Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-31
.LEA|NG'S DEATH DUE
TO CLOSED CAhIEEh.
WHEELING SOLDIER MURDERED IN
THE FAR AWAY PHILIP
PINE ISLANDS.
HE WAS SHOT BY A PRIVATE
Who Was Crazed by Drink-sergenut
Fleming Had a Splendid Record
US soidier-He Was n Wheeling
Man and Had Many Warm Friends
Here Who Were shocked by the
News.


street in this city, from the far away
camp in the Philippine Islands.
As she sat at her home. thinking
doubtless, as mothers always do at
that hour. of her children, her brave
and noble soldier boy. who less than
two years ago. had marched away UNI
der the shadow of "old Glory" her
heart throbbing with pride because of
the fine record ne had made as a man
and as a soldier. There came to her
letter.
She looked at the post mark. There
she saw the familiar p |. Joy filled
her heart. 1t was another letter from
her darling soldier boy. There had
been something in the dispatches. but
here is letter. VIII 1t tell her of an
other promotion for good conduct and
brave deeds, as many of the others had
done? One of the later ones had said;
Dear mother, | have just been pro-
NOTED to the position of First Sergeant
ana given special position of trust.
She will see what good news this ono
brings to her mother-heart Carefully
she opens the envelope takes out the
precious letter. unfolds IL. and begins
to read.
Quickly the fiush of JOY in the moth
er-face fades and changes TO the pallor
of mortal agony. Her lips tremble.
her heart almost ceases TO beat. Then
the tears,-blessed tears that give relief
to breaking hearts-roll swiftly down
her cheeks, and a low moan breaks
from her lips Charley, my boy, Is
dead"
Yes, the pity of 1t, that is what the
letter says. Read it mothers all, and
your sympathy shall go to the grief
stricken mother, in her sorrow-shad-
owed home where she must wait
through weary months the coming of
his body to the old hearthstone. with
nothing to comfort her meanwhile,
save the few trinkets of his, that the
kind hearted officer has thoughtfully
sent to her. Here is the letter:
MAGSINGAL ILocOS SUI. p. l.,
June is, 1901.
Mrs. Dena Fleming, 925 Chapllne street.
Wheeling, w. Va.
Dear Madam:-it is with the deepest
sympathy that | write to inform you of
the death of First Sergeant Charles Il.
Fleming, of my company. Althosgh you
may have been informed OF IL by this
time by the War Department. | have al
ways had high regard for Sergeant
Fleming and his loss is one which | have
great cause to regret. His record is one
unusual for Il young man. as In less than
two years he attained the highest rank
possible in the company and position OF
trust. As you may know, MS death was
caused by shot from the rifle OF a
drunken private and l believe his death
was painless. Ii occurred at the town OF
Santa Domingo. about three miles from
here and his remains were brought here,
where his funeral was conducted yester-
day afternoon, all of his comrades being
present, as well as many soldiers and the
officers stationed near, and all OF the prln-
cipal people of the town. lie Is buflee
near the barracks, but 1t is probable that
his remains will be sent to the United
States before very long. i send you as
soon as possible few articles that ne
had and the money due him viii be sent
Won II YOU will address the Adjutant Gem
Very truly yours.
GEORGE ID. MOORE,
Cantain Twentieth infantry, commanding
company l.
Had she read OF his death In the list
of casualties days agone? 1t does not
seem clear to her now. This Is so real,
SO terribly true. Not killed In battle.
bravely fighting for flag and civiliza-
tons progress, but murdered by man,
no. by a drink crazed beast from whose
head and heart every vestige of man
hood has been erased by the dreadful
an island wine shop, doubtless, since
the canteen had been abolished.
What are the whole cluster OF the
Philippines Islands? What the glory
of conquest of "our Eastern Empire?"
What the vast natural wealth OF our
newly acquired territory" what are
they all to this sorrow stricken mother
on Chapline street in Wheeling?
Would she not give you the wealth OF
1t all to-day, to feel once more the
arms of her boy about her neck, feel
his kisses ON her cheek and see the love
light dancing in his eyes?
There was another letter. not to her,
but to the dead hero, Pythian brothers.
The bond of the brotherhood belts the
world as you see. This Is the other
letter. 1t gives the dreadful details.
1t was written by the captain of his
company to Wheeling Lodge, No. la.
1t says:
Sergeant Fleming had been In the habit
of occasionally riding TO the town OF
Santo Domingo, about three miles south
of Magsihgal, returning about midnight,
as his duties during the day would be apt
to interfere with his going at any other
time He visited the town on the evening
of June 18th, and is supposed to have re-
mained later than usual This was on ac-
count of a number of men who were at
tending a base ball game. While standing
Quietly talking to a group of his men
soldier, one Keane, of the company sta
toned at Santo Domingo, VINO was crazed
by drink came up unobserved with
rifle and fred striking Sergeant Fleming
in the right breast. The bullet, passing
through to the left and emerging from
Flemings body grazed another man VINO
was standing nearby. Keane would have
fired, again, but he forgot to remove
cleaning rod from his gun and before ne
could, shoot a second u.ne ne was o.
armed. ~,
''Keane is now In irons and will be held
for murder This case Will not be the
only one. / fear, directly caused by the
closing of the soldiers canteens, so mat
YOU know upon whom to charge the loss
OF a companion"
That is the story. 1t is not an every
day incident. 1t is the story of no
BILE fellows death, mothers Just
pride, and his great sorrow. The
story Of O drink crazed man and the
canteen.
Single Fare Excursion Rates.
! The Wheeling & Lake Erie road has