Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-17
BROTHERS LOVE REWARDED


A visitor to the general hospital at Fort
Myer, the great ward converted from the
old riding school, will be attracted by a
scene at a cot in the long rows extending
| the full length Of the large builqing-that
of young soldier watching at the cot OF
fever patient, patiently tanning the few
cred brow Of the sick man and in every
way devoting to the patient a mother 5
care. The sick man Is Private Charles G.
Brown of Company G, 3D. Missouri, and his
devoted nurse Is his younger brother, Pri-
vate Elmer N. Brown Of the same company
and regiment.
The brothers lived in Bears Creek a
small settlement in Missouri and caught
the war fever early. They enlisted in the
90 Mlssouri at the same time They were
anxious to see service at the front but like
many other brave young soldiers were
doomed to disappointment in this respect
ihelr regiment was ordered to Camp Alger,
ice.
At the camp the brothers were "bunkies."
anu Were oIten referred to by the officers
ana an men as Damon and Pythias Brown.
ihey were prompt in their attention to
duty, as honest as the dav is hong and won
the respect of all their fellows 8 country
lads turned soldier
lamp life did not agree with the elder,
Cnaries, and when he was feeling i'll his
brother gladly volunteered to serve for
MN. FINALLY the symptoms Of typhoid fe-
yer developed so strongly in the elder
W plot Inc mat 1t was necessary to send him
TO the general hospital and for the first
time III their lives the two bows Wer, SEN
arated for any great length of time After
ms brother had been away at the hosDital
Tor several days, Elmer applied to his com
pany commander for a pass that he might
visit him in thu hospital He was granted
two.days leave, and made his way to
Fort Myer.
On arriving at the hospital he was sent
TO MAJ: Davis, the commanding officer, and
the bright face and honest simplicity of
the country lad attracted the kind officer,
and he personally conducted him to the
bedside Of his brother. Elmer wanted to
sfend the entire time of his leave at the
pedslde or his brother, but Maj Davis had
cot fixed UP for him, and only during the
few hours he slept was he absent from
what he considered his pest of duty
his entire devotion to his brother, and
the careful attention he gave the patient,
attracted the attention of all the hospital
attendants. When the boys leave was
about to expire, Maj Davis noticed the
grief OF the young soldier at the prospective
parting, and telegraphed to his company
commander asking that he be granted
tWsnty days leave of absence that he
might nurse his brother The answer came
pack that his leave was extended two days,
put that further extension would have to
come through the War Department. Elmer
was informed of the decision and thanked
Maj. Davis for the brief extension he had
been able to obtain for him.
On the second day after the answer had
come back. and just as Elmer was pre-
pairing to take leave of his brother, Major
Davis appeared in the great ward, escort
ing 4 tall, thin gentleman, with a gray
musta ~he and imperial. The visitor SEEM
ed to take great interest in the sick. Major
Davis was talking to him as he approached
the cot where Elmer was watching over
his sick brother. and presently the stran-
ger left Major Davis and approached the
cot.
Let me See your pass" he said to Ell
mer.
Wondering what 1t could mean, the young
soldier produced the document from the
pocket of his blouse and handed it to the
stranger, who scanned It closely. He took
pencil from his pocket, and placing the
paper upon the window sill wrote across
it's face: '-xtended for thirty days. r. A.
Alger, Secretary of War" and handed il
back to the young soldier.
When Major Davis returned on his regu-
lar rounds some time later, he APP
preached by the Young Missourian, who
handed him the document, with the in
quiry: q.
do you suppose Ehis will keep me out of
all trouble if stayzhere with my brother?'
II am inclined to think 1t WILL" responded
the kind-hearted major with smile He
then explained to thet soldier the great
honor that had been done him, adding:
II would not mind Having document
signed by the same person.