Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-11
Notwithstanding Reports Sent Out
to the Contrary.
THE sEABoARD AIR LINE
Handled tho Resimeni, With Orcnt
skill, which wns Appreciated
There Was no Ro>vdyism. as
Charged. but TO the Contrary the
Returning Fourth Now Jersey De-
ported Themselves ms Rest Be-
comes Gallant soldiers.

The Seaboard Air Line, OF which Mr..
L. S. Allen is the general passenger
agent, has won an enviable reputation,
Tor It's prompt. rapid and thoroughly
well-conducted passenger service, and
when any big passenger movement in
the South is going on it Is not as a rule
complete without this big system TAX
Ing more or less prominent part in it.
And SO thorough has been their ser
vice, and so rapid their schedule and
comfortable their trains, that once car
ried over the system means a desire to
nave repeated the same pleasant ex-
perience.
On the 9Th of the present month the
Fourth New Jersey regiment was mus
tered out of the service at Greenyille
5. c., and transported North over the
Seaboard Air Line. it requiring four
big sections to accommodate the re-
turning heroes. But according to the
more will be said, the boys did not
deport themselves with that dignity
characteristic of American soldiers
while on their way home.
TERRORIZED COMMUNITIES.
Atlanta, Ga, April IA special to
The Journal from Greenville, S. c.,
says: THE Fourth New Jersey, which
was mustered out here yesterday, and
left during the afternoon for home, ter
III iEe0 Tic through which
they passed, firing volleys from the cars
with their revolvers, and made a bad
name for themselves at various points
by stealing all that they could lay their
hands on. A vender OF army badges
and camp souvenirs had ten watches
and GO badges stolen. AT Chester the
Jersey soldiers stood off the crowd of
spectators with a volley of revolver
shots. and then raided the waiting and
lunch rooms, carrying off all they could
find. They are also reported to have
stolen n bicycle at Chester.
Many of the men were drunk when
they left here, and the reports indicated
that they became more intoxicated as
they proceeded. The officers of the reg
iment were with the men,
THE REPORT NOT TRUE.
NOW, the American public loves JUS
tice, and there being another side to
this report OF the rowdy conduct of the
soldiers. 1t is in order, in justice to
the soldiers, to let the public see that
they did nothing to justify the report
telegraphed over the country; but on
the contrary their conduct was such
as to cause those who were eye wit
nesses to it, to take enough interest in
them and their good names. to vol
UNFAIRLY send the following information
concerning 1T to the Virginian-P Pilot:
BEHAVED EXCEEDINGLY WELL.
Chester, S. c., April s. 1899.
Editor Virginian Pilot,
Portsmouth Office,
Portsmouth, Va:
Gentlemen.-I enclose you a clipping
from to-day's Charlotte Observer in re-
gard to the conduct of the Fourth New
Jersey regiment at Chester S. C. My
lunch-room being the only one near the
depot, and the soldiers not going UP
town q know they did not go up town.,
1t would seem that our place was in
tended. Now they did not come into
our place and pilfer anything or mo-
lest anybody, and the dining-roo and
office were both open. They did come
in and get cigars and cigarettes. all of
which they paid for as willingly as
other guests.
l did not see any crowd stand off
with revolvers or anybody terrified or
attacked. They did fire some pistol
shots, but in a celebrating rather than
desperate style, and they were aimed
at or near no person or property as far
as could see. and was present while
every section of the train was here
write you these facts because reports
of newspapers have gone out, from two
or our places, OF this kind which have
not emanated from US, and as far as
| know are Incorrect. AS we have lost
little or nothing by the soldiers, and
enjoyed liberal patronage from them,
we do not like to appear as the SLAM
derers, and hence this letter "a you.
We do not care to go into mt, but
we are determined. at least, , let the
officials of the road know, as far as
our places are concerned. we have not
suffered. and have no disposition 10
see these soldiers misrepresented so
long as it might possibly appear to
come from us
Respectfully,
f,R ESHANf e.