Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-05
FOWLER EXISTS FREELY
Ashland Boy Eager TO Join British Army
Against Beers.
DESERTS SHIP IN ORDER TO FIGHT
w. z. o. Becker, who Mad the Trip
60 south Africa with
Youth, Gives Fact Com
corning Affair.

ASHLAND. Neb., March 4.-To the Editor
Of The Bee; Under the scare headlines,
Nebraska Boy Forced to Enlist to Fight
the Beers" the World-Herald this morning
contains a lurid account Of how Shelby
Arthur Fowler Of Ashland was forced into
the British army in South Africa. The
article in question contains so many mis-
statements OF facts that / desire to enter
a protest.
Shelby Fowler and the writer, as has
been noted In The Bee before, shipped from
New Orleans last April on the British trans
port Monterey with a cargo OF mules for
South Africa We shipped as muleteers,
going from st. Louis along with twenty-five
others. At New Orleans several more
muleteers were picked up. making a total
OF sixty men for that purpose.
Fowler Tried to EnIiat.
On the way over some Of the ships Of
ncers brought to our the glowing
possibilities OF service In the Cape Mounted
police. which operates in Cape Colony.
Fowler had talked the matter over several
times with me and told me he intended to
join, as we expected to unload our cargo
of mules at Cape Town. On our arrival
at Cape Town we received orders from the
British War officials to proceed to East
London, 700 miles up the eastern coast.
This made It impossible to go into the
mounted police, so Fowler then preached
the subject Of enlisting in the regular army
for six months. He was very anxious to
see the country" and endeavored to per-
suade me to Join him. This / refused to
do, as ] was much opposed to British sue
cess In South Africa. On our arrival at
East Londo we we're not permitted to
land, the mules being unloaded in lighters
two miles from shore. In fact, any one
who has been to South Africa on a mule
transport and has returned to the states
within the last year will tell you that
no Americans are permitted to go ashore.
Not Allowed to Land.
We laid in the harbor at East London
four days, before the mules were unloaded,
the last being on May 20. When the last
lighter was unloaded the boys who had
made up their minds to enlist, including
Fowler, sixteen altogether, jumped the
lighter and went ashore. They were met
at the docks by a company Of police and
were all invited to spend the night in Jail
for deserving the ship. The next morning
Captain Perry Of Monterey went before
the police Judge at East London and asked
to have the boys released, as they had
completed their contract to take care of the
mules when the last animal was unloaded.
Prior to the unloading Of the mules two
recruiting officers from East London came
to the ship and asked the names Of all
who desired to join the British army. Fow-
Ter gave his name with others. After the
muleteers were released from the Jail at
East London some of the former CHANGED
to meet the recruiting officers, but the lat
~ AI1 49, I'M A.
fact. severely reprlmanded for boarding the
ship for recruiting purposes.
MuIeteers and the Army.
] have mentioned these facts because of
the vast amount Of false reports that are
being circulated for political effect in this
country, on account OF the attitude Of the
administration on the question. I can
prove by the testimony Of a dozen mule
teers who were with me on the trip that
no man was forced into the British army.
Fowler and others who deserted Mon
terey did join the army, but did 1t on their
own responsibility. In fact, Fowler and
most Of the others had planned to Join the
army long before the ship was half way
across the Atlantic.
AS to the government Withholding from
Fowler the transportation to the states, 1
AL SURF InaI lnlS WAS uOnes on account OF
talks / had with several who had been to
South Africa before me.
Congressman Stark's object in bringing
this matter up at this time is not SO much
TO secure the release and return of Fowler,
as 1t Is to make the administration trouble.
When Fowler Joined the British army he
relinQuished all claims to the protection Of
Uncle Sam, and no one knows this better
than Stark. The State department at Wash
ington, nor the consul at Durham, where
Fowler is at present, cannot effect his re-
turn unless the British government sees
At to do 30. Personally, I would like to see
the boy return, but I object when the state
ment is made in popocratic sheets, that he
was forced into the British army to fight
the Beers. Respectfully yours.
w. e. G. BECKER.