Evening star., 1902-09-15
COL. RAFFERTY, DEAD
SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES SUS-
TANNED IN A FALL.
An Officer Who Stood High in the
Military Service - Graduate of
Princeton and West Point.

A cable message received at the War
Department from General Chaffee an
nounces that Col. William a. Rafferty, was
fatally injured by accidentally stepping off
the wall of elevated roadbed, falling
fifteen feet September 8. He fingered un-
til go pm. September II. when he died
as a result of the injuries received.
Col. Rafferty, died at San Felipe Satur-
day. Gen. Chaffee was at his bedside when
he expired.
The death of Col. Rafferty, deprives the
service OF an officer who stood remarkably
high in the esteem of his superiors. He
was admirably equipped for the discharge
of every public duty, and his tact and re-
serve power was frequently displayed in
emergencies. In 1861 he graduated from
Princeton, and being possessed of a SOL
diers longing for military service, he at
once entered West Point, where he was
subsequently graduated with honor, and
thereafter commissioned an officer. II
is a noteworthy circumstance that a fell
low classmate at Princeton, Edward Field,
also went from Princeton to West Point,
and served signally as major of artillery.
At the meeting of the Princeton Alumni
Association, two years since, in this city,
Col. Rafferty, attended the meeting and re-
newed associations with his former Prince
ton college mates, who felt a natural
pride in his honorable career in the army
and who extended to him a warm greeting.
His remains will be brought to this coun-
try probably on the transport Logan. Col.
Rafferty, left widow, who resides on West
minister street, this city.
Col. Rafferty's Career.
Col. Rafferty, graduated from the Military
Academy, West Point, in June, 1865, and
joined the 9Th Cavalry, which was then at
Frederick, Md, refitting after four years of
the civil war, for duty on the frontier. He
proceeded with his regiment to Texas and
served on the frontier continuously from
that time until the outbreak of the war
with Spain. While with his regiment in
Texas, Indian hostilities were almost con-
tinuous. In one of the combatS In which
Col. Chen captain) Rafferty, commanded the
troop, after a rapid pursuit a band of
KeechieS was oVertaken and in the fight
the chief, keech-Quash, was killed Col
Rafferty, participated in the Indian terri
tory expedition. AT the close of that eXpe-
dition his troop was assigned to duty at
the Cheyenne agency, and soon after, on
April 6, 1875, the Cheyenne Indians took the
warpath and a fight ensued in the imme-
diate vicinity of the agency, IN which nine
Indians were killed, with loss TO our troops
OF four men and nine horses. Col. Rafferty,
accompanied his regiment to Arizona during
the summer of 1879 and participated with
country. He was breveted major, for gal
liant services in an action with the Indians
in the Hatchet Mountains, New Mexico in
April, 1882
He was promoted to major. I'd Cavalry, on
the Both of November, 1889, and was on
duty with that regiment when the war with
Spain began. He sailed with a mounted
squadron of his regiment from Mobile, Join
ed General Skaters expedition at Tampa
and commanded the only mounted force
which participated in the Santiago cam
paign. He was highly commended for his
services there by General Shafter
He was promoted lieutenant colonel on
the 31st of May, 1898, and to colonel, 5th
Cavalry, the 18th Of October. 1899, and
commanded that regiment. during the mill
tary occupation of Porto Rico. He COM
manded the post of Fort Myer. Va. from
August. 1900. to March, 1901. when he ac-
companied his regiment to the Philippine
Islands, where he continued on duty until
the time of his death