The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-11
PRIVATE j. R. WATSON
REMARKABLE CAREER OF PRO-
TEGE OF GEN. u. $. GRANT.
Once a Paymaster, Once HOnOred I'm
Japan, but Now u Common Soldier
in the United states Army.



Fred d. Grant at West Point, as well as
the protege of President Grant, was only
a suggestion of the real tragedy of Was
sons life. The story of his meteoric career
and subsequent fall has its sequel in his be-
ing made a sergeant IN the Forty-sixth
Regiment at the age of fifty-three years.
Secretary Root was appealed to few
weeks ago and was so touched by Wasson's
story and the sincerity of his contrition
that he made his an almost unprecedented
case and allowed him to enter the ranks in
this humble capacity.
The touching meeting in Washington be-
tween WATSON, who came to receive his
new appointment, and many of his former
friends was intensely dramatic and will not
soon be forgotten by those who witnessed 1t.
Wassons story sounds like fiction instead
of the official report of the army register.
Its similarity to the story of Capt. Oberlin
NJ. Carter only adds TO its interest.
Wasson was born of intelligent German
parents in Ohio. He enlisted in the Thirty
fourth Iowa Volunteers in 1864, and was en-
gagged in the Red river campaign. His apti-
tude for military life and an intellect OF
scintillating brilliancy made it an easy
matter for him to receive, at the age OF
twenty-one, an appointment to West Point
appointed the year before, and though Was
son had been bur a common soldier, he was
sought for and made the fast friend of the
son of the President. 1t was an easy mat
ter for WATSON to keep to the front in his
studies and still find time to coach his
fl iend, who showed less aptitude. President
Grant favored the friendship and showed
the greatest appreciation of Wasson's kind
ness inviting him as guest to the white
house. When the two friends graduated In
1871 WATSON stood at the head of his class
and received the commission of second lieu
tenant His fame a civil engineer had
already spread beyond The academy, and
when President Grant was asked by the
japanese minister for brilliant officer of
unimpeschable character to fill the chair OF
mathematics in the College of Hok kaido. he
Immediately beJhought him OF his son
Endorsements to Minister Bingham and the
Japanese Court, retired him from the army
| and sent him on the mission.
After years service he became the sur
veyor-in-chief to the Kaitakaski of Hok-
Kaido. Later he was made chief engineer,
with the rank of colonel (chuza) in the i'm
| perial army of Japan being engaged in the
| Formosa campaign, where his services were
most distinguished. That over he again took
| the chair of civil engineer in the Imperial
| University of Toxic. Honors came freely to
| one so intelligent, so brave, so kind he was
| the courted faVorite of all and was made
member of the Imperial Order of Merit of
Meipi and received the decoration of the
| Rising Sun of that order for his gallant and
| faithful services in the Formosa campaign
| in 1874.
| MARRIED BINGHAMS DAUGHTER.
| Wasson's dashing gallantry and scholarly
| attachments at once won him a warm place
in the friendship of John A. Bingham, our
| minister to Japan at that time. Binghams
| own career had been one of marked bril-
| liancy. He had served many years in Con-
gress with great prominence and credit and
| in 1864 was appointed by President Lincoln
judge advocate in the army. 1t seemed al
| most an appalling coincidence that he
| he should have served as special judge adj
vocate at the trial of Lincolns assassins.
| Later he returned to Congress and made
| brilliant record when appointed minister to
Japan. In Bingham's family was beautiful
| daughter. WATSON was then superb young
| officer with frank blue eyes and low
| flowing mustache, so favored with manly
beauty that he awakened admiration wher-
ever he went. He wOOed and won BinghamS
| lovely daughter, and the wedding was one
| of the grandest events of that country at
| the time Foreigners of high rank and
| Americans of wealth and position Wed with
one another in lavish gifts and attention to
| the couple, President Grant sending an al
But at last Wasson's heart seemed sat-
eign country, and in 1876 ne returned to
| where he was affectionately greeted by his
admiring friends. None were heartier in
welcoming him back than was the Pres
| ident and his family. One who had found it
so easy TO win laurels in foreign lands had
but to ask and 1t was given to him. Pres
opening here and with a well-remembered
remark: II took WATSON out of the army
| and now i will have to put him back" at
| once made him paymaster, with the rank of
major.
WATSON fulfilled the duties of his office
regularly for some time. But he was To-
| Gated in San Antonio, Tex, and associated
| with daringy reckless men. Separated from
| the environments to which years of associa-
| ton had accustomed him, he soon sought
| solace I'm the pastimes of the men around
! him. He became a frequent guest at the
gaming table. He engaged in small friendly
| games; these We're but to lure. him on. He
| fell into the maddening vortex with all the
passion OF strong nature; His income was
| upon it. He lost heavily and sought to re-
trieve. He borrowed it from the govern
ment, out OF money left I'm his keeping for
His downfall was assured He was drawn
| deeper and deeper into the whirlpool of
| crime. but there was the hope of winning
1t all back and saving his hOnOred name.
| The crisis came at last he could no longer
hide the defalcation. The pay of the troops
at Fort Davis was due. They were even
then waiting for the money. He must re-
| sort to strategy. His brilliant mind soon
formed plan and before his heart failed
| him he fastened 10 carry il out.
| PLAN TO DECEIVE
He left Fort Worth at 1890 o. clock on the
evening of April 80, 1888 He had as COM
panioE Mr.. Noble, the dsbursing clerk In
his hand he carried small tan leather box.
1t was supposed to contain $29, eco. No one
but WATSON himself knew that it was
empty. Even then his plan had not fully
| developed. but reconnoitre through the
train COMPLETED it
In one of the smokers he found a party
of Texas Rangers, who, having taken pos
session of the car filled 1t with obscene
songs and profanity. He might provoke
them to an alteration and max Debut life
was dear to him. and there were those he
loved and for whom he must take the most
desperate chance.
| He returned to his own car. In IL were
four quiet but sullen-looking men. His
plan at last ripe Robbery was al
ways plausible. He retired later placing
The moonlight streamed In TIN ough the lit
| tie car window and made him afraid of the
| dastardly fraud. AS he wrote to Major
| Charles NJ. Terrill, chief paymaster of the
Department of Texas: Il slept lightly: the
| moonlight streamed in over me until think
ing that was what awakened me- / lowered
| the curtain.
He was called at $50 by the porter and
| at once missed the bag. The four dark
| browed men in the the night before
| were missing also. Two had left at Cisco
before daybreak, and two "a Baird little
| later. The conductor was called and
| .r1B for hoo IL.