Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-27
DEITZ MAY RECOVER
WOUNDED GUARDsMAN SHOWS
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT.
Is Able to Take OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of Accident Which Imperiled
His Life.

George L. Dietz, the member of Company
D, 9th Battalion. I'd Regiment of the Dis
trict National Guard. who was accidentally
shot at Ordway yesterday and so seriously
injured, as stated in yesterdays Star,
showed slight signs of Improvement this
afternoon He had partly regained con-
seriousness, and was able to ask for nour-
ishment. While his condition is still critical.
the doctors say he has a fighting chance to
recover. He asked for milk and water this
afternoon, and was also able to tell his
name. Frank Roche. the young man from
whose gun the shot was fired, was re-
leased from the house of detention.
Details Of the Occurrence.
The wounded .guardsnan is twenty-five
years of age and has made his home with
his uncle at 500 H street. His comrade,
Frank Roche, charged with the response
bility for the accident, is nineteen years
of age and resides with his parents at 627
nth street northeast. Young Roche is
deeply affected by reason of the occurrence.
and 1t is naturally deplored by the National
Guard officials. 1t is the first accident That
has happened on the range.
Both Dietz and Roche are members OF
Company D, 9th Battalion. Capt. Sheridan
Ferree Is the company commander. The
shooting occurred about 1 o'clock. The
morning work before the targets had been
concluded and a recess for luncheon was
taken. RocheS work had been unSatisfac-
tory to him during the morning, and think
ing that the rifle he was using might be re-
sponsible he made careful examination
of the same. going so far as to insert a
loaded shell in the barrel. Forgetting that
the opening of the magazine slmultane-
ously and automatically cooked the rifle,
r. IL, IL fyan y-rV1n an a
Dietz and comrade, named Henry A.
Scroggins, were seated on a blanket about
twenty feet from the spot where Roche was
sitting. AS the practice was about to De
resumed Roche arose and picked up the
rifle In doing so the weapon was accl-
dentally discharged. First Lieut.. w. w.
Cookson, inspector of rifle practice 9th
Battalion, happened to be near at the mo-
ment, and he sharply reproved Roche for
violating the regulations, which stipuate
that the rifles shall not be loaded until the
men are at the firing line about to fire.
Lieutenant Cookson directed Roche to re-
port his disobedience of orders to his Su-
periorS.
The Horrible Discovery.
1t was not realized for several minutes
that any one had been wounded. Scroggins
noticed that Dietz had sunk back on the
blanket He called to the latter. then
shook him. next unbuttoned his blouse, and
finally removed his campaign hat, when the
bullet furrow across the head was discov-
cred Scroggins made an outcry that sum
moned assistance.
Two troops of the I'd United States Cav
airy from Fort Myer are in camp at the
range. DietZ was carried to the cavalry S
hospital tent, where he was given the best
attention possible by Surgeon Harris OF
the cavalry and Lieutenant Bowker, sur
geon of the 9Th Battalion of the Guard.
Capt. T. S. King, superintendent of the
range. hurried the news of the accident to
Major ]. E. Bell, Inspector general of rifle
practice, District of Columbia militia. who
was in this city. DietZ was brought here
on train that left the range at o'clock.
An ambulance met the train at the 9th
street passenger station and the wounded
man was removed to the Emergency Hos
pital where an operation was performed
last night.
49, Under Investigation.
Roche accompanied by one of the Of
fcers of the 9th Battalion, proceeded to the
first precinct police station: Major w. f..
Harvey, commanding the 9Th Battalion i'm
mediately after the shooting, appointed a
board of officers consisting of Capt. Alex
E. Skinner Company B. and First Lieut..
James M. Pickens, adjutant, to conduct an
investigation of the accident. The board
lost no time in performing the duty as
signed to it. The report of the board will
be forwarded to militia headquarters
through military channels. p mi
The 9Th Battalion was at the Ordway
rifle range yesterday for regular ordered
practice.