New-York tribune., 1901-05-24
GEO. CLINT Co.
As.4s AND ~ WEST 2sssT..
NEAR BROACWAS.
FACTORY: ISLAND iS6 WEST i9"srneEr
MORE ARMY DRUNK ENNESS
CAPTAIN HAMILTON DECLARES THE
CANTEENS WERE REALLY TEMPER
ANCE INSTITUTIONS.

Since the army canteens have been abolished the
saloons and roadhouses which abound near Fort
Schuyler and Fort Socum. the Sound. are
thronged with soldiers and drunkenness and de-
sertions are reported to be increasing at a rapid
rate The conditions are at Fort Schuyler
than at Fort Slocum. because the latter fortihca-
tion is on an island and the arterymen cannot
get away readily. Captain William r. Hamll-
ton. who commands Fort Schuyler, said to-day:
wish the women of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union who fostered this law could
come here and observe its practical workings !
have some vacant officers cottages. and / would
gladly place them the disposal Of the temperance
workers if they would come with credentials from
the War Department am sure that after a
brief stay they would be much opposed the
new law any officer or enlisted man in the
its repeal.
Captain Hamilton says that. instead of decreasing
drunkenness. the law has had just the opposite
effect. For two years before the canteens were
abolished he says, he had only three cases
of intoxcation at the fort He declares that there
have been at least forty cases since the new
statute has gone into operation and there
in the guardhouse all the time. The sol
ders. he says. feel that they have been deprived
of their rights. and when they get away they visit
the saloons and drink all they can, and many of
them return to their quarters drunk. Many good
men of the regular army have either deserted
determined leave the service as soon as their
terms of enlistment have expired.
The soldiers Fort Schuyler bear Captain Ham,
new law has only increased intoxiCation and
disorder but that il has deprived them Of many
luxuries they used 10 have In former times they
saw the profits OF the canteen were devoted TO
their table. and they used have many extra
good things TO eat. but they are limited to
the usual army rations. which grow ronotonolls
after short time. Many OF the soldiers declare
that they VIII not re-enlist unless the law is re-
peaed
The soldiers at Fort Slocum are as bitter as their
comrades further down the Sound. They have
practically bOyCOtted the vi baya
been turned into dispensaries of mineral waters
and soft drinks. Fort Slocum is the headquarters
OF many recruits, and, in order keep them from
straylng away, Colonel Woodruff some time ago
was compelled TO adopt rule forbidding any OF
thern from going ashore without securing a special
permit Some OF the soldiers have been so de-
termlned TO get to New w-Rochelle or New-YorL 10
quench their thirst that they have risked their
lives by swimming across the Sound al night
Albert Allen. a young man of Athol Mass he
came exhausted in the icy waters OF the Sounn
ana was drowned. His body found afterward
ana shlpped home to his father \ comDanion
VINO was with Allen, and who was captured after
ne mad nearly lost his life. made the statement
that they had deserted from the fort in order 10
get 10 New Rochelle and get "A drink This SOL
uler Is now doing term in the guardhouse
NtPIdlA Hamilton yesterday that the
fbarsTen bant1 was really temperance institution
because only beer sold and the amouni
allowed each soldier was limited to a few glasses
Mhlch were not enough to make him drunk The
cahteen was open only in the afternoons and even
4Hss' ana The mornings devoted TO drills and
lhe routine work at the fort