The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-05
FELL DEAD IN THE RANKS.
PRIVATE C. It. ROGERS DIED IN HIS
COMRADES ARMS.

y
COMRADES ARMS.
Sank to the Ground on the CASTOR
street walk in Forsyth Park-CO.
A of the Guards, His Command,
Was Returning From Drill-Died
shortly After He FelI-Three Doe
tors Did All They COuId-ROgers'
Last words We're About the Drill.
A shirt of gloom and depression over
Swallowed the battalion of Savannah Vol
unteer Guards last night. Particularly
did the members of Company feel the
shock that came with the death of Pr
vate George T. Rogers, who dropped dead
while in ranks with his comrades.
Private Rogers fell on the gravel walk
IN Forsyth Park, after the company had
left Drayton street and was marching on
CASTOR to Bull. Capt. Williamson had
given the command mark time" and its
execution had just begun, when Rogers
who was in the second set of fours sank
gently on one knee, seemed to try to
steady himself for an instant, and then
sank TO the ground A comrade in the
just before his head would have struck
the ground.
AS the arms of Private Harry Rawls
who caught him. clasped him about the
neck. Rogers gasped once and uttered no
further sound. 1t was thought he had
merely tainted, and his friends endeav-
ored to render him what assistance they
could. Capt. Williamson saw that his
condition was serious. He detailed three
men to hurry for physicians. while he
himself ran to his home, nearby, for
restoratives.
DIT. Schley, DIR. baltimore and DR.. Van
Marter soon arrived. The young men
of the company, in the meantime, had
opened Mr.. Rogers collar, unbuttoned his
coat and barred his chest The physicians
began work and directed the efforts of the
members of the company, who tried to
renew the circulation of the fallen man
by vigorous exercise of his limbs His
comrades kept al work for some twenty
minutes. seeking to Tesuscitate him, but
the physicians finally pronounced further
efforts of no avail. Mr.. Rogers heart had
ceased to beat before hope was relnquish-
ed, the friends about him having been
cheered at one time by the statement of
one of the physicians that life still re-
manned.
When it was decided that all further
effort would be fruitless, the body was
lifted tenderly by his comrades and placed
In the police ambulance, which had been
summoned, and was driven to the home
of Mr.. II. =. Wilson, No. 3l5 Bolton
street, west Many members of Company
A and other companies of the battalion
called at the home to offer their services
m l.nf~
grief-stricken relatives of their fellow SOL
der.
Until his fall. just as ne
began TO mark time those
near him in the ranks had received
no intimalion that Mr. Rogers was ill.,
He had appeared perfectly well and was
apparently in the best of health. One of
his brothers stated that he had not been
Ill in ten years.
The company had been put through an
extended order drill on the parade ground
This was not at all arduous, the members
of the command saying the drill called for
less physical exertion than usual They
believe the death was not caused by the
drill
Mr. Rogers was talking with his com
rades before the assembly in the com.
pany's quarters, and was In the best of
spirits. He had induced his roommate
Private Andrews, member of Company
A, who had complained of feeling i'll. to
attend the drill. The last words recalled
by his comrades, as spoken by the young
man, was in answer TO a remark made
while the command was at route STEP"
just before the captain gave the command
calling the company to attention, and re-
quiring the men TO take up the cadence
and transfer their guns to the right Shout
der. A neighboring comrade had said that
the extended order was quite a pretty
drill. to which Private Rogers replied with
a simple Eyes, 1t is" This was his last
articulate speech.
His father, Mr.. c. d. Rogers, of Guyton,
two brothers, Messrs. James NJ and Rob-
ert M. Rogers. of this city, and a sister,
Mrs. H. E. Wilson, survive Mr.. Rogers.
He was young man who was held in
high esteem, being faithful and conscien-
tious in the discharge of every duty and
of a disposition that easily won and held
friends. He was a member of Trinity
Church, and has been identified with reh-
gious work in the city for many years. He
was born and reared here, and mad a large
circle of friends and acquaintances He
was cashier in the office of the agent of
the Georgia and Alabama Railroad, was
unmarried, and was 81 years of age.
Mr.. Rogers had been member of the
Guards only a short while. That of last
night was the second drill he had attend
ed. He was well drilled soldier, however,
having been a member of the Savannah
Cadets for a number of years.
The funeral arrangements have not yet
been completed The funeral will take
place tomorrow afternoon from the resi-
dence of Mr. Wilson The members of
Company A will turn out in honor OF the
memory of their dead comrade, and il may
be that the battalion will also turn OUT.
This is not usual in such cases, but IL Ia
thought a special call will be sent out for
the assembly of the entire battalion on
account of the peculiar circumstances of
young Rogers death.
CARRIAGES FOR TYBEE's GUNS.