The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-12
REMAINS TAKEN HOME
ESCORTED TO THE TRAIN BY
COMPANIES l. AND ii.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES YESTERDAY
William Albert Abel and Bonnet Roper SaCri-
fee their Lives on The Altar of the Ma
ton ChapIain's Tribute 10 the
Two De. d Soldiers,

1t is sad enough when the soldier falls
on the battlefield. 1t is infinitely more
sad when death claims him before lie
has seen the enemy's flag or felt the
thrill of battle in his veins. And yet
the soldier who yields up his life in the
hospital is no less sacrifice for his
country than he who finds resting place
within the lines after the smoke Of
battle has lifted.
When the call for volunteers was
made none responded more quickly in
North Carolina than the young men Of
the west. and among them all none took
up the hard life of soldier with greater
zeal than William Albert Abel. of
Nantahala and Barnet Roper. of Hen
dersonvlle And within single day
the summons came to both and the
picket was off duty forever
For more than two weeks William
Albert Abel had tossed in a hot hospital
ward i'll all the agony of cerebro-spinal
meningitis. and yet not murmur
escaped him. He had left his home 10
be IA soldier. and come what might, he
would bear it with Il soldiers fortitudc.
Only twenty years Of age. the dawn Of
young manhood bright in his eyes. he
had come from the cool shades of his
beloved mountains. He was taken back
to them by IL detail of his comrades. and
to an old mother who was inconsolable
in the death OF a youngest son.
1t was a sad procession that made its
way to the depot through the gray light
of morning. for there was not IL man in
Company l. that did not love and re-
spect William Albert Abell-love him
and respect him for those sterlin:
qualities of unwarped manhood that
command love and respect everywhere
And over the camp the regimental flag
at half-mast sreminded those who re-
NAMED behind that there was one com
rade the less.
During his illness his brother, DIR.
Abel. had been constantly with him, and
had assisted rcgimenta physicians and
nurses in doing all that could be done
to save the strong young life, but in
vain.
Before the body was escorted to the
depot by Captain Cooper's company. an
impressive ceremony was held in Floral
Hall bN Chaplain Osborne. None knew
Abel better Than Chaplain Osborne. and
when seen by the reporter he paid !;
SBIcHiIi tiipuit W tIit young SDlllt'I >
character He was of unusually fine
physique and rs gentle as IA child--not
once had he been reproved for disobc-
dience or failure to do his exact duty.
e other young man who died.
Barnet Roper. was member of Cap.
tain Wagner's Asheville company. and
his home was near Hendersonvile. He
died ut 5:3O,on Sunday afternoon, af-
ter having been in the hospital for one
day only. During Saturday night he
had managed. in Il moment Of delirium.
to circumvent the vigilance of the at
PENDANTS in the hospital and escape. He
wandered around camp for hours before
ne could be found. and never rallied af-
ter being taken back to the hospital.
Like Abel. he was of fine presence and
IN excellent soldier Not an officer or
man in the regiment who knew him but
speaks of him i'll terms of the highest
praise. Roper was only eighteen yelrs
old and his mother is IL widow. The re-
mains were sent home under an escort
detailed by Col. Burgwyn.