Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18
Private Osterheimer Accidentally
Shot by a Oomrade at Tampa.
BOTH BELONG 10 5rH MARYLAND
District Troops, Pass a Highly
Satisfactory inspection.
CAPT. SIMONSON RETURNING
Special From a star Correspondent.

Special From Stan Correspondent.
| TAMPA. Fla, June 1S.-The entire camp
was startled shortly after Z o'clock this
morning by rifle shot ringing out on the
early morning air; not that such shots are
| at all uncommon. but that it was apparent
| ly so near and SO early in the morning. In
vestigation. however, showed that there
| had been tragedy in the brigade. Private
| Jerome Osterheimer of Company B, 9th
| Maryland Regiment, had been accidentally
| shot by Private William Carter of Com
pany G Of the same regiment.
1t was terrible sight and a horrible
wound, and in all probability he will never
recover from it; in fact, it is hardly likely
| that he Will live until he reaches the divi-
sion hospital, to which he was hastily sent
Was Purely Accidental.
| From what could be learned of the shoot
| Ing. 1t appears to have been purely acct
DENTAL although very careless. Young
Osterheimer was sitting in his tent
| cleaning his rifle. Carter was in his
| tent engaged in the same occupation. Some
of the men are of the opinion that he was
either trying to extract a ball from his rifle
or else trying to force one in. At any rate it
went of, passing through three tents. 1t
struck Private Osterheimer in the back, to
|
through the body, and came out under the
left shoulder.
| DR.. Jay, chief surgeon of the 9Th, was at
the side of the injured man in a moment,
! and everything was done to relieve his suf-
| fering. An ambulance was summoned, and
| he was put into It and taken to the hospital
on Tampa Heights. Private Carter surren-
| dered himself, and was put under arrest
| pending an investigation.
The rifle ball went through three addi-
| floral tents, two haversacks and spent it,
self In & tree several hundred feet away.
| That no other men We're hurt is considered
| miracle. Such an accident fortuna tely
| could not happen in the camp of the Dis
trict troops for they are not allowed to
| have any ammunition except when doing
! guard duty, and as soon the man comes
| off duty his ammunition is taken from him.
| Colonel Harries is especially careful in this
respect, and his orders on the subject are
very strict.
District Troops Inspected.
The camp of the District troops was in
| spected this morning by Lieut.. Mcintyre
and Capt. McMahan. Everything was found
| to be in the best possible condition and the
| inspecting officers spoke most favorably of
| the condition of the men and quarters.
| Shortly after reveille was sounded the
| notes of officers call were heard In a
moment every commissioned officer was in
| front of the colonei's quarters. They
were surprised to receive a call at that
early hour and could not understand what
was needed.
The first thought was order to break
camp, but their minds were soon disabused
On this point. 1t was an order to prepare
fnr iv,cv
hustle. and everything was gotten in or
der. Dog tents, blankets, ponchos and
clothes had to be rolled and gotten ready,
as IL to move at a moments notice.
The men never looked better Every
tent, every street and the outer lines of the
camp were clean as a new pir All
trash had been picked tip and burned On
the whole, Col. Harries had every reason
to feel proud of the result of his first in
srection by officers of the regular army.
Capt. Simonson's Leave Taking.
Capt. Otto G. Simonson who rendered
his resignation on account of his health,
left for Washington yesterday afternoon.
He was escorted to the depot by Company
1, which he formerly commanded. The
leaye-taking was most touching and
impressive one. Capt. Simonson made a
farewell address and gave the men some
very good advice. 1t was responded to in
ost feeling terms by Private Kyle on
behalf Of the company. At the conclusion
of kyle's remarks there was not a dry eye
in the vicinity.
Capt. Simonson was enc Of the most pop
uiar officers in the regiment. He was al
Ways kind and gentle with his men, though
positive when the occasion demanded X.
His men loved him as a friend and officer.
1t was the desire of The men to give the
captain some little token of remembrance,
but he would not allow 1t.
'All I want Is Spanish rifle" said Cant.
Simonson, and the men promised 1t with a
will, and, from the material in the COM
pany, they will keep their promise.
First Lieut.. Clarence v. Sayer is in COM
mand Of the comlany.
Owing to the fact that tomorrow will he
Sunday and the army regulations forbid
Sunday work. the regiment will not go on
their practice march tonight, but will prob
ably wait until Monday, when they may
stay out until Wednesday for the purpose
OF having battalion and regimental drills
1t is understood now that the officers de-
tailed to brigade headquarters will only be
there temporarily. This will consequently
make no vacancies in the companies from
which they were taken.
There are only three cases in the hos
pital to day. Some of the men are con-
fined to their quarters with minor ailments
Anent That Stampede.
All day yesterday the men were receiving
kilograms from home in regard to injuries
received by the stampede Thursday night.
Every man responded to his name at roll
call after the stampede. and not q single
man received a scratch. Captain VIM. T
H King of Company B, who hurt his back
falling over a fence chasing a prisoner
several nights ago, is quite unwel at the
Tampa Bay Hotel. Regimental Quarter
master Mortimer has had his hands full
keeping his department straight. He was
sick for while at Chickamauga, but has
gotten entirely well again.
TO SUCCEED CAPT. HEYL.
Lieut.. Allaire to BE Adjatant General
of the Local Militia.
By direction Of the President, First Lieut.