Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-28
MILITARY MEN EXCITED.
Changes Made By Captain Garter ID
 Go A the Cause.

changes Made By captain Carter ID Go A the Cause. Harry B. Garter, captain of Com pany A, 0. NC. who received consid- erable notoriety short time since as being an unsuccessful candidate for the position Of superintendent of the state police, is again the subject of much comment for his action last night in promoting Corporal Levi Wilcox to the office of first sergeant of Company A, to succeed John H. Morrison, pro- noted, thus jumping him over the heads of several officers, Carter's ap- pointment has made a big sensation and he was criticized rather freely last night and to-day.
 The appointment of First Sergeant John H. Morrison of Company A to sergeant major of the Second battalion, Second regiment c. N G., which was officially announced at the meeting of Company A last night. together with the discharge of two or three officers necessitated several changes in the off, f1cial staff of the company. There fore Captain Catrer made the follow ing appointments
 Corporal Levi Wilcox appointed ser geant to succeed Morrison promoted. | Corporal William H. Mintie, ap- pointed sergeant, vice Doherty dis charged.
 Private William E. Hand, appointed corporal, vice Wilcox promoted.
 Private Henry G. Hotchkiss. ap- pointed corporal, vice Mintie, pro- noted.
 Private Frederick V. Brownell ap- pointed corporal, vice De Bisschop, discharged.
 Private Frederick A. Spencer, ap- pointed corporal, vice Mullen , dis charged.
 Naturally so many changes among the officers of the company only two weeks before camp would cause much comment, but that is completely drowned by the flood of talk or criti. cism which has so suddenly risen in military circles owing to the elevation of Corporal Wilcox over the heads of a several officers. Corporal Wilcox has been enlisted in the company only year and half and was only fourth corporal in rank, yet he was raised to the rank of first sergeant over Ser geants Fred Smith and Clarence Bangs, Corporals William Mintie, Otto Arm bruster and John Porter. Why these five officers should have been jumped when the question of promotion came along has not been explained. A Dem- ocrat reporter was unable to receive any definite reason Tn conversation with one of the leading officers of the company to-day. Sergeant Smith has been in the company for nearly ten years, while Sergeant Bangs enlisted more than three years ago. Both are considered excellent soldiers and fine officers. They have the reputation of being earnest workers Corporal Will cox is also fine soldier and fine of- f1cer and good citizen. No one crit tcizes him for they consider that he is we'll fitted for the office, but they as- sert that some of the men over whose heads he was jumped are more de- serving of the position since they have been in the service so long and were higher in the line of promotion than he was.
 Captain Garter probably guessed that his action would be harshiy criticized, that the promotion would cause a sort of commition or upheaval in local miii- tary circles, for he is quoted as saying:
 sThe promotion of Corporal Wilcox over the heads of older sergeants and corporals was perhaps a radical move, but the end, feel sure, will justify the means. He is every inch soldier and will fill this position with credit to himself and the company"
 The captain is right when he says that the promotion was perhaps radi- cal move: He is probably also rigkt when he says that the new first sci geant will fill the position with credit to himself and his company, but there are other officers. higher than fourth corporal and in the service more than a year and half, who could fill 1t just as creditably. so their friends claim.
 First Sergeant Wilcox is a graduate of Yale and is now employed as chemist by the Apothecaries Hall Go; Sergeant w. H. Mintie Is assistant SUI perintendent of the Waterbury Buckle Go: Corporal W E. Hand is in the em- ploy of the Waterbury Brass Co as clerk; Corporal Henry G. Hotchlziss is also clerk employed by the Waterbury Brass Co; Corporal Frederick V. Brownell is employed as plumber by George W. Minor; Corporal Fred A. Spencer is civil engineer by profes- sion.
 The promotion of Sergeant Morrison meets with the approval of every mem Der of Company A for the sergeant major is very popular.
 With the numerous changes in the staff of officers and with the addition of 40 new men or rockies, for the old men have dropped out at an alarming rate during the past year, the company may be considered new company. Why so many members of the com- pan have dropped out is not known.
 Three Killed by Ammonia Fumes.
 NEW YORK, July 28-By the blow. ing of of the cylinder head of an engine in Lincoln avenue three of the 100 en- ployees of the Ruppert ice plant were