The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-31
NEVER SICK A DAY
Remarkable Record of General
Duncan, Just Dead.
IN ARMY ALL ADULT LIFE
Fought In All Climates But Was Un.
touched by lIIness-UnIted States
Consents to Guard Polling
Places in Panama.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

SNcOn0E SIIN Vim
Washington.-Gen. Joseph w. Dun.
can, commander of the department Of
Texas, United States army, who died
at Fort Sam Houston a few days ago,
was born in the state in which he
died. The death of General Duncan
leaves three vacant brigadier general.
ships In the United States army, and
there are as many applicants for the
places as there are colonels in the
army. 1t is supposed that President
Taft will appoint colonies to the va
cancies, for there does not seem to bo
disposition today, as there was some
time ago, to promote junior officers
over the heads of their seniors to
make brigadiers of them.
General Duncan was fifty eight years
of age and he had been in the army
Rll his adult life. His father and his
grandfather were army officers From
the time that he entered the service
when he was twenty years Of ago
General Duncan never was on the sick
report for one hour. Personally he
had no need for the services of a sur:
geon, and this is considered one of
the most remarkable records known
to army annals.
General Rucker, who died two or
three years ago at the age of ninety
Tour, entered the army in 1887 and
left the active list about 40 years
thereafter. General Rucker was never
on sick report, and his case and Gen.
eral Duncans are record breakers.
Withstood All Kinds Of Climate.
1t is the more remarkable that Dun.
can never was i'll for a day when con-
sideration is given to the nature Of
his service. He fought Indians in the
southwest, the middle west and the
northwest in all kinds Of climates and
In all kinds of weather conditions He
was IN Cuba for months when the men
were falling from illness on his right
nand and on his left, and yet he stood
untouched. He fought in the Philip-
pine ]ungles and came through al
healthy as the day he landed In the
islands. His death came suddenly
without any warning. An hour before
ne died he did not know that he was
Ill. ? !
General Duncan was born IN an
army tent on the plains of Texas IN
1853. He lived the army life as boy
and as man. He has a son in the
service, thus making a series of four
generations of army officers in tho
Duncan family. General Duncan led
the assault upon q supposedly impreg-
nable stronghold of the Moros on til
Island of Jolo. This was cse 81 tho
most decisive battles ID the islands
and the Cos Of the troops was heavy,
-ut In the midst of the fight General
Duncan, who then was q colonel,
moved unscratched.
Panama Fears Election Riots.
They are soon to hold an election
for president and vice president of the
republic of Panama, the Central Amer
lean state from which the United
States secured the territory known az
the Panama Canal Zone. It is said
that the Panama people want to have
their republic continue under peaceful
conditions, and that they are afraid
there will be such trouble at the pres
dental election as to jeopardlze the
future Of the country, and SO they
have asked the authorities at Wash
tngton to delegate United States Of
ncials to supervise the election and
10 see that it passes of peacefully.
The United States has consented.
It is long while since there were
troops at the polls IN the United
States: It is possible. Of course, the