The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-19
COlOred Soldiers Of the Twenty.
Fourth Infantry, ]. S. A.
FIVE SERGEANTS AkE H0k0RtD
One Declines Commission-He-
roeS of San Juan Hi - Had
Been Long in the Service.

Five On-commissioned officers of
the Twenty-fourth at Fort Douglas
were yesterday notified Of their ap-
pointment to positions as second lieu
tenants in the Ninth Immunes. One
of the five. Sergeant Alexander Will
liams Of Company y, declined his com
mission. The others. all Of whom i'm
mediately wired their acceptance 10
Washington, are First Sergeant Rich
ardson of Company b; First Sergeant
Williams of Company l.; First Ser
geant Woods of Company G and Ser
geant Wilkes of Company NJ.
Sergeant Alexander Williams took a
very manly stand in declining the COM
the tender was given him he asked for
a short time in which to think ii over.
Within an hour he returned TO AGju-
tant Leitch and told him that he did
not feel qualified to accept, on account
of a lack of education which he felt
would prevent him from filing the
position with credit to himself and 10
his regiment
Sergeant Williams of l. company is
one of the oldest non-cOmmissioned
officers in point of service, in the regi-
ment. He enlisted twenty-three years
ago in the Twenty-fourth and has serv-
ed continuously with the command
ever since. He was given a corporals
stripes in December. 1880, and won his
sergeant's chevrons in September,
1881.
Seven years later Williams became
the ranking sergeant in his company.
His commanding officers speak in
terms of highest praise Of his services.
He went through several Indian cam
paigns, but his first taste of real war
was during the conflict just ended. In
that Sergeant Williams bore himself
with commendable valor.
First Sergeant Richardson of Com
pany B is another old-timer with the
regiment He enlisted in the Twenty
fourth in 1875. Two years later his
soldierly qualities had developed to
such an extent that in May, 1877, he
was made a corporal. He became a
sergeantin July, 1880, and first sergeant
May 81, 1888. Richardson participated
in several Indian campaigns in Ari-
IONA, New Mexico and other States.
OF his conduct during the war with
Spain, his company commander. Cap
tain Henry Wygant, says: Richard
son was as brave as a lion. He dis
Itinguished himself repeatedly by acts
of daring and / would not hesitate &c
trust him to any extent"
| Sergeant Wilkes of Company NJ is
also an old soldier in point of service
He enlisted in the Ninth Cavalry in
l1S76, and served in that regiment fol
five years. rising IN it to the rank o.
lcorporal in August, 1876, and 10 a ser.
geantcy in January, 1877. In 1881 h,
was transferred TO the Twenty-fourth
where he has been ever since. He, too
conducted himself CALAMITY in two In
ldfan campaigns His meritorious ser
Vices in the war with Spain brough
lhim favorable notice from all wh'
were with him. WiIkes's company of
Ulcers say of him that he is a first-clas
soldier and we'll worthy of his promo
ton.
First Sergeant Woods of G Compan
lis the youngest man in the lot. bot
in years and in service. None the les
those in authority say he is in ever
way qualified to hold a commission
Woods has been in the Twenty-fourt
la trifie more than nine years. He wa
Imade a corporal in February, 1895.
August. 1896. he was made sergean
and first sergeant on the same day,
rather unusual promotion ana one tia
is only made where the recipient pos
sessess great merit. The conduct c
Woods during the Santiago campaig
was gallant in the extreme.
The fortunate men were overwheln
ed with the congratulations OF thei
comrades yesterday. They bore then
selves with becoming modesty, but a
of them quietly expressed a determine
ton to sustain the high reputation 20:
sessed by the Twenty-fourth.
The promotions were not awarded
accordance with the recommendation
sent TO the War Department by Adj
liant Leitch several weeks ago. Instea
they were made at the personal reque
of Colonel Crane of the Ninth In
munes. who was formerly captain
the Twenty-fourth. and who know
each of the men selected.
The telegram announcing the prom
tons stated that the commission
would be forwarded from WashingtC
TO Cuba. where the regiment is now {