The times., 1898-07-26
1[ifA N sfA0f5 Drink
One Volunteer Is Dead and Two
Comrades Are Dying.
00DALCOHOL AT CAMP ALGER
Three Privates i'm Company G.
Seventh Ohio, Quaff n Fatal Teddy
Purpose of Frightening Their
Belts and Buttons,

When the Seventh Ohio moved from
Camp Alger TO Dunn Loring yesterday
at noon, three men were left behind on
stretchers in the shade OF trees. One OF
the men was dead, while the other two
were dying.
They belonged 10 Company G, and had
drunk a quart of wood alcohol, which
they purchased at a drugstore for the
purpose Of cleaning accouterments. The
dead soldier was Private Kemble and his
companions were Privates John ]. Lee
and John Sheffiin. The alcohol was
bought on Saturday night and the men
diluted IL with water and indulged too
freely in the poisonous toddy.
Shefiiin was the first TO complain, and
was treated for plain cramps. About II
O'Clock yesterday morning Kemble was
found unconscious In his tent and died
at 1890. Lee was discovered in critical
condition and as the regimental hospital
had been taken down the three men We're
laid side by side under the trees.
Father Kelley, of the Seventh Illinois,
was sent for and administered the last
rites TO the victims Kemble did not re-
cover consciousness and passed away
while Father Kelley was working over
him.
Lee and Shefiin were removed to the
First Division Hospital. where they lie
in a critical condition. Shef1iin expressed
no sorrow for his action ana said he had
taken the alcohol knowing that it would
kill him. The effect of the stuff was to
paralyze the heart and respiratory or
gans. Kembles body viii be forwarded
10 his home at Lakeside, ". Y, a suburb
Of Buffalo.
Great excitement prevailed for a time
in the Seventh Ohio. as II was at first
given out that half the men in Company
G had partaken of the drink and were
poisoned.
Behind the high stockade around the
guardhouse of the Sixty-ffth New York
a disgraced soldier who has twice at
tempted suicide awaits trial for robbing
the United States mails and stealing the
property of the officers of the regiment.
The guard around the stockade has in
structions to shoot him down if he at
tempts TO escape.
The prisoner is Private Edward Gay, of
Company F. and for the past few weeks
he has acted as assistant postal clerk
under Chaplain Fisher. Last week the
chaplain missed letters containing money.
A package with checks payable 10 bearer
also disappeared as did several smaller
amounts in cash.
Chaplain Fisher was greatly worried
over the loss but failed to connect Gay
with the matter. The case was finally
turned over to Col Welch. Gay was ar
rested on Saturday. When his effects
were searched a package containing $40
in checks, s75 in marked money, a pocket
book containing $3.50 and a bundle of
stamps were discovered. Gay grew des-
perate and then despondent and twice at
tempted 10 kill himself. The proofs
against him are convincing and things
will go hard with him.
The Camp Alger Gymnasium" was the
scene of a row on Saturday night which
has resulted in decision on the part of
the promoters of the gymnasium to leave
camp within a week. Some of the troops
were dissatisfied with the very crispy
shows which are given nightly in the
gymnasium" and when detail from
the Sixth Pennsylvania was sent there on
Saturday night to act as guards the boys
waited until the show was at its height
and then attempted to tear the tent down.
Matters were serious when a second pro-
vost guard from the One Hundred and
Fifty-ninth Indiana was sent TO arrest
the first guard, composed OF the Sixth
Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania boys
attempted TO use their bayonets on the
invading force. Several companies from
the Twenty-second Kansas Joined the In
diana guard and finally ousted the fight
in Sixth but not until the latter had
razed the gymnasium"
The First Battalion, Seventh Ohio. has
been changed TO the Second Battalion.
the Second TO the Third. and the Third
TO the First. This arrangement was made
to place Lieut.. Col. Burch in command
OF the First Battalion TO fill the vacancy
made by the death of Mai. Weidler. of
the Third Battalion. Mai. Hovey will
command the Second Battalion and Mai
Irvine the Third.
The boys of the Seventh Ohio raided
the suffers tent yesterday morning be-
fore leaving camp and before a guard
could close the place up they had cap
tured everything movable.
The Third Brigade comnissary was
moved TO Dunn Loring yesterday and
the Tenth Pennsylvania will have to
travel several miles for rations.
Private Baker, OF Company D, Seventh
Ohio, has been arrested at Marietta o.,
under instructions from Col. Hamilton
Bakers arrest saved him from trial for
desertion. as he had overstayed his fur
Tough nine days when captured.
The chaplains Of the various regiments
held meeting at the National Relief AS
sociation tent yesterday afternoon. Many
matters were discussed and preparations
made for joint services.
Six patients were sent to Fort Myer
hospital yesterday, One new case of
typhoid fever has developed in the Third
New York
The camp Midway" has disappeared.
and as the troops are scattered over
twelve miles of territory the glory Of the
place has departed