The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
HOW BRYAN COT A GUN.
The Records sny II I. in Havana Harbor
but the Colonel Knows Better.
From u, Nsbrd,ta Sta, Journal.

From ~, Nsbrdtt1 Stds Journal.
Col. Bryan Is the proud possessor Of a Erag-
Jorgensen rifle that he received ostensibly from
the members Of Company a Of the Third Nebraska
Regiment the eve Of his departure, after he
mede lis farewell address. How the gun was
secured Tor him, and why II is not now rcposng
with the Maine In the depths OF Havana bnroor.
where the records Of the War Department show IT
10 be-. make n story II some interest
When Col Bryan was taking leave Of the men
Of the Third Regiment, Qunrtctmas;er Schwind
made the proposition 10 some Of the men that II
would be good thing to give MIN keepsake. by
which he could remember with fondncss the days
he srcnt pacing the beat on the guard line az a
private soldier. II was suggested that the mo- 4
appropriate thing that could be presented was a
nice new shining rife, and accordingly. the
proposition was made 10 Company A men. this
being the comp any in which Mr. Bryan enlisted
as private. First Sergeant Stein one 10
whom the matter was presented and he began
hustIing among the privates for subscriptions
The cost Of the gun was little less than $50, and
after careful work in the limited time at the dis
pnsal uf tho nrst sergeant only sl3 was promised,
not collected. Work was begun on the subscnp
tons on the day before Col. Bryan's departure and
be came around the next day at noon to review the
company but there was no presentation then be-
cause enough money had not been raised and
Toward evening when Gil. Bryan was no
longer military man, his resignation having
been accepted. Quartermaster Schwind interested
himself IN the matter To considerable eS lent and
promised 10 make up any deficiency that might
remain for IT was necessary To have gun at once.
lie then went to Capt: Schwarz and said the e1.
pcn-e had been satisfactorily arranged, and de.
sired To hnv" him provide a bright weapon from
the company's extra stores. Can't. Schwnrz
pointed Ia all order existing all this time stating
plainly that no ktag JOrgensen niles mere 10 be
sold or used outside the service. This order had
been posted. and Col Bryan knew or should have
known OF II. as Well a. quaricrmastcr Schwind.
II Is understood that Capt Schwarz had pre-.
yously refused Ia make any contribution 10 the
fund, and that when appealed To by the quarter.
master for the gun he very plainly cited the order
under which The whole regiment was acting.
, his might have been a poser for some PEG.
Nebraska Regiment lie FASTENED about " sew
eral 81 the officers and at last the gun was secured
se,en,S in III" Iaren and Was "I Si .anssd
promoted " Major over the heads Of the other
officers above Lin; Il was beauty, fresh from
the extra supply in the hands of the company
and when the speech was made turning II over,
y Is sad tears flowed. aud the blue uniform Of
emotion at the thong htiulncss Of his former com.
radcs His farewell address was full of pnthos
Mr.. Bryan marched away with his new pos.
camp The order about krhg Jorgenscns was
never rcscInded, however. ami the time came. when
the Third Regiment crossed scGs and rccrossed
them. that II became necessary according To mill
tary usage ~ account for the gun which was
presented that evening 10 Col bryan. Col VIZ
things that this board did was the act - finding
that the gun had been lost overheard in Havana
harDOr IN n boy, through no fault Of the captain
q Company Is. II Is not known whether the
board uf survey knew the matter they were pass
ing on and II iSprobhblc that they did not The
representation wGs made and they made a find
luE that relieved Capt lung gan from all blame
Nnuinct interesting part of the story was what
II he gun II could not be keep, BY CAPT Dun.
gan 70 whom the full amount necessary was
turned over and he tried to give tito Can't Srhwarz
who would not take IL 1t was finally given 10
the cook Of Company \, to whom the company
owed some money
So the cook has the money Col Bryan has
the gun and the United States Government holds
the sack.
Capt Schwar2 was asked regarding the mnt.
ter, and h" sGid that the proposition To assist
III the presentation by helping raise the money
and by securing q sun WAC made To- him. but
that hr refused 10 have anything t. do with IL
taking his position behind the order relating
10 that class Of arms