The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-23
A SAD END.
Drink Caused Death
of a Private.
A BLASTED LIFE.
Buffalo Boy Who Drank Bay
Rum at Fort Warren.

1t is not often that young man who
has had a chance to get a college edu
cation and who can get what he wants
at his bidding, will throw such things
aside to do nothing else but drink
rum, but this was the chosen life that
was led by James Gardner, who died
at Fort Warren, Thursday morning
last, after snort enlistment in Com
pany G, Seventh battery.
His family are highly respected in
Buffalo and of reputed wealth, and al
though everything was at the young
hans disposal it was not to his lik
ing. He had been sent to several col
leges by his folks and obtained good
knowledge, but drink was his hobby,
and he rode it to his death.
The story of this young man
death and his actions while in the
army were related to Officer Frank F.
Burbank, who, last Thursday, was sent
from Worcester to Fort Warren, with
Hugh F. Donahue, 81 deserter Dona-
hue deserted Sept, 10 and was arrest
ed in Worcester Dec. 20 by officer
Burbank According to law, when a
deserter is caught he has to be sent
to the nearest military fort, where he
is taken in charge by the officers of
that fort. Fort Warren being the
nearest to Worcester, il was there that
the prisoner was taken by the police
officer.
After dsposing of the deserted to the
officials, officer Burbank made a cir
cult of the fort, with the intentions of
inspecting it, and it was while on his
tour of investigation that he heard of
the strange life led by the young Buff
falonian. The officer came across a
small party of privates who We're dis
cussing the matter, and when he APP
preached them the story was told to
him by a private who knew the dead
soldier whose life was wrecked by over
indulgence in intoxicants.
The story is that about six weeks
ago Gardner joined the army. Before
that he lay in idleness about the city
Of his home, after giving up the luxu-
ries of life and refusing to continue his
studies in college. About week previ-
Gus to his going into the army, Gard
ner had foolishly spent good part of
large amount of money that had been
given to him by his family, and he
drank liquor during that week to great
excess. While recovering from the eff
fects of his heavy drinking, he went in
search of a recruiting office, where he
enlisted. He had some of his money
left when he went into the service, and
despite the discipline of army regula-
tions, he managed TO keep himself we'll
supplied with liquor. His sum of
money ran out, however, and his cray
ing for liquor was an impossibility for
him to satisfy. The sudden breaking
off in the habit told on him to great
extent. He rapidly became a physical
wreck, and two weeks after his going
into the army the doctors told him that
he was a victim of heart trouble.
At different occasions Gardner man.
aged to get liquor either from compan-
ions or by buying it with few cents
that he was able to get together. But
every day it was becoming harder and
harder for him to fill his wants, and
ne resorted to schemes to satisfy him
self, and even at times carried out a
little bit Of strategy to do so.
lat the beginning of last week, his
appetite grew worse and his failing in
ways that he contrived to get the LID
uor brought forth desperation, and
with a companion, he planned to &c
into the barber shop of the barracks
and while the friend att acted the at
tention of the barber by engaging him
i'll conversation, Gardner was to stea
the bay rum bottle. Into the shoI
they went, and it was an easy matter
for the friend to get the barbers at
tention. As he did Gardner reached
forward, grabbed the bay rum bottle
throat
The day that that act was done was
last Wednesday The stuff was toe
much for Gardner, who short time
after the swallowing of the rum. be.
came sick When the routine worl
of the barracks had to be done Gardner
was called upon as Wen as the rest OF
the soldiers, TO do his part. but wher
called up, he complained of being sick
AS he had entered the same complaint
before to his officers, it was looked
upon by them as shamming, and on thi!
occasion no stock was taken in What
he said He protested again when or.
dered to go to work, but to no purpose
He had been working a few hours Wher
the strain told on him, and he col
lapsed from exhaustion. TO all ap
pearances, he was apparently well, anC
II was believed that he was shirk,
ing duty, so he was again ordered t.
do his part of the duties, and. failins
to comply, was taken to the guar{
house.
No more thought was given him un
til o'clock that night when his moan!
attracted the attention of the guards
One of them inquired what the matte
was, and the answer came in broker
sentences that the pains about hi
heart were excruciating. He imploret
that a doctor be sent to him. Tn,
officer, who ordered a doctor to b.
called. When the doctor reached tn
sick mans presence. he readily say
that his condition was dangerous. or
ders to convey him TO the hospital wer
quickly carried out by his companions
and all that could be administered I
relieve him was done, but the poor fel
low sank slowly, until 4 O'clock las
Thursday, and then death relieved hin
of his sufferings.
Despite this habit, he was a genera
favorite among the boys and his deaf
has caused a gloom to set over tn
barracks.