Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-29
Capt. and Adjutan'

Adjutant General Farnham has re-
ceiyed a letter from Adjutant General
j. b. L.auck of California. rela-
tive to the criticisms of the neWSpa-
pers on the conduct of the National
Guard of that State at the time of the
San Francisco earthquake, which al
legged that the members of the Guard
had been guilty of wanton killing,
drunkenness and inability. Gen.
Iauck states that these criticisms
caused 4 great deal of comment ANA
also. in a measure hurt the National
Guard Of every state, ana the ! tier -
devoted to refuting these statements.
The general states that during the
first few days after the earthquake
stories We're published III the
papers impugning the personnel of the
Guard. 1t was claimed that the State
troops shot down citizens in great num-
bers. were drunken and disorderly, rob-
bed and despoiled individuals, stores
and houses, and generally conducted
themselves in a manner unworthy Oh
civilized beings let alone American Gnu
Gems and soldiers. The general says
i'm regard to these charges that he Is
able to state that from Whatever
source they may have emanated, they
are absolutely and unqualiiiedly UNI
true and without foundation.
He further says that during the first
| two days of the fire which destroyed
| san Francisco he. in company WIN
Ma ior Thomas Wilhelm of the United
| States army, detailed by the secretary
| of war for service on the staff OF Gov
| .rpor Par,iee, was in San Francisco
and on the streets all the time. lie
| COW with his own eyes the conduct ol
tho State trOops. and assures Genera
| Earnham that they behaved as well as
the troops of the regular army. Thert
was no drunkenness among theii' my
| committed no unlawful or want"n acts
of any kind; they did no proihiscuouS
ar other shooting; they WERE III
| word. as good troops as any ~ al
| E'r.nciSco at the time. They Suc'ortt
| the distressed and minlstereu 10 th'
.;.E and wounded; they organized aht
| conducted camps for the homeless ah'
| la.e,;tnts. they guarded public and PR
,,t. nroperty; they saved lives an'
rescued many helpless persons IRON
impending death
The letter also contains an INTERVIEW
with Governor Pardee. VINO was con
stantly present. and when was pun
lrohaa i'm the Oakland Enquirer, II
| bicb he saws, after branding IN
| horgae as absurd and cowardly:
ct ao not hesitate to say that upoi
;,vast;oation il will be proven ina
avarv charge made against me Hle'il
Ihars If the National Guard as 10 tiei
lotions during the past lew udHc
1t, is shame am
oo,vardly thing for anyone |" 1aisti'
ocusa the Young men of our Natiol''
r,.a for being anything but ina
,h;ch they are, good law-aoldihg' re-
,oo,,ble citizens. willing To 10 'nei
md showing their love OF couiitr
,,Iistine under its flag, wearing IL
uniform and ready 10 lay wv -,
ives in defense of the pupho s''"
The people Of this city appre.'a -
GOD order which is being hiai''
tai,ad here nightly. ana reaii@ 80
|. hodv of men could maintain oe.'e
than Oakland is now eiJos h's
ND TO God that those VINO al
,ardIv enough to besmirch 'iie iepu
-, ~ our citizen soldiery Were M
as good men ana ci''Ne
diers of California. 49, ,.,,tar
: ,no,ber statement in uie 20
.,on, Major Wilhelm, in WHICH ~
ioi' commitment to the Eua'o d
,hot martial law Was ii'Nei -
in San Francisco the 'io'l
ciafeu IL, n aid 10 the civil poWe