Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-10
HUNG THEPAYMA
SOLDIERS EXPRESS DIsPLEAsURE
AT DELAY IN MUSTER OUT.
PORTO RICAN UNIFORM In RICHMOND.
A Soldier Fresh from the Tropics
Shiyering In His Khaki Trousers-
Pass Through To-MOrrow.

The delay in the arrival Of Major Muh-
lenberg, the paymaster who was 70
have come here yesterday TO begin the
work of paying off and mastering out the
Second Regiment, caused him to be lynch
ed Thursday night, or early yesterday
morning.
Uncle Sans soldiers did the deeu They
do not confess it, Confession Is not
necessary. Though they all deny it, 1t Is
known TO certainty that the soldiers
did the deed. Nobody else could have
committed it.
The body has not yet been Inferred. IL
is lost But few men know where it
rests. None will take his officers or
the newspapers into his confidence. But
the press was assured last night that 1t
would eventually be given decent inter-
ment.
The dissatisfaction over the postpone
ment of the time of mastering out the
regiment is very great 1t was not known
i'm time Thursday night for the men OF
the Richmond companies 90 give any
very emphatic expression OF dissatislac-
ton. The expression which they ala
give was sufficiently emphatic, but 1t
lacked all publicity.
CORPORAL STARKE FOUND 1T.
When Corporal Starke, OF Company B.
opened the door leading into the mess
hall at the First Regiment Armory,
little after daylight yesterday morning
he saw the body Of a man hanging at the
end of a rope suspended from block
attached to the ceiling. \ thrill of hor-
ror ran through the corporal, and with
one hand over his mouth 10 keep from
yelling, and the other on his hat to keep
his rising hair from throwing 1t of, he
rushed upstairs TO his comrades to give
the alarm.
He was surprised to see that many of
the men expressed little concern, but
squad or two went with him down to the
mess hall. There hung the horrible
figure. slowly swaying in the air. The
figure was clad in faded regimentals, and
across the breast was a placard upon
which were printed in big, black letters,
the words:
1--WE are id tired Of this delay"
Then they knew II was the paymaster.
1t was after the light had grown brighter
that they saw the figure was dummy,
doing duty as the delinquent paymaster
LAID OUT IN STATE.
When the officer Of the guard came in
he quickly had the figure cut down. But
when he had left the building a number
of the men got it again, and laid it out
on the mess table. a piece OF ancient
linen covered the rigid form, at the head
burned a tallow dip stuck in an empty
bottle bearing the label, Pure Star Rye
Whiskey."
There gathered about the bier a large
group of enlisted men, and their com
ments were not in the least compliment
tary to the memory Of the deceased pay
master. Arrangements for giving the
body a public funeral were discussed, bat
the officers came in again about noon
and ordered the body taken away. and
forbade a funeral Despite the order 20
the contrary, however, the men are de-
termined that the efFigy shall be inferred,
unless the paymaster should arrive be-
fore opportunity presents itself.
Unless there should be further delay.
the paymaster will arrive December 10Th.
SHIVERING IN HIS KHAKIS.
First Sergeant TON" Middleton, Of
Company II, First Kentucky Regiment,
reached Richmond last night, direct from
Porto Rico. Sergeant Middleton landed at
Newport News from the transport Berlin
yesterday morning He came 10 Richmond
wearing his Khaki trousers. These were
very comfortable in Porto Rico, but they
were not at all the thing in Richmond,
with the thermometer at freezing and be-
low. He had no blue trousers, and was not
allowed to wear civilian trousers, as he
Is still in service. Adjutant-General Male
was attracted to Sergeant Middleton, who
is q ti-e young fellow, and took him
around TO the First Regiment armory,
where a soldier generously gave him a
pair Of blue trousers. Sergeant Middleton
went 70 war as the correspondent Of the
Courier Journal a. enlisted a r,rfvata
and was advanced 10 his present position
owing 20 meritOriOus service. lie saw
lively service in Porto Rico. and was
ready 10 participate I'm the battle Of San
Juan, when the regiment was ordered not
10 fire on the enemy. All the boys OF the
First Kentucky expected 20 go under fire
the next morning. Sergeant Middleton
wore a hat, on the brim of which was
written the principal places visited during
his service.
The first Kentucky reached Newport
News yesterday on the transport Berlin.
The regiment will pass through Richmond
on Sunday morning on its way home \
committee Of Louisville citizens passed
through Richmond yesterday afternoon,
en- route % Newport News, TO receive the
regiment. II will be given a great recep-
tiOn in Louisville Monday.
Major Malcolm Crump, of this regiment,
comes from the excellent Culpeper county
family Of this name. and is a native Of
that county. lie went up to Cupeper last
night TO visit his relatives
General Wade who has been the Mill
tary Governor Of Porto Rico. came 10
Newport News on the Berlin. and he and
his staff. numbering thirteen officers
passed through Richmond last night, en-
route to Washington General Wade is re-
lieved of his Porto Rican command By
General Guy V. Henry.
Colonel Baker. who has been here for
several days, will go home to-day to at
tend the session of the County Court Of
Shenandoah. which begins Monday.
College Girls Entertainment.
The concert given at the Young Mems