The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
Two WESLEY LTWooDS.
A Mistake in the war Department Made
10th Recoud Iieutenants in the Army.


wAsHISpToN Oct. 2s-Two young men OF
almost Identical names arc waiting at San
Francisco for departure for Manila to serve
Uncle Sam as Second Lioutsnants In one OF
the regiments OF regulars now IN
the Philippines. This Of itself would not be
worthy OF particular mention. What ls UNI
usual. aud with one exception, az far as KNOWN
unique. is that one OF them 10 wearing
the uniform OF an officer OF the United
States Army through the mistake OF
clerk in the War Department and because
his name 10 so nearly like that OF his fellow
oficer. William Wesley Atwood (which Is not
his real name was a good soldier In the Volun-
teer service organized to carry on the war
with Spain in 1898. but was not called
upon to EXPOSE his person to the bullets
OF the enemy. The war being ended. he re-
turned to his home in the capital city OF an
interior State, and soon found employment
In the laboratory OF . firm OF manufac-
turing chemists While thus engaged
he received from the War Department a fully
executed commission. announcing that
President Mckinley. rsposinS full con-
hdence in the ability and loyalty oil
william Wesley Atwood. had appointed
him a Second Lieutenant IN the regular army
document was not altogether surprising to Mr..
lie attributed the action Of the oi1lcisIs to an an
devotion manifested in his enlistment last
year. III.
mothers reluctance to his entering upon q
military career, or rather her lear OF h ny
tn. dangers incident 1 sihsrs HS Ss
Secretary Of War that he would, accent the
appointment. and he took the oath required.
down TO await orders. These, were, a long
time coming, and the newly. nedRsd officer
s scE.% to Finally thu sSs 10 long had S::n Ss
broken BY the receipt OF orders to proceed to
Denver. Outfit and uniform were p procured.
tST duty H H. ws ssrEs ''$s
The G10SnS se and only hm s. %
aud was being recognized 40 such oy the senior
officers. But Mr. William Wesley Atwood; with
n regularly signed and sealed comm salon a
and no appealed to the War Department.
Mr. Wesley Atwood had been selected by the
President ~ a suitable young man upon whom
to confer II. homer Of appointment "a as tbs
~ 9% %s &: ,;SH
SP' the la% RsIsra WIN IN" The Var
i out to Mr.. William Wesley AtETooSd: and and
y sen; to his hom Shch hat by
Wesley Atwood. Lieut., William Wesley
relieve the situation. and incidentally the
officials OF the embarrassment n which
mission and rssignine, Recognizing that
some reeompense was due HIM It was sug-
Rested az q substantial iuducsment that some
thing better In the volunteer service ~oulu 10
But Mr. William Wesley Atwood. believing
The army was better than that OF Captain
in the volunteer service. declined to lis;
ten to tho someth ing fully aS GOOD
propositon and said he was salts SIZED with
The situation And the officials. perforce had
to be, because adverse action would eXp2sse the
hlunder In the Department.. so Mr.. William
Wesley Atwood. and Mr.. Wesley Atwood are
Second Lieutenants in the regular establish
mont ,,., -
PROM inent Treasury official WAS appointed IN
Mr. Cleveaui's frat adm nistration. but IN MS
case the original OF the aprointment had dled
hniore the namn WAS sent TO the 6enale.