The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-12-08
TO THE MEN AND OFFICERS OF
co. c, SEVENTH REGIMENT
AN UNPLEASANT INCIDENT
The Toastmaster Has a Pressing En-
gagement Which Calls Him
Elsewhere

late of the Seventh regiment California
volunteers, is not popular with his men
was sufficiently demonstrated last evening
1t was previously known that the officer was
not on the best OF terms with the rank and
file of the company, and that one reason
for the change in mastering out at the arm
ory, instead of at Camp Pratt, was the fear
that some trough house would be INDUCED
in at his expense and some OF the ill-feellng
borne toward him by the men would be
vented on his head when no longer protected
by his shoulder straps.
The doughty captain was fully aware OF
the luminosity existing towards himself, and
wished to soothe the angry spirits which he
had roused His knowledge Of the world
led him TO believe that men well fed were
most amenabe to the arts of soft persuasion
and less apt to let their angry passions rise.
| These reasons led him to believe that a ban
quet would be the proper thing to etfectual-
| ly end all bitter feelings and make the part
ing between himself and his men one marked
by good feeling and mutual regard.
| Consequently he informed the men that
a banquet would be given Company last
eveing at the Royal bakery and that he
would be present and act as POSTMASTER.
The first part of the announcement was
applauded and the latter half received in
silence Wednesday night came and the
men gathered at the armory and, with
Captain Langworthy at the head, marched
down Spring street to the dining place,
filed in, seventy strong, and took their seats.
1t required but a little time to make IL
entirely clear that past otfenses of the COM
manding officer were not forgotten and that
he would be the death mask at the feast. He
was ''joshed" in side remarks and sundry
illusions were made to company funds
The men did mob feel that they*ransgressed
any laws of hospitality, for it transpired that
the banquet was not paid for by Captain
Langworthy, but ordered by him and the
expenses betrayed by moneys belonging to
the company. The fun became too warm for
the so-called POSTMASTER, and mis- hitherto
dormant memory awoke to active operation
and reminded him of an "engagement"
which it would cost him dear to break.
Hastily gathering his belongings, he left,
his exit greeted with applause.
Chaplain Clark, who was present, cast oil
on the troubled waters, telling the men
they should lay aside all animosity and link
themselves together as they had stood
shoulder to shoulder for a common coun-
llt. THsl LtuteHdHt NOle lOllOWeu WITH
brief remarks, and said that he was sorry
that Captain Langworthy was not present,
to which came chorus from the company of
owe don't care" Corporal James b. Scott
was called for and said that he would re-
sumo where Lieutenant Cole had left off in
saying that the incident of the evening was
the absence of Captain Langworthy. He
! (Scott) was sorry that that officer should be
obliged to absent himself, and believed that
| the men should have controlled themselves
for the few hours of the banquet. "As for
myself" resumed Corporal Scott, 81 settled
all my accounts with him in person in my
office before witnesses. | decry any such
underhand means of expressing the wrath
which you men bear towards your late COM
handing officer"
Witnesses who were present at the inter.
view which Scott had with Langworthy SAID
that few men had ever received such plain
and unvarnished statement OF anothers
opinion concerning themselves as was re.
ceived by the late captain OF Company &.
During the conversation he was told that
he was the prime cause for the dissatisfac.
ton which existed in the regiment and that
none of the men would volunteer for further
service with him as commanding officer.
After Corporal Scott had finished cheers
were given for the popular men of the com.
pany and derisive cha! hal" met the
mention of the late captains name 1t is
significant that when Captain Langworthy
was forced to remember his pressing zen.
gagement" and left, he was not accompanied
by either Chaplain Clark or First Lieuten.
ant Cole, who might be expected to sympa.
thize with him. The second lieutenant Of
the company, James A. Holden of San
Diego, was not present during the even.
ing.