Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
ASSOCIATION FORMED
MEMBERS OF FIGHTING NINTH
EFFECT ORGANIZATION.

| Officers and enlisted men of the fight
| Ing" 9th United States Regular Infantry
assembled last night in the parlors Of the
| Hotel Richmond. 18th and H streets north
west. and formed permanent regimental
organization. to be known as The Wash
/ ington, d. c., Association of the 9th Unit
ed States Infantry The meeting was
| called to order by Sergt John ]. Strain.
who briefly stated the purposes of the as
sembling of the veterans, as outlined in
last Sundays Star.
On motion OF Sergt. Strain those present
unanimously elected Capt. Frank De Witt
Ramsey of Gen. Chaffee's staff president
of the association. Sergt Maj. William H.
Matters was elected secretary and Quar-
termaster Sergeant John Perkins was elect
ed treasurer
When Capt Ramsey was escorted to the
presidents chair he greeted by a
hearty outburst of applause. In thanking
the men of the fighting 9th for the honor
conferred upon him. Capt. Ramsey said 1t
was pleasure to be again in the midst of
the enlisted men who had served their
country we'll whenever their services had
been called for.
He modestly referred to the part the 9th
had taken in the Santiago campaign, the
Philippine instruction and the advance on
Picking He praised the American soldiers
and said he was glad to be with them and
to cooperate with them in any movement
loI l0eir advancement. lie audeu tHdt
eleven companies of the 9th Infantry are
now in the Philippines in command of Col.
James Reagan. while 3 Company, COM
manded by Capt. Brewster, is in China.
These soldiers, now in the far east. will
be notified of the formation of the regi-
mental association. and of the proposed re-
union of the regiment to be held in this city
next fall.
Committee Appointed.
committee to devise ways and means
for carrying into effect the intended re-
union was appointed follows: Sergt.
William H. Matters, Sergt. John Perkins.
Corporal Edward f. Smith and Sergt. John
J. Strain. This committee will meet In a
few days, when active steps will be taken
in the matter.
While refreshments being served
last night each man present was called
upon by Capt. Ramsey to relate, under the
head of Good of the Association his per-
sonal experiences and recollections of the
Cuban Philippine and Boxer campaigns.
Detective Sergeant Alpha Parham of
Major SylvesterS plain clothes squad, who
| is veteran of the old 9th, recited patrf-
otto composition, Columbia, Land of the
Free. He concluded by saying he re-
GREETED he was not with the boys Of the
| 9th in their far-away field but in spirit he
was with his comrades and watched with
| pride the splendid record the regiment is
making in the smoke and fire Of battle in
the ruSneS ana the deadly grdpple with the
| foe.
Sergt. Edward Kelly. who served with the
| 9th Infantry In 1865 reviewed with express
| sions of pride the part the regiment had
| taken in the early Indian campaigns, the
| civil war, the war with Spain and In the
| campaigns in the Philippines and China. He
| said the regiment was organized In 1911 re-
| organized in lS47, and today stands as one
| of the finest bodies OF fighters in Uncle
| Sans superb army" Sergt Kelly's re-
marks were heartily aDplauded.
The meeting partook of the nature of a
| campfire, and soldierly humor, song and
| story held sway.
! Died in Battle.
| Capt. Ramsey gave a pathetic account OF
! the death of Second Lieut.. Louis II. Lewis
| who was the first member of the 9th Unit ed
| States Infantry killed in Cuba. He was
| shot through the heart and died instantly
while calamity leading his men in a charge
| up San Juan hill, July l, 1888. BY a coinci-
| dence the meeting last night was held In
the hotel of Mr.. Clifford Lewis, a brother OF
! the late Lieut.. Lewis. They are sons OF
| Maj. Morgan d. Lewis, late of the United
! States Volunteers in the civil war; and Mrs
| Flora Lewis, formerly president of the Dis
War Veterans.
! James Barrett of the Detroit base ball
| team who served as a member of the 9th
| Infantry, was invited to join his comrades
/ at the fra termination last night and made
| his appearance before adjournment He
| pledged his hearty support to the associa-
| ton