The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-13
COL. COLSON WOUNDED
SHOT IN THE HIP BY LIEUTENANT
SCOTT DURING A FIGHT.
Encounter in Restaurant Between
HOning for Each Others Blood.

ANNISTON Ala, Feb. 12-The trouble
that has been brewing for some time be-
tween Col David G.. Colson and First Lieut.
E. d. Scott of the Fourth Kentucky Regi-
ment, eliminated at a late hour last night,
in which Colonel Colson was shot in the
hip and Lieutenant Scott and many others
had narrow escapes. The encounter oc-
Cured in the Mammoth restaurant, con-
Quoted by Percy Olmstead, about midnight.
Lieutenant Scott was sitting at table eat
ing with a friend, Lieutenant Brakeman, of
the same regiment, when Colonel Colson
entered. He walked over near the two men
at the table and, after looking at them a
few seconds. stepped up and pulled Lieut..
Blakeman's ear, at the same time applying
a vile epithet Lieutenant Scott declared
that Lieutenant Brakeman was his friend,
and he would not allow him to be insulted.
At this Colonel Colson drew a pistol and
Lieutenant Scott rose from his chair with a
pistol in each hand. There were quite a
number of men in the place. and while
some say they do not know who fired first
several declare that Colonel Colson opened
the fight. Probably a dozen shots were
fired before the astounded onlookers could
stop the fusillade
Lieutenants Mckay and Phelps, Of the
Fourth Wisconsin, on duty with the provost
guards, were in the room, and Immediately
took steps to bring the engagement to an
end. Lieutenant Phelps ran up to Lieut.
Scott and demanded his pistols. The latter
said he willingly relinquished them to the
proper authority, and gave them up. Lieut..
Mckay in the meantime had ordered Col
Colson to disarm but he refused to do it,
and the pistol was taken from him by force
Quickly as a flash Colonel Colson drew an
other weapon and fired, some say at Lieut.
Scott and others at Lieutenant Mckay, but
without effect. The provost lieutenant then
bent his efforts towards getting Colonel
Colson's pistol, and in doing so struck Col
Colson twice with his fist, bruising up his
face very badly.
Colonel Colson was the only man injured
in the engagement. He announced that he
was wounded, and was carried to an up
stairs room, where physicians were sum
moned to look after his injuries. A bullet
had entered his hip and ranged around to
the rear, where it was located and ex-
tracted. Colonel Colson was furious and
made frantic efforts to get up and secure
his pistols. 1t was some time before he
could be quieted. A friend of Colonel Col
son swore out warrant for Lieutenant
Scott, and he was arrested to-day. Both
officers have many warm personal friends
in the regiment which was mustered out
yesterday AS the trouble has been brew
ing for some time and a strong and bitter
feeling aroused between the two factions
it was feared that there might be further
trouble, and the entire provost guard was
ordered out. owing to the lateness of the
hour, however. few people knew of the af-
fair until morning, and the services of the
guard were not needed. Three inches of
snow and almost zero weather to-day have
possibly prevented any demonstrations that
might have otherwise occurred.