Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
.SH0OT IN STAR MATCH TOUGH, SAYS STEWART
Experts Compete on the Ma Tells of Feats of Endurance
tiona Guard Range. and Active Life.
VISITORS WATCH THE WORK DESCRIBES HEART TROUBL
Never Laid With Since
Best Skirmshers in March, 1875
IMARYLANDER WINS MEDAL DOORS ARE CLOSED BY BOARD
of
Provided BY GEM ar o He
1..d;r. s.ores to Forte
DESCRIBES HEART TROUBLE
Never Laid Up With It Since Attack
in March, 1875.
DOORS ARE CLOSED BY BOARD
No Further Open Hearings-Not
Allowed to Tell Why He Was
Sent to Fort Grant.

The board Of officers hearing testi.
mony in the case of Col William F. Stew
art closed the doors this afternoon. short.
ly after o'clock. after Col. Stewart and
his counsel had made their statements.
While the board did not make public
its findings it is understood that 1t &C
copied the findings Of the medical mem
bers Of the board which was to the
effect that Col Stewart is incapacitated
for service on account of valvular disease
of the heart.
The board will make no recommended
ton. but in all probability the investi-
cation will be followed by the retirement
of Col. Stewart.
Col Stewart. on the stand. told OF his
connections in the army for the last forty
one years in order to bring out that what
ever trouble he has had with his heart
is not troubling him now, if his own feel
ings can be taken into account as evil
dence.
His counsel. J. W. Latimer. addressed
the board to certify that Col Stewart is
In as good physical condition as the ma
jority of officers of the same rank.
Capt. Howlands. acting as recorder. also
made Il short address to the board. stat
ing that the evidence is that Col. Stewart
has been suffering from. valvular trouble
of the heart since 1874, and that the
trouble has now progressed to a point
where Col. Stewards life is in danger.
The board closed the doors at this
period. and sent out word that the SEES
sion would not again be open Probably
the War Department. Whatever acision
is made will not be announced perhaps for
three days.
No army officer will make any state
ment as to the outcome. There 1s an
atmosphere however. that strongly sug-
gests that the result of the boards in
quiry will be retirement for Col. Stewart
with pay of practically $500 year.
Col. Stewart on Stand.
On taking the stand this morning Col.
Stewart stated that he had been in serv-
lie forty-one years, ten months and nine
days today, and that there were but four
officers now on the active list who had
been there longer than he.
In response to the questions Of his
counsel. his story is as follows:
1.-The first knowledge ] had of any heart
troublf was in 1874. had been suffer-
ing with "A cold for some time. and called
upon Post Surgeon ]. Q. Skinner. now
superintendent of Columbia Hospital. He
I had trouble with the micral valve OF
the heart That was when l was sta
toned at Preside.
Il believe had this heart trouble treat
ed in 1874 and 1879. No medicine was
given me- but I was placed on sick rec
ord. / took plenty of outdoor exercise
and drove considerably with my horse
and buggy.
In March OF 1879, I went to Portland
Ore, and stayed there a few weeks. A,
Preside. was taken off the sick record
and have been on the active list ever
since, with the exception of some few
trifling illnesses.
1.-The first Information that it would be
inadvisable to do any active work came
to me within the last few days. l have
been under observation Of many army
surgeons at my own request. because OF
the statement in 1874 that / had heart
trouble.
II have not felt incapacitated. but have
been able and have felt able to do my full
duty, and have not had any complaints
from my superiors as to neglect.
II was examined for a riding test by a
medical officer named Sanford Before
the time appointed for the test ! received
orders to go to Arizona. After had been
at Fort Grant, Arizona. I received orders
to take ride at a nearby fort.
Il went there one month ago today. My
ply examination September 10. I was
told by the post commander, would not
allow me to take the ride
THAT some afternoon l went horseback
riding with Maj. Foster and took several
rides with Chaplain Chase during the next
few days.
1--WE covered from eight to fourteen
miles a day I felt no i'll effects.
II returned to Fort Grant under or
ders and stayed there for six days. Then
received orders to report in Washing
ton
Col Stewart went back at this point
in his testimony and told of a certain
ride he had taken in which he went
four and one-half miles in fifteen min
utes
Heart Trouble Not Serious.
In answer to questions OF his counsel
he said that many physicians that have
examined him had told him his heart
trouble was not serious. In 1865 he
took out d life insurance policy for S1O,-
CO., and was examined at Fort Washing
ton, on the Potomac. and also by a ply
stefan in the city of Washington.
Mr.. Latimer asked Col. Stewart as to
the circumstances leading uD to his GO
ing to Fort Grant. There We're some OBJ
jections to this. The board went into ex.
ecutive session and decided not to admit
the questions
Col. Stewart then went on to tell Of the
injury to his eye. which occurred in Sep.
tember 1874. He said he was stand ne
near Il target and was struck by frag-
ment of bullet which pierced the eyelid
He was on the sick record for FIVE days
after that and said he suffered no incon-
venience from the injury from that time
Il walked great deal at Fort Ora mt