The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
nov BRyAN GOT A GrN.
The Records sny II L. In Havana Harbor
but the Colonel Knows Better.

From he Nebraska Std's Journal.
Col Bryan Is the proud posscssor Of a Erag-
Jorgensen rifle that he received ostensibly from
the members Of Company a Of the Third Nebraska
Regiment on the eve Of his departure. after he
mede his farewell address. How the gun was
secured Tor him and why 1t Is not now rcposing
with the Mainc In the depths Of Havana bnrOor.
where the records 81 the War Department show II
TO be-, make story Of some interest
When Col Bryan was taking leave Of the men
Of the Third Regiment, Qunrtcrmas;cr Schwind
made the proposition to some Of the men that IL
would be good thing TO give him keepsake. by
which he could remember with fDndnesSs the days
he grcnt pacing the beat on the guard line as a
private soldier II was suggested that the mo I
appropriate thing that could be presented was a
nice, new shining rife, and accordingly. the
proposition was made 10 Company men. this
being the comIa any in which Mr.. Bryan enlisted
as private First Sergeant Stein was one to
whom the matter was presented. and he began
huStling among the privates for subscriptions
The cost Of the gun was little less than $50 and
after careful work in the limited time at the dis.
p"sal of the ltst sergeant only sl3 was promised
not collected. Work was begun on The subscnp
tons on the day before Col BryHn's departure. and
be came around the next day at noon to review the
company. but there was no presentation then be.
cause enough money had not been raised and
Toward evening. when Gil. Bryan was no
longer a military man, his resignation having
been accepted, Quartermasicr Schm ind interested
himself IN the matter 10 a considerable eS lent and
promised 10 make up any deficiency that might
remain fort was necessary To have gun at once.
lie then went to Cant Schwarz and said the ex.
pcnsc had been satisfactorily arranged and de.
sired 10 hav" him provide a bright weapon from
The cnmpany's extra stores, Cant Schwnrz
pointed Ia all order existing all this time stating
plainly that no ktag JOrgensen niles were 10 be
SOFA or used outside the service. This order had
been posted and Col bryan knew or should have
known OF H. a. well a. quaricrmastcr Schwind.
II II understood that Capt Schwarz had pre-
yiously refused 10 make any contribution To the
fund, md that when appealed 10 by the quarter.
master for the gun he very plainly cited tie order
under which the whole regiment a. acting
This might have been poser for some PEG.
pie, but not 80 with the quartcrmhScr If the Third
Nebraska Regiment lie FASTENED about ~ sew
rra II the officers and at last the gun was secured
seventh in the regiment and was afprward
promoted " Major over tue heads Of the other
officers above lin Il was BEAUTY, fresh from
aud when the speech was made turning II over,
4 Is said tears flowed, aud the blue uniform Of
". J Bryan, civilian, ucmbled with suppressed
emotion at the thOuEhtfulness Of his former com.
radcs His farewell address was full II pnthus
Mr. Bryan marched away with his new pos
session and the men went back Ia cleaning I'D
camp The order about krhg Jorgenscns was
never rcsClnded, however, AMI the time came. when
the Third Regiment crossed ScGs and rccrusS-d
them that II became necessary according TO mill.
tafy usage u account for the gun which was
presented that evening to Col. bryan. Col VII
Juain called b4frd II survey and among other
things that this beard did was the act q finding
that the gun had been lost overheard in Havana
harnor IN n boy, through no fault Of the captain
Il Company Is. II IL not known whether the
board uf survey knew the matter they were pass
ing on and II iSpr"bhhlc that they did not Tn.
representation wGs made and they made a find
ins that relieved Capt lung an from all blame
Nnuin'r interesting part Of the story was what
became II ia. money raised for the purchase
II the gun II could not DC kept by Capt Dun.
gan % whom the full amount necessary was
turned over and he tried 10 giNcittr Capt Schwsrz
who would not take IL II was finally given to
the cook Of Company \. TO whom the company
owed some money.
So the cook las the money Col Bryan has
the gun and the United States Government holds
the sack.
Capt Schwarz was asked regarding the mat.
ter. Hld h" snih that the proposition to assist
III the presentation by hclping raise the money
and by securing sun wHa made 10 him. but
that hr refused ~ have anything t. do with IL
taking his position behind the order relating
10 that class of arms