The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-29
.D|SCRAcED BY
COMPANY K.
Another Blot on the Escuteheon
Z Of State and City By
4 the Militia.
SENT HOME WITH DISHON0R
And Now Designated as Tin
Soldiers By Citizens.

toss >oAslSsshJ' sS'"A AH'A
From Camp Ebe w. TuEnell
Minus Arms.
Disgraced-Another blot on the es
cutcheon of the State of Delaware, anC
another blot on the majority OF thu
proud and patriotic peopleiof the city o
Wilmington.
Such in brief is the dishonor throw
upon State and city by the action Of the
officers and men of Company X, OF the
National Guard of Delaware, when to &
man they returned to their homes in this
city yesterday afternoon from Camp Ebe
W. Tunnel at Middletown.
At4.56 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
one hundred men wearing the uniform
of the militia Il the National Guard OF
Delaware, alighted from train at the
p, w. & B. railroad station.
They are ordered to the 'front.'" was
the first thought of the persons who wit.
messed the scene, but sober second
thought came when it was noticed that
the boys in blue were minus the rifles
that they had carried when they left the
city on Tuesday morning.
Not word was spoken and as the
men silently fell into rank and took up
their SILENT march towards the ar
moryat Twelfth and Orange streets, it us
surmised that some unfortunate accident
had occurred at the camp.
Amid the plaudits OF hundreds of per-
sons the men marched up Market street
to Eleventh, to Orange and thence to the
armory, and it was only after half
hours wait that the assembled multi
tude learned OF the cause.
When this became known, however,
the boys were not received with the
hearty cordiality chat was expected and
more than one curse was hurled at the
heads OF the supposed "men" who are
now designated as Tin Soldiers"
At an ealy yesterday morning the
militia were informed that now was the
time to enlist under the United States
government.
Company +, of Wilmington, under
command Of Captain John brennan, was
the first to respond to the call and every
IllClIlDCl JIuSCu lIiS w VIC
roll including the officers. "
Company A enlisted 10 men and "A
refused; Company & enlisted Y plcn and
% refused to sign Il government muster
roI'.
Other companies repOr.ed to a like
extent, but the climax was capped when
Captain E. +. kutan, of Company X,
refused to enlist to 60 out OF the United
States.
1t was then that the privatcs de-
inanded that Second Lieutenant L. Eli
son be made captain over the head of
First Lieutenant &. W. Dillon.
The demand was pcrtmptorily denied
by Colonel |. p. Wickershani, command
ing officer, and Lieutenant Gordon, of
the United States Army. 4 ~
When the refusal was made the men
would net enlist, and at a signal from
Colonel Wickersham they were relieved
of their arms and equipments and
ordered to leave camp by = O'Clock yes
terday afternoon.
When the disgraced band, together
with number of the members OF the
Regimental Fife and Drum Corps,
reached the arlnory they We're met, by
Major Curtis, recruiting officer sof the
STATE, they received very poor consoIa-
ton from him.
He, in his usual iorcible manner, stated
that tney were disgrace and uishonor
to the State and that If he had h.s way
he would court martial every man ana
disJIonurably discharge them from the
ranks
When they met friends ON the street
they were aIso given the "icy.g glare"
anu throughout the city last evening
there was hardly one person who spOkes
in COMMUNICATION OF the acton of the
men who itis alleged have showed the
white feather and are now call, Il
tin soldiers"
William Holl,tt, a member of Co. A
said he went to Middetuwn to play
soldier, anu not v act and Therefore
when il come time to act he came home.
Anothcr member Of Go. A. said that
tbe boys did not get enough to eat and
insteau OF real army duty 1t was more
like camp than a play house.
Adjutant General Hart, when seen,
5lutSst tItl JlC Iitti HJSt all ltttIt Ill Sellu-
ing regiment to the front, but Major
Curtis thought different and told Gen.
Hart so and to prove it he enlisted
iwelve men last night. ..
When the men arrived tien. Hart kept
very man in their company room, aud |
old them it was a disgrace to the State
or them to act in this mal,ner and |
,rdered them 10 return their Uniforms
~ eight O'Clock last evening.
tirn. Hart stated he had not as yet re.
eiNed the exact number of those re-
urnrd and as soon as he did he would
i've them their discharge
Lieut.. Gordan, L. 5. A., said it put
i'm in mind OF u strike in i, factory, and
/ that is the kind ot blood We had in
)elawaIe he did not think much Of it.
Major Curtis, who is recruiting officer,
hought it was disgrace to the State to
ave spcl set Of chickcn-heared men
il the National Guards.
Willard Salisbury, Esq, is authority
or thS, ri tru,ant That GnvppnOr Tunnoti