El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-18
THE CAPTAINS STORY
Seemed To Have a Number
Of Vital Flaws In 1t,
and His Boom Did
Not Last Long.

E. F. Brewer, the alleged United
States army officer, who claimed to be
captain In the cavalry branch OF the
service, took a sudden and rapid de-
parture from the Pierson yesterday
afternoon and has not been seen since.
He left behind several citizens who be-
lieved bis story and ad vanced funds, ex-
pacting to be reimbursed when the
"captain's'' ssalary WAS forwarded
from Washing ton.
With the exception of the HERALD,
all of the newspapers in Ell Paso were
taken in by the story told by Brewer.
to the effect that he was in the city to
arrange for the accommodation OF
several troops of cavalry which he
claimed were enroute to the city, and
would mobilize here preparatory to
being sent to San Francisco, from
which city, he said, they were to be
immediately transported to China.
AS printed in the HERALD yesterday
evening the officers at fort Bliss and
did not believe the mans story. 1t
was decided however to make a full
Investigation before taking any action
in the matter.
Early yesterday morning Brewer
called upon q well known resident of
Ell Psso and borrowed S23, saying that
he would repay the loan in few hours.
The man who made the loan thought
that his proceedings we're rather De-
culiar for an army officer and decided
TO call upon the alleged captain at the
hotel and demand an explanation. He
WAS accompanied there by Sheriff
Boone.
When requested to return the money
which had been loaned Bre ever produc-
ed S15 As which he returned. He them
went to his room, to look, as he said,
for some papers which would surprise
his visitors. His visitors were surprised
when he did not return, and it was
found that he haG taken his hand bag
gage and left the hotel. L. is believed
that he left Ell Paso over the G. 81. and
8. A. road.
After leaving Fort Bliss yesterday
morning, where he claimed to have an
:lcIuaintsnce with Captain Lough bor-
oush, he returned to the Pierson.
Shortly afterward, evidently with the
intention of making An impression. he
telephoned the post,requesting that an
ambulance in charge of sergeant be
seat over to Ell Paso in order that he
might go to Juarez for the purpose of
purch asing forage for the horses which
would accompany the troops. The am
bulance was not sent.
just how much money Brewer was
able to obtain from citizens of Ell Paso
with his story of the intended arrival
people who lent him money are not
saying very much about the matter.
He has not paid his bill at the Pierson,
while in addition several choice rooms |
rooms have been held since Sunday for |
army officers whom Brewer said would |
arrive in Ell Paso from Fort Star toni
New Mexico, this week.
The proprietor of the Pierson stated
this morning t1 at he had no reason to
be suspicious of the mans story. The
present trouble in China, and the
nowledge that troops now in the east
will probably be rushed to San Fran
cisco in the near future for service in
the orient. made the story entirely
probable. II is this very fact that
made the game of the self appointed
captain so readily accepted.
Captain Brewer was evidently
western man, and one well acquainted
with army affairs and men connected
with the service. His knowledge how
ever was only superficial, and Sunday
night he was contradicted in some
statement he made concerning the
capture of Geronimo near the Mexican
border some years ago, By A. w. Ivins.
hesd OF the Mormon colony at Colonis
Inarez, who was too familiar with local
indian history not to detect his inaccu-