The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-09
HE DENIES DIR. FULLER'S STATE
MENTS AND SAYS EVERY
THING is ALL RIGHT
IN CAMP.
ARE THE NEGROES AFRAID TO FIGHT
Parson Leak Says that Russell Has Appointed
Incompetent Officers for The Negro
Regimnt and That's the
Trouble.


There are great many echoes o
trouble existing in the camp of colore'
soldiers at Fort Macon. DR.. w. L
Fuller, colored physician of Winston
writes to the Winston Journal tina
things are in bad shape, and score
Major Jim Young roundly saying anon:
other things:
"While at Fort Macon / saw letter
i'm which Governor Russell had authoriZ
ed Major Young to name all commls
stoned officers of the regiment except th'
officers of three companies. The mel
who spend their time. talent and none!
in getting men together to save the non
or of the State and nation are ut the
pleasure of Major Young. displaced fol-
little boot-jack politicians and his poll
teal henchmen.
WHAT PROF. BRUCE SAYS.
Prof. II. c. Bruce, who is interested in
the Y. NJ c. A. work ut Fort Macon
among the soldiers, reached Raleigh yes
terday afternoon. and will return to-day
He says that Mr.. John L. Pullen has
promised to go down to assist in religious
work later on. He was interviewed
by a reporter and asked how things wer,
getting on at Fort Macon, and said:
Everything is moving along seeming
ly as fast and as neatly as possible under
the circumstances. The work of tho
Young Mems Christian Association ten
is especially prospecting. The tent is full
all day during the hours the men cal
come, and every religious meeting is ca
gerly looked forward to and well at
tended. The average attendance is over
500 daily for the past week. and some
fifty men have thoughtfully con
fessed Christ Jesus. All the officers
and men seem to love the gospel tent
and enjoy the use of all it offers"
But how about the food and the mess
of the privates?" he was asked.
'.They have plenty TO eat of meat
bread. coffee. tomatoes. potatoes ana
canned beef and such other food as the
government furnishes: well cooked. with
all the sanitary arrangements carefully
looked after by .Drs. Mask. Dellinger and
Pope-three as capable physicians as the
race has in the State: so l judge that
all is well and have heard no complains
from the men," said Prof. Bruce. III
there was much wrong l would hear it,
for the men seem to tell me all that they
know about many things"
You saw statement of Dr. Fuller
of Winston, published in the Winston
Journal-what about it?' asked the re
porter.
Il cannot account for it." said Prof
Bruce. "but do know that what | have
said is true and / have been there long
enough to know what / am talking
about"
''Who is going to be chaplain?" he was
asked.
Il don't know" was the reply; "but
hope he will be II good man Of deer
Christian Diety. tactful. resourcefu am
spirit-hlled. Such Il man can do great
good among men isolated as those are
Fort Macon is the place for orr negro
troops and ! wish 10000 were modified
there for about two years"
PARSON LEAK HAS HIS SAY.
Parson Leak was much put out becaus,
of Adjutant General Cowless statemen,
that the negro troops were kept from
enlisting because they feared there woul,
be another such battle as at Santiago
He says that reason will not do, and
here are the reasons he is quoted as
giving:
If Adjutant General Cowles wants
to know the true reason that prompted
the negro troops in the State to remain
at home. can tellhim. 1t was Rus.
sellism and not Santiago. To my
knowledge there are four negro regi.
ments at Santiago and in their mem
bership is enrolled colored citizens OF
Raleigh. The black race is brave
race and no negro ever ran from a
battlefield.
IF General Cowles must have A
reason for the failure of colored troops
to respond let him have the true rea.
son. The incompetent appointments
OF ofhcers in the negro regiment mad.
by Governor Russell is what caused
the North Carolina negroes to hesitate
The appointments made so far. with =
very rev exceptions, are incompeten,
men. The Governor selected the of
ficers for the Third Regiment to pro
mote his political schemes. He ha,
not considered merit or qualifications il
the selection of officers"
l.. i. Capehart is chairman of a com
mittee comprising several Of the leadin.
colored preachers and prominent colore,
men of Raleigh who are raising Il fun,
with which to buy flag to be presentes
to Captain Jim Hamlin's company n
Fort Macon. The flag is to cost $500
and the money is being raised by small
subscriptions.
DIED