Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-03-21
COL. WALLACE SuCCuNBS.
The Gallant Officer Died in Arizona Last
tuesday.

Helena, Mont., March la telegram
was received here tonight from William
Wallace, from Fort Hunchuea Ariz.. an
nouncing that his brother, Col Bruce
Wallace of the Thirty-seveuth volunteer
infa ntry, died last night OF ncutc bronchitis.
The dead officer WAS in his 32d year
having been born in Illinois in S6s. While
very young his parents moved to New
York state and later to Montana. Young
Wallace lived for a while at ltica Fergus
county, then in Meagher and afterwards in
Helena; worked in local store for time
while Il young man, spending his nights
studying for competitive examination
for the West Point Military Academy and
lie passed the best examination among n
number Of competitors. In lSSG j. X.
Toole, then delegate m congress from Mon.
tana, secured his appointment TO the mill
tary academy. He graduated with high
honors in 1890. He was assigned to the
Second cavalry as second lieutenant, aud
for time was stationed at Fort Wingate.
lie participated in several Indian tam.
paigns, winning credit for hts dash and
bravery. Ia 1894 he came here on de-
tached duty, being attached to the govern.
ors staff to act as instructor 10 the ma
tiona guard. In 1896 he WAS examined at
Fort Leayenworth, Kan, Tor examination
or promotion, passed and became first
lieutenant in the Second cavalry. When
the war between Spain aud the United
States broke out he was ambitious To go
to the front either rs an officer Of n Mon
tana regiment or with his own regiment.
the first Montana. He had partially com.
pleted his task when Governor Smith ap.
pointed him lieutenant colonel of the First
Montana. and he was succeeded as muster.
ing officer by Lieut.. Ahren, nov captain OF
the Twenty U. S. infantry. During
the days at Camp Smith when the First
Montana was being drilled and placed in
condition to take the field. Lieut.. Col.
Wallace was valuable assistant to Col.
Kessler in attending to the many details.
He WAS the same valuable officer during
the days the regiment was camped in San
Francisco. He was with the Montana reg
iment from the time it took the field in
Luzon until struck down by Filipino
bullet at Caloocan, Feb. 10. Speaking Of
his being wounded and OF his splendid sol.
dierly qualities, General Harrison Gray
Otis who commanded the Eighth army
corps. said in his report to Gen. Otis.
"0n my way to the front | encountered
party Of soldiers bearing Lieut.. Col r. b.
Wallace OF the First Montana regiment to
the rear, wounded. l spoke TO him hur.
riedly, finding his spirits good and his
voice strong, aud / am hopeful that this
valuable officer will not b. permitted to be
permanently disabled. lie had been shot
through one lung while gallaDtly advauc-
ing with his regiment in the open"
July 10th last Col. Wallace became col.
onel OF the eTbirty.seyenth tn volunteers, made
up largely OF troops secured in the Phil.
ippines from the Montana and other
regiments. He was active in the organiza.
ton of his command. Shortly after se.
curing the appointment he was ordered to
the United States on sick leave, his condi.
tion having aroused the fears OF the sur.
geons. His arrival at San Francisco and
the subsequent stages OF his Illness up to
the time OF death have frequently been
mentioned OF late.
| A dispatch from Washington In annouuC.
ing the colonsl's death stated that Maj.
Gen. Macarthur recommended him for
brevet colonel OF volunteers and brevet
captain and major United States army,
"ior gallant and neritorious services in the
bs tiles Of Feb. 8 and 10, 1899. in front Of
Manila and at the crossing OF the Rio de
Grande de la Pampauga, April %, 1893. y
The surviving members OF Col. Wallace =
family are his brother, William Wallace,
three sisters and his mother. The mother
and one sister were present at his bedside
when the end came.