Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-02-16
LIEUT.. JAMES LESLIE ELMER.
Died Friday Of Heart Disease-As officer
Of 4sd infantry He Was Commended
Tor Special Bravery In PhlIlpplnes.

Of 4sd infantry He Was Commended
Tor Special Bravery in Philippines.
James Leslie Elmer, 40, son of James
p and Stella s. (Elmer) Elmer, for
merly second lieutenant in the 4Sd
United States Volunteer Infantry In the
Philippines where he rendered conspcu-
Gus service, died of valvular heart disease
about 10 o'clock Friday night In his
home at 70 Frost street. The disease re-
suited from the hardship of his service
in the Philippines and although he had
been afflicted with it for some time he
did not give up until about week be-
fore last Christmas At that time he
was in Pttsburg on trip as travelling
salesman for the Dustbane company. lie
arrived home Sunday night, Dec. IL ana
had been confined to the house since
then 1t was realized that he could not
recover but he faced the inevitable
without word of complaint and with
marked cheerfulness and fortitude. Inc
end came suddenly and very peacefully.
MIR. Elmer was born in Bratteporo
Sept %, 1871. He attended the nigh
school, class of 1890, and after complet-
ing his course taught several terms OF
school in nearby towns in Vermont and
New Hampshire and also was employed
for time by the S. A. Smith company
In May, 1898 he enlisted in the regular
army in Springfield, Mass, and was as
Cavalry. He spent the first three
months in drill at the jefferson barracks
in st. Louis and for the next three
months he was instructor in Fort Brown,
Texas For the next two and nan
years he was clerk in the office OIL Ma
jor Wagner, commander of the tort anu
of the 5th Cavalry. From May 10 NO
vember 1898, he was with the LIST YER
mont regiment at Chickamauga, III the
Spanish American war, serving as regl-
mental uuartermaster sergeant OH
Sept. 90 1892 he enlisted as quartermas-
ter sergeant of the 4Sd volunteer regl-
ment at Fort Ethan Allen. near Burling-
ton.
The 43d regiment left Fort Ethan AL
Ion Nov ~ 1899 for New York, where
it embarked on the transport Meade Tor
Manila, by way of the Mediterranean
sea and Suez canal. Before leaving New
York Mr. Elmer was commissioned sec
ond lieutenant to fill vacancy. In
speaking of the promotion the Burlng-
ton News said: THE honor conferred
upon Sergeant Elmer is deserved one.
No one in the regiment has worked
harder to perfect the organization than
has he and the promotion is hitting
reward for his faithful service IN the
regular army. He was with the FIRST
Vermont Volunteers as quartermaster
sergeant, a position he filled with credit
to himself and with honor to the state.
Lieut. Elmer was in the Philippines
until July, 1901, and in that time The
Phoenix published several very interest
ing letters from him. He served as
auartermaster distributing officer, COM
missary and constructing quartermaster
and returned by way of San Francisco
and across the continent, completing
trip around the world, In the Philip
pines he was stationed principally in the
island of Samar and al Tacloban island
of 7 a1-to natives conducted
guerrilla warfare and Lieut.. Elmer often
commanded forces of soldiers against
them, frequently showing bravery for
which he was commended and his par
ents congratula by superior officers.
He accumulated a large collection of
guns knives, spears and other war I'M
Elements used by the natives, as well as
trinkets, articles of clothing, etc, which
he sent or brought home, and the col
lection is valued very highly by the
members of his fathers family. While
in the service he was a member OF the
Philippine Army and Navy club, but he
was not a member of any otner Or
ganization He was unmarried.
After his return from the philippines
Mr.. Elmer attended the Eastman bust
ness college at Poughkeepsie, n. Y. SUB
Aeuuently he was travelling salesman Tor
the Oliver Typewriter company. assist
ant general manager for William FL
lene's Sons of Boston, salesman for the
International Fibre company of New
York, who handle Philippine products
was employed by the S. A Smith COM
many and last by the Dustbane company.
Mr. Elmer leaves his parents, one sis
ter S. Lula wife of George S. Wright
of St. Adams. and one brother, DR.. Ray
mond s. Elmer, a dentist in Bellows
Falls. who was with him all through his
last illness He was an intellectual
Young man, capable and energetic, UNI
finching in the face of danger and de-
voted to the members of the family cir
Gle Rev r. NJ. Houghton, pastor OF
the Congregational church, officiated at
the funeral at the house Monday after
noon at go o'clock and the burial took
place in the family lot in Prospect Hill
cemetery. The bearers were the father.
brother, brother-in-law. DR.. Nj. l.. Nor
rison of Bellows Falls and Edward f.
Coxson and Herbert W. Boyle of Brat
tleboro. The casket was completely COW
cred with beautiful flowers, including a
large spray of pink carnations from the
high school class of 1890 pink roses from
the high school teachers and carna
tons and violets from the Bellows Falls
High School Athletic association. DR..
r. L. Elmer being director of athletics
in the school.
Among those present at the funeral
were Mr.. and Mrs. George S. Wright OF
St Adams. Frank Landon and daughter
Adelaide. and DR.. NJ L. Morrison OF
Bellows Falls, Mr. and Mrs F. H. Da-
Wis of Hinsdale, n. H., Mrs. Dorr Clough
of Putney and Charles Walker and fam
lily of Dummerston.