The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-03
NO WELCOME FOR
THE IMMUNES
Boys Came Home Without Any
Hurrah.
LOST SIXTY IN THE SERVICE
And Saw the Most Monotonous Duty
That Falls to Soldiers-Thorpe
Held Resposible for Killing
of Aaron Bishop

The Fifth United States volunteers, pop
ulary known as the Fifth immunes, have
had a rough and very unromantic expert
ence since they have been in the service.
The fact that they were the only Ala
bamians who, as regiment, saw actual
service during the war. did not seem to
awaken the people of Alabama and Mis-
sissippi to the homecoming of these gall
liant fellows who for over eight months
helped look out for Uncle Sans interests
in the historic city of Santiago, and they
have let them return to their homes with
out reception without a welcoming
cheer as the train which bore them passed
through the state. But even If there was
no hurrah, there are many families in this
part Of the state who are rejoicing today
over the return of a bronzed-looking sol
died lad, who did his monotonous duty
without a whimper; the Fifth immunes
were noted for never complaining, as did
so many of the volunteer regiments.
The regiment was mustered in last July
after the heavy fighting in Cuba was over.
They embarked from Savannah for San
tiago the day after the peace protocol was
signed, and when popular interest in the
war was on the wane. They saw the most
Objectionable of all military service, that
of inactive garrison duty during summer
in tropical country received the COM
mendations of the war department on their
excellent record and spent month at a
camp in Pennsylvania, were mustered out
on May 81 and then came home with no
welcome except that they received from
their families and personal friends.
The Sixty who Died
When the regiment left Savannah it had
about a thousand men, When it returned
to New York on the transport there were
only a few over six hundred. The others
had either died or had been discharged or
furloughed on account of sickness. In
round numbers the regiment lost about
sixty men from death, most of whom are
buried on the fields their countrymen cap
tured so calamity and which they them
selves protected so faithfully. Of this num-
Der only two are from Birmingham so far
as is known, C. C. Atkinson and Private
House.
When the regiment returned from san
tiago the men were naturally full OF ma
laria, which was quickly brought on them
at Camp Meade. The returning soldiers
say that nearly half of their number have
been attacked during the month they were
in Camp Meade. Two of them died during
that time. Harry Wakeman of St. Louis,
a sergeant of Company L, and Private
Bridges of New Orleans, Company c..
Most of the soldiers in the city yester-
day were discussing the last catastrophe
which happened to the regiment, the kill
ing of Aaron d. Bishop, formerly of Biz
mingham and Gadsden, by a fellow-soldier,
Dock n. Thorpe, in the passenger station
at Washington, Wednesday night. Thorpe,
it will be remembered, was very drunk and
while trying to force his way through the
gates to board his train pulled pistol and
began firing at a station employe. One Of
the bullets took effect in Bishops temple,
producing instant death.
Sergeant ]. NJ. Acton, of Trussville, one
of Bishops comrades, was trying to find
some of his relatives here yesterday to
notify them of the tragedy but Was I'M
successful. Sergeant Acton has also writ
ten to George w. and Frank e. Thorpe, Of
Stewart, Montgomery county, Miss, notify
ing them of the trouble their brother was
in at Washington.
Captain William NJ. Walker, of this city,
who was formerly the captain of Bishops
company received a telegram last night
from Richard Sylvester, superintendent of
police of Washington, telling of the trag-
edy, and asking him what to do with the
remains. Captain Walker has investigated,
but has been able to find the whereabouts
of any of the Bishops His immediate
family is said to live near Gadsden, though
this is not positive. AS soon as they can
be found, the Washington authorities will
be notified.