The times., 1899-10-16
BEGINNING LIFE OVER.
= Former Major EnIisss in the Army
n Private.


An exception to the rule forbidding the
enlistment in the military service of men
more than thirty-five years of age has been
made by the Secretary of War in the case
'of James Robert wasson, once a major
in the Army. Still another exception was
made in Wasson's case. as he had been dis
missed from the service after a trial by
court-martial and could not re-enter it
without express authority. He has been
enlisted as a private at the age of fifty
three. in the Third Regular Cavalry, sta
TONED at FoTt Myer Va.
Wssson's career has been romantic. AS
cadet at West Point, his best friend was
Frederick Dent Grant. son of President
Grant. and now brigadier general of VOL
unteers. serving in the Philippines, and it
was through his friendship that Wasson
managed TO return to the Army. His en-
listment marks his third entry into the
United States military service. He was
born Of German parents in Ohio, enlisted
in the Fifty-fourth Iowa Volunteers in
1864. and participated in the Red River
campaign Then he went to West Point
as cadet Wasson graduated at the head
II his class in 1871, and was appointed
second lieutenant Through Frederick
Grants influence. he secured a years leave
OF absence and went TO China and Japan
The life there suited Wasson, and when his
leave was up he resigned his Army COM
mission TO become professor of mathe-
matics in the College of HoKkaido. A
year later he became surveyor in chief to
the Kaitakaski of Hokkaido. and was sub
sequentiy chief engineer with the rank of
chuZa. or colonel, in the Japanese army.
While holding his military commission he
served in the Formosa campaign Wasson
returned TO Toxic to take the chair of civil
engineering in the Imperial University. 1t
was while serving there that he was made
member of the Imperial Order of Merit
Of Meip and received the corresponding
decoration of the Rising Sun for gallant
and faithful service in the Formosa cam
paign. While in Japan, Wasson married.
His wife was the daughter of John A.
Bingham. the United States Minister TO
that country.
Wasson left Japan in the seventies and
returned to the United States President
Grant who held the young man in high
regard. appointed him in 1876 a paymaster
in the Regular Army, with the rank of
major. He served in that capacity for
seven years In April. 1883, Major Was
son wrote to the Paymaster General OF
the Army from San Antonio. Tex. that
while travelling in a sleeping car he had
been robbed OF So, 600 in Government
money. intended for the pay Of troops.
An investigation was made by the War
Department and Wasson's court-martIal
followed, II was charged at the time that
he had spent the money in living beyond
his means. The court-martial convicted
him and be was dismissed from the service.
Wasson had been a splendid civil
gineer. He returned to the practice Of that
profession, and one of his valuable pieces
CT work is a magnificent roadway fIom
Le2venworth. Kan. to Fort Leayenworth.
Afterward he took up the practice of law
in Des Moines. Iowa. Wasson felt 1eenly
the disgrace OF dismissal. and it is said
that his object in entering the Army Is TO
redeem himself In the eyes Of his former
fellows Of the service and the world.