The Washington herald., 1912-03-25
CAPT. BOB WYNNE
CALLED BY DEATH
washingtonian Is Victim of Tuber.
culosis Contracted During the
Boxer Uprising.

After fighting against death. with the
same tenacity that earned for him the
title of Fighting. Bob Capt Robert
Francis wynne, thirty-six years old. a
former .officer OF the United States Ma
rine Corps, died at the home Of his faith
er, former Postmaster General Robert
/ ]. wynne. s15 Rhode Island avenue, yes
terday afternoon. Capt. wynne had been
confined TO his bed since last Christmas,
and though his death was a matter Of
days, he was thought to. be holding his
own until early yesterday. when he suf-
fered relapse. tuberculosis. contract
ed while he was in command OF a force
during the Boxer uprising, was the cause
of death
Few officers had as spectacular ca
reer as Fighting Bob" He resigned
from the service five years ago to avoid
a threatened court-martial. the result of
controversy with a superior officer.
the resignation being accepted by Presi-
dent Roosevelt because of his record for
bravery. His decline is said by friends
of the young officer to be the result OF
his forced retirement.
His parents. and Charles, younger
brother. and Alice. his elder sister. were
at his bedside when he died. Two other
sisters, Miss Ruth and Mrs. French. wife
OF Capt. Hugh Ronald French. of the
British army, are abroad. Henry Boyn-
ton Wynne, his sy-younger brother. is in
Pittsburg. All have been notified Of his
death
wynne first showed his ambition to
become a soldier when he Joined the
District FencIbles. He later was ordered
to Cuba. where he distinguished himself
by his bravery in every engagement in
which he participated. He was selected
to head the re-enforcements to the Philip
pines in 1899. and won a lieutenancy by
his gailantry at Novelette,. He rose to
his height as a soldier and a fighter in
the Boxer uprising short time later.
With Mai. Harry Leonard, another
Washington boy. then a lieutenant.
Fighting Bob won distinction in the
battle OF Tientsen, and his bravery was
rewarded by a communication of COM
mendation from Congress, accompanied
by medal. He also was given three
additional medals for his bravery in the
Boxer, Cuban, and Philippines cam
paigns.
Capt. Wynne waz born in this city. Au-
gust Is. 1876, and attended the District
schools. He also was enrolled in St.
Johns Catholic College, later graduating
from the Georgetown University law
School In the class of 1897. In this class
were George B. Cortelyou, later SecTe-
tary OF the Treasury; George Hoover, the
noted attorney. and other men who have
since been prominent in public life. 1t
wac after his graduation from George
town University that he Joined the Fenci-'
bles contrary to his parents wishes
Funeral services for Capt. wynne will
be held at the Church Of the Immaculate
Conception. Wednesday morning, at 10
o'clock, with Father Connolly. pastor. Of
ficiating. A solemn high mass OF requiem
will be celebrated. and interment will be
in the family plot in Mount olivet Gene
tery.
Several officers who were comrades Of
Capt Wynne during the Boxer uprising
visited him last Friday, and he request
ed them TO act as psllbearers at his fun
eral. He also requested that bugler
sound taps" over his grave Capt. Louis
M GulIck, of the Marine Corps, Is in
charge of the arrangements for the pail
bearers and he has named Capt. War
rem Dean and Capt Harding, who were
feIlow-officers of the dead marine in
China. Three others will be selected to-
day.
The funeral party will leave the wynne
home at $50 O'Clock, and besides
the relatives . delegation of marines will
attend.