The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-27
SORROW IN BUTTE HOMES
Telegraph Dispatches Bring Sad
News, Indeed.
A HEART-BREAKENG SCENE
Mrs. Beckman's Grief Beyond Descrip-
tion-Family Is in Straitened Circum-
stances - Leaves Three
Small Children.

Yesterdays dispatches from Manila
containing the names of the killed and
wounded from the Montana regiment.
in Saturdays battle with the insur-
gents, brought sad news to the rela-
tives and friends of the soldiers from
Butte who were numbered among the
unfortunates. The news brought mis-
cry, indeed. to one home. that Of Joseph
A. j. Beckman, whose name was the
first in the list Of the killed. This was
the saddest piece of news the dispatches
contained, for Private Beckman left a
family, a wife and three children. who
were dependent upon him, while all the
others killed or 50 severely wounded
that they may not survive. left no one
who depended upon them for support,
1t became the painful duty of a stand
ard reporter to break the sad news to
Mrs Beckman, and it was not an easy
thing to do. The widow of the dead
soldier and her three little ones were
gathered about table at, their modest
nome, at 325 Colorado street when the
reporter raped and was admitted. AS
delicateiy as possible, Mrs. Beckman
was informed of her husbands death.
She heard the news calmly a t first but
it was that calmness that comes TO one
upon hearing almost utterly beyond
ones belief. Mrs. Beckman had receive
ed letter only a few days before. from
her husband. which he had scrubbed
on the pasteboard of cartridge box
on the field during tine first engage
ment with the insurgents. In it he told
of the battle and spoke 50 reassuringty
of his confidence that ne would come
through safely. that the wife had al
most come to feel that way herself
And so she was SO unutterahly shocked
she could not al first realize the truth
of the news that was brought her.
Surely there must be some mistake"
she said. There have been so many
mistakes in reporting names, this sure
ly must he one Of them"
When told there seemed little hope
such a mistake had been made 2 sense
at length came to her of her loss and
she broke down and wept bitterly,
while the little ones chung about her
and cried as though their hearts would
break. 1t was an excessively painful
scene made the more so by the thought
chat the family is in exceedingly
Strengthened circumstances. The pride
of tle unfortunate soldier widow would
not permit to acknowledge it. but the
fact was learned from a neighboring
woman, who was aware of her G.rcum-
Stances
Private Beckman was the artificer of
his company. which was company T,
being tailor and halter by occupation.
At the time the war broke out he con-
Quoted a little business in West Broad
way and was doing nicely, but he get
the war fever. and closing up his shop,
he enlisted and went to the front. He
is reputed by those of the regiment
who have returned from Manila as one
of the best soldiers in the regiment
He was a native of Germany and IS
years of age. He had lived in Butte
five years and was we'll known.
Private Beckman's last letter con-
tains paragraphs that will be interest
ing at this time. They read:
SO far l am safe. Have been at the
front in two battles and I never will
forget them. 1t is very strange that |
am alive with so many black devils
against us. It seems strange that when
/ see the black devils Hing it does not
even make me sick. I was in the firing
line when Captain Hill fell at the start
of the battle and the enemy net more
than 100 yards from US. When we adj
Vanced, after we gave three VOlleys, I
went over the railroad track and shot
two of The wild devils out of tree
where they were hidden. They fired
twice at me, but missed, and | killed
ithem both with three shots. / believe
it was one If them that wounded Cap
tain Hill. We expect to fight Tonight
but l don't fear, and I am sure | will
come home safe. ] am wearing your
picture in my flannel shirt With love
and kisses to Jojo, Daisy and George,
| am your loving joe"
This last message to his loved ones
att
box and dated on the field. 1t will be
treasured as the dearest remembrance
they have Of their dead hero
Percy r. LOckhart of G. company
another of the killed. was a most am
able young fellow. He could not have
been more than 80 or "a years of age.
He was exceedingly frall in appearance
and 1t was a matter of. surprise to his
many friends that he passed muster.
Lieutenant Calllins states, however.
that he Withstood the hard life much
better than many of his more rugged
appearing comrades and that he was
every inch of a, soldier Not much is
known regarding him beyond that he
lived in Butte a year or two prior 20
enlisting. was a printer by occupation
and worked for a time in the Miner
job rooms. He was prominent as a
skater and was one of the best rnlo
t''ttS 60 ~ TUG 7teilt- Il Stiilt WHltH no
took a great interest. Who his people
are, or where they live. could not be
learned last evening.
Steve Stevens. whose name also an
pears in the list of killed. was a men,
Der of G company. lived in Butte. but
no one could be found last evening
who knew anything concerning him.
William Mitchke is not known here
and it is believed he was among The
members of NJ company, who Joined
from Anaconda.
The wounded accredited to Butte are
Robert Brown Joseph p. Myer, Hayes
AXteil, Conner Williams, w. H.
McCalty, all Of G company. Conner
Williams was a we'll known young man,
He was formerly a jockey, but he later
became an asFayer and followed that
occupation. He has q brother JOspph
Williams, III one Of Che companies, who
was formerly a postal carrier The pa
rents of the boys reside a 222 kemper
avenue.
Hayes AXtell was a telegraph opera
tor and Joined from Basin. where his
mother lives. He has a brother, Frank,