The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-18

If the story of Edward Moran, pri-
vate in company B of the Montana vol
| unteers, who was court martialed and
sentenced to two years Imprisonment,
/ is not exaggerated by hard feelings en-
gendered by his terrible experience, the
officers of the regiment who are re-
sponsible for his treatment are deserv-
ing of the severest censure that could
be passed upon them. His sentence, it
will be remembered, was commuted to
six months, and when his term expired
he was sent home. He came on the
same steamer with Captain Gardner
and Lieutenants McGrath, Keppner
Grath and Moran both reached home
yesterday. They are both looking
strong and well and expressed them
selves as heartily glad to get back 10
Butte, though they made no ATTEMPT
to conceal their chagrin at being de-
prived of the privilege of being in at
the fighting through the unfair circum
stances which operated to bring them
nome. Lieutenant McGrath does not
complain of unfair treatment: he will
say nothing at all on that score. but ne
does not deny he was DISCHARGED with
out reason, and Moran does not hest
tate to say the four officers were DIS
charged without reason. Moran's story
is something wild and terrible and
would be utterly be beyond belief were
it not that 1t has been vouched for by
Lieutenant j. NJ. Kennedy of Anacon-
da and substantially by Lieutenant
McGrath, who. though he was averse
n on fnI
said that If Moran was guilty of any
offense, Lieutenant Mercer, who was
the chief cause of Morans downfall,
was guilty of a much greater one In
telling his story. Moran said:
MY trouble all started over the
strike of company B at Camp Merritt.
l was given the credit for instgating
1t. but I did nothing but that which I
believe any man is entitled to who vol
unteers to go to war to fight for his
country. OF course, I suppose, / was
a little Independent, but did not feel
that in volunteering, I had given UP
my manhood or all title to freedom.
Started at Merritt.
The trouble started at Camp Mer-
rift over the bad rations. l got bad
rations one day which made me sick
giving me violent fits of vomiting. The
next day 1 was placed on the sick re-
port. The bacon 1 received that day
was unfit for human consumption.
Captain Gardner was officer of the day,
and Lieutenant McGrath being in COM
mand of the company, I asked and was
granted, permission to visit the doctor.
took my rations to Major Adams, the
doctor, and asked him if they We're fit
to eat. He said they were not. While
this interview was taking place an or
der to march to Sutro baths was is
sued and the company objected, for
they were not in fit condition to march.
L was not at company quarters at the
time, but returned in time to take my
place in line when we were ordered out,
and Captain Gardner asked each man
If he proposed to march or not. Be-
ing on sick report when I was asked.
] said l was on sick report and would
not march. When Colonel Kessler came
and addressed the company and asked
any who refused to obey orders to step
out, not a man stepped forth. When
Colonel kessler had finished I asked
permission to speak. which was grant
ed. / said there was not a man in the
company who wanted to. or had any
disposition to disobey ORDERS that all
we wanted was wholesome food, that
the government paid for it, but We We're
not getting 1t. I said that If we were in
the field, or there was any excuse why
ZIG lopu bau, lHG ilitI Noulu
put up with it, but there was no such
excuse and the men felt they should
get the army ration in fit condition TO
eat. and that was all we asked.
We'll. we were not compelled to
march and the incident ended, but 1
was put down for kicker and agitator
for having had the temerity to speak
for the men, and I was given the
credit for causing the strike.
Threatened to kin Him,
1.-THE next trouble arose at Honolulu.
On the way over l had assisted the
ships butcher and ate from the ships
mess. never touching my rations and
was never in company quarters, so
when, on arriving at Honolulu, l was
told by the first sergeant to scrub at
the company quarters. / felt some of
those who had occupied them should
have been detailed instead of me. /
said as much, and the sergeant asked
me if I proposed to disobey orders. 1
said no, but l proposed to see the com
handing officer and see if this duty
should be imposed upon me, and want
to say right here that If 1 was guilty
of any offense it is in this and moth
ing more. My intention was to see
Lieutenant Colonel Wallace, and I ask
ed the sergeant to be taken to him.
He said all right, and we started aft.
AT the door of the officers dining room
we met Lieutenant Mercer, ano he in
quired what was the matter. The SER
geant said that I had refused to obey
orders and Mercer ordered me to the
guard house. I knew If did not get
to see Colonel Wallace 1 was in for 1t,
and would get no shore leave while in
the harbor, so l ran past Mercer into
the dining room, where the officers
We're eating. but they grabbed me and
pulled me back, and I was hustled off
to the guard house. Seeing my case
would be better if l made no resistance,
1 went peaceably. but on the way we
met Captain Keown and Captain Hal
lahan, who, on learning the trouble.
set upon me. Hallahan choked me and
keoWn deliberately struck me in the
face They had both had Il in fnl, me-