New-York tribune., 1906-09-27


Washington. Sept. 26.-The news NJ the 5eo.b 20
Lieutenant Colonel James L. Lusk of the corps NJ
engineers was received at the War Department To-
U"S win many expressions Of regret He was
seVeFa4 times on duty in Washington once as as
slstht 10 the engineer in chief of the army Vhere
he proved himself hard worker and mos, con-
sclentous in the performance of his duty When
he was taken sick after of duty In Cuba and
at camp AIser ne was a patient at the Providence
Hospital in this city. and suffered greatly from
mental trouble. Of his haIlucinations being thar
he was personally responsible for all the deaths
that had occurred during the war with Spain.
Since then he had had various duties but upon
none OF them mad ne been long engaged. He was
on Iahe survey duty ut Detroit following a years
sick leave, from which he returned apparently we'll
At the time OF his death he was on sick leave and
friends OF the family IN Washington had heard re-
Gently that his former trouble had returned II
was expected he would have TO be retired as COM
plete rest from work was regarded as the onlv
means Of effecting permanent relief The early
dispatches received at the War Department gave
no information concerning the cause of Lieutenant
Colonel LuSAs death. but It was at once feared
that he had committed suicide as his friends in
the service who knew Of his condition expected
such end
Lieutenant Colonel Lusk was one Of the best
known OF the army engineers. The present chief OF
engineers. General Mackenzie was informed of the
death to-day
'Thre was more worthy officer in the army
for his ureless industry and conscientious
effort He never shirked and the fact that he let
little things worry him in the desire to be perfec
tion resulted in his disability shortly after the war
with Spain HIS death. while ne was still in the
prime Of life and Of value 10 his profession and
corps is distinct loss TO the service"
Colonel Lusk llfty-one years old He was
graduated from the Military Academy at West
Point in 1878. lie filed some OF the important
enCineering places IN the army, including those OF
assistant TO the engineer commissioner Of the Dis
,rct Of Columbia, assistant the engineer at West
point and assistant the chief OF engineers From
r,o 1885 70 March D. 1888 he served in this city
= osststfat 10 the engineer commissioner CT the
District during part OF the administration of Com
Trrred his duty in manner eminently satisfactory
- - ~ pe0ole Of the District.
10 - ,,cnrs later. while stationed at the War
,hot-,Tent n as assistant 10 the chief of engi-
h'ti' ,noiuted to consider the feasibility of the
ptItn Ii6n OF the tunnel from the Georgetown
cooIIlPPtttJng reservoir TO the Washington city
oIsttL near Howard University. II was upon
resei obe report Of that board that importa nj
the Ia 1]as undertaken and completed with most
satisfactory reL q, the Spanisb war be ,s. w.
Al ~ took command OF Company f, Battalion
POINT aiII - with which he proceeded 10 Tampa
OF Ensi sineJitta,on for Cuba and was subsequently
for cIiipa4 onnmand Of the engineers OF the Fifth
Army COZ Pei and chief OF engineers. United States
tenant coloi' .nd assigned duty the star oP
Volunteers, .SSaI william Graham. United States
Major Gehet-Ir tl-Ir,rna nding the Second Army Corps
at Camp AZ until September, 1893 when he was
on that 1Htv in this city as assistant TO the
assignee ,ng,neers and member or the board OF
geogrnphic names