The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-06
SENTINEL'S WAR STORIES
CHARACTER OF TWO OF ITS MEN
WHO TOLD OF THE .H0RRORs.,
The MartinsviIIe Alleged Santiago
Hero COnfesses He Is a Fraud
Jacksonville News.

On Sept % there appeared in the Sentinel
the following article, handled in the charac-
teristic style of that paper in whining over
the war and attacking men who have had
to do with the war. Two soldiers of the
regular army whose object in being inter-
viewed was manifestly to injure Captain
Black, of the United States recruiting sta
ton in this city, appeared here about tina.
time and told a strange tale of sufferings
in the fever-soaked trenches of Cuba and of
ingratitude on the part of the government
which they were laying down their lives to
preserve. The Sentinel item reads as fol-
lows:
:, John B. Geelen, private, Company /,
twelfth United States Regular Infantry, is
IN the city and has been here since last Sun
gay night. He is not here from choice, but
Ills company was on its way through from
Montauk Point to Jefferson barracks, ST.
Louis, where. until further orders, the COM
pany will do garrison duty.
While at the Union Station Geelen, by
permission, left the train for the purpose of
getting something to eat. In addition TO
seeking a lunch he was unWiSe enough to
take drink at some distance from the sta
tlon, and when he returned his train had
left ten minutes before Lis arrival. He had
but little change left, and this was soon
exhausted. Yesterday Geelen appeared at
the United States recruiting station and re-
ported his condition to Captain Black.
money to procure even a shelter for the
night, was seen by Sentinel reporter.
/ told Captain Black he said. Just how
l was situated, and asked him to furnish
me transportation to st. Louis, feeling that
ne could send me on my way without ex-
pense TO the government, for the cost would
sooner or later be deducted from my pay.
he told me he would do nothing for me- l
then asked him what should do, what
could do, situated as / was. He suggested
that the best thing for me to do would be
20 70 go down In the railroad yards. jump a
Irelght train and bum my way to ST. Louis.
l told him had never done such a thing
IN my life; that | was mechanic capable
OF earning from $3.50 to So at my trade Of
stonecutting. He again refused to furnish
I then asked him what would be the re-
suit If | should take off my uniform and get
to take me to Jefferson barracks. He re-
pied: You know well enough what would
happen" He meant that would be arrest
ed as deserter. l told him l was hungry
and had no place to sleep, and suggested
that l had abandoned a good paying job
ana good home to go down into that
cuban hell hole to do my country's service,
no matter what it might mean to me, and
that l was getting most ungrateful treat
ment from the government for which had
SHOWN myself willing TO lay down my life >"
This interview was too much in line with
the policy adopted by the Sentinel in at
tempting to malign the administration for
fancied outrages committed on the soldiers
to be lost. and accordingly it was given a
place of honor in the column with the in
terviews furnished by Chaplain Christensen
When, however, Captain Black sent the
men under arrest to their command at JEFF
ferson barracks, Missouri, the guard car
rled a letter from him to Capt. W. W.
,Mntnerspoon. commanding Company l,
IWelIth infantry. to which command the
men were attached. With the letter he in
closed the above clipping for the inspection
or the officers of the regiment who knew
inc men. The answer of Captain Wither-
spoon, few days ago, is Self-explanatory
ana is in itself an eloquent testimonial to
the manner in which the Sentinel serves its
complaint news to its readers. Following
is the letter in full:
Il thank you for your letter of the oath
regarding the return of two of my men
John p; Geelen and Frank Plant In doing
this 1t follows naturally that l should refer
to the. newspaper clipping you inclose
There is not one single item of truth in the
entire reported interview with Geelen l
that, is not false. Private Geelen is and
has been utterly worthless ever since he en-
listed He was drunk and disorderly on the
train from Long Island City to Camp
Wlkof, and would have been tried for the
ofense had time permitted. This was one
week before the regiment started for this
post On that journey he left the train
twice before reaching Indianapolis against
orders. AT your city he jumped out of the
car window and was absent without leave
Ear from having enlisted from patriotic
MOVIES, ms enlistment is probably fraudu-
lent, as papers now here indicate he is a
deSerter from the Fifth Artillery. His ref
erences to his sufferings in Cuba are abso-
lutely false He is a recruit and very
poor one. He has never been out of this
country at any time, and appears to be as
great liar as he is a rascally vagabond
need not say that both these men will
be tried and are now in the guardhouse.
If Geelen made any false statements to YOU
| would be pleased to have additional
charges, as my object is to rid the army
or such a. worthless man.