The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-17
sisted alone in the carrying of these i'm

Men could be seen daily straining every
muscle and nerve in their forms executing
this fearful task. the number required to be
carried varying from twenty-five balls up
to the number of one hundred for the
slightest dereliction of duty. This con-
tinued up TO the latter part of July. 1867.
when terrible punishment was inflicted
upon drunken prisoner, resulting In his
death in the brief space of half an hour.
He was the first and the last victim under
the Infamous Special Order No. IS.
JOHN WINTERS KILLED.
John Winters, a prisoner confined for de-
sertion, was shot down on July 81, 1867.
within the inside limits of the fort whilst
in state of intoxication bordering on in
sanity by private soldier of Company l..
Fifth Artillery, stationed at Post 5 at the
bastion leading TO the classmates where the
prisoners were confined This soldier was
at one time confined in the guardhouse
charged with sleeping on his post, also with
theft
Whilst confined under these charges the
same man whom he shot (Winters) bought
from his own limited purse articles of food,
cooking it and furnished him with it. Win
tiers was a harmless man, one possessing
a very kind heart and generous to fault,
but, like some men under the influence OF
liquor. was boisterous and unruly. but not
quarrelsome. He had managed on this oc-
casion to obtain liquor through his inti-
macy with the soldiers of the garrison.
In going to his quarters at retreat he
gave two or three drinks from the bottle
in his possession to the soldier standing
on his post, and thence going to his case
ta he nj
guard again he called TO Winters asking
him to give him another pull. as 1t was
termed among them. Winters told him that
he had no more-that it was all gone.
The soldier hooted at the idea. remark
ing, "All right; I'll remember you for it,.
About IL o'clock Winters became noisy in
his quarters and the sergeant of the guard
and file of men arrested him and marched
him to the guardhouse. Winters used
abusive language to the sergeant, which
aroused his passion to a great extent. but
at this time took but little notice of the
occurrence. About fifteen minutes after
being confined Winters requested to be al
lowed to. go to the bastion, which was
granted, the sergeant ordering the soldier
not to permit him to go to his room.
A FATAL SHOOTING.
mel and returned to his quarters, when a
sergeant, In charge of the guard, with
file of men, rearrested him. In passing
the soldier the sergeant gave him instruc-
tions that if Winters attempted to run by
his guard to shoot him. Winters was in
trusted to file of men, some going before
and some after him. He was placed ahead
of the guard, and, in descending the bas-
ton. unconscious of his impending doom,
in his drunken condition he ran out Of the
doorway into the limits of the fort, when
the soldier, who had left his post by many
yards, raised his gun as Winters passed
him and shot him down, from the effects
of which he died in the course of thirty
minutes.
The soldier never challenged, neither did
he cry Halt but deliberately carried
out the orders received from the sergeant.
The whole garrison was aroused by the
report Of the gun, coupled with the agon-
izing cries of the wounded man, who. in
his dying moments, requested them to kill
him to relieve him of his sufferings. A
consultation was then held by the sergeant
and the soldier, he having been relieved
from his post to arrange the tale that was
to be told relative to the shooting, 1 could
not hear much of that which passed, but
distinctly heard a man who in very short
time thereafter was made a corporal state
that each must tell the same tale.
While the sergeant had gone for the OFF,
Ger of the day Winters's piteous means,
mixed with shrieks and heartrending cries.
resounded throughout the fort Life was
fast ebbing out and by the time the officer
of the day arrived nothing could be heard
but his smothered groans. A stretcher
was procured and. the dying man conveyed
to the hospital and in brief space of thir-
ty minutes his spirit had passed from
earth to eternity.
When the news of the affair reached head
quarters the loud, ringing voice Of a COM
mander was heard crying out, That's the
way we do things in California"
To Do