Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-28
STEWART HERE
As MiId-Mannered a Man as
Ever ScuttIed Ship.
SAYS HE'S IN GOOD SHAPE
But Army Examining Board Is to
Look Him Over.
LAWYER BROTHER WITH HIM
Attempts May Be Made to Introduce
expert" Testimony of Ply
sicians Before Board.
LAWYER BROTHER WITH HIM

Col. William F. Stewart. the cavalry
officer until lately marooned at Fort
Grant, Ariz.. and now under orders to go
before a retiring board. is in Washington
with his brother, Charles Stewart. an at
torney of San Francisco. who will act as
the coloners counsel if he should happen
to need legal advice.
Col. Stewart is a mild-looking man, not
over medium height. thin, and with
tanned and scanned face. heavily corded
throat and phenomenally heavy white
eyebrows that shade eyes set so deep In
his head that it is almost impossible to
tell whether they are blue or brown. He
talks in an easy-going tone and doesn't
appear to be a very terrible person.
Col. Stewart will not talk much.
Il have nothing but good feeling for
the newspapers and newspapermen as
rule" he said. certainly they have
treated me with almost invariable cour-
derstand l am not in a position where l
can properly talk. Charley here Is the
member Of the family to talk. You talk
to him and If there is Anything to say.
he will say 1t"
Won't Discuss His Case.
Failing back on the weather as a safe
medium for unofficial discussion, Col.
Stewart cast look up at the sky that
was just putting the finishing touches
to a tropical deluge and said with a
smile:
ION general principles should say that
Washington had a better climate than
Arizona. but 1 don't think this last two
hours has been any display to be proud
ton is better. Transportation facilities are
better YOU know
Snakes by the Gross.
Asked what there was to do at Fort
Grant and whether he had done any
hunting there, Col. Stewart replied en-
phatically:
mo, didn't do any hunting to speak
of. and I'll tell you why I'm not in love
with rattlesrakes and the place is alive
with them. Why, they killed thirty-five
there within the past two months. killed
eight~myself."
Now, there you CO." said his brother,
with a laugh Said you were not going
to talk and you are doing it"
"You are right" said Col. Stewart
But that's unofficial Go on and inter-
view Charlie If you will and excuse me,
as I've got to go down the street"
Col. Stewart is accompanied by his son.
who has just received his commission In
the army, and they went out together.
Charles Stewart said that he did not
know how long it would be before his
brother was summoned before the ex-
aiming board
He has registered at the War Depart
when they wanted him they would send
for him."
Colonel in Fine Shape.
Asked what was Col. Stewards general
physical condition, he replied, 1T seems
to be as good as 1t has ever been since
I have known him. OF course. he has
been under a severe strain. but SO far as
you can judge he is in excellent shape"
The members of the retiring board be-
fore which Col. Stewart will appear are
Gen. Hall and Col. c. A. p Hatfield. 18th
Cavalry; Col. Edward 4. Goodwin. 18th
Cavalry; Lieut.. Col. William H. Arthur,
medical department. and Maj. Guy L.
Edie Of the medical department. with
Capt Charles r. Howard, 21st Infantry.
as recorder.
Just Like Other Casesp
The board probably begins it's sessions
tomorrow or the next day at the Wash
ington barracks. 1t was explained at the
War Department today that the case of
Col. Stewart is taking the regular course
prescribed in the army regulations where
there is doubt as to an officers physical
capacity for active duty.
1t Is further stated that the case of Col
Stewart in its present phase is exactly
similar to that of other officers examined
for the prescribed ninety-mile riding test
and reported physically disqualified. All
such officers are ordered before retiring
boards to determine whether their dis
abilities are likely to be permanent. 1t is
recalled that the President has stated that
the main purpose of the test rides was to
weed out Of the service the physically un-
fit.
The duties Of the retiring board in the
case of Col. Stewart are simply to deter
mine his physical condition, and the action
of the President must depend entirely
upon the character of the report of the
board. If the board reports that the off,
Ger is not physically incapacitated he will
be restored to duty and command with
out regard to the private wishes of his
official superiors.
There are only two contingencies in
which the President will be called upon
to act in the matter. These both involve
the finding by the board that the officer
is physically incapacitated for active duty.