldier was removed to St. Vim
cents Hospital
AT his bedside, in a private ward. his
father and mother watched day and
night The care and skill of doctors came
the body was removed to the Edgecombe
Avenue home.
1t was not unnatural that the grief of
the parents should have been made
sharper because their efforts TO find their
son through the Government had failed.
They had written again and again with
out effect. to the War Department, and
Adjutant General and Surgeon General
Always there was something missing in
the records. But when the young soldier
lay in the darkened home awaiting burial
came this letter:
In reply TO your inquiry relative to W.
j. Walsh, Company d, Seventy first New
formed that the records OF this office fur
nish no information bearing on the sub
ject of his sickness or whereabouts. This
reply has been delayed, awaiting reports
of hospitals in Cuba which have been be-
lated and some lost because of the press
ure in the hospitals.
BY order of the Surgeon General,
United States Army.
CHARLES SMART,
Lieut. Col. and Asst. Surg. Gen, United
States Army
Mr. Walsh is bitter against the official
ism that failed, after weeks of apparent
effort, TO find trace of his son. Even the
two days that elapsed between the arri-
val of the transport and the discovery of
the young soldier in Camp Wikoff, he
feels. might have made his disease fatal.