Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-06-05
NEVER SICK A DAY
Remarkable Record of General
Duncan, lust Dead.
IN ARMY ALL ADULT LIFE
Fought In All Climates But Was IN
touched by llIness-united States
Consents to Guard Polling
Places in Panama.
Rv aEoReE cLINToN.


Washington.-Gen Joseph w. Dun
IAN, 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. Is Is supposed that President
Taft viii epppoint colonies to the va
cancies, for there does not seem to be
q 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
all 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 age
General Duncan never was on the sick
report for one hour. Personally he
had no need for the services of a sur
geon, d 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
four, entered the army in 1887 ana
left the active list about 40 years
thereafter. General Rucker was never
on sick report, and his case and Gen.
eral Duncan's are record breakers.
Withstood All Kinds Of Climate.
1t is the more remarkable that Dun
can never was i'll for 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. lie
was in Cuba for months when the men
we're falling from illness on his right
hand and on his left, and yet he stood
untouched. He fought In the Philip
pine jungles and came through as
healthy as the day he landed in the
islands. His death came suddenly
without any warning. An hour before
nc OiSu Nc uAu uOl hhOW NAS>e AS "AN
Ill.
General Duncan was born In an
army tent on the plains OF Texas In
1853. He lived the army life as a boy
and as a man. He has son In the
service. thus making series Of four
generations Of army officers in the
Duncan family. General Duncan led
the assault upon supposedly impreg-
nable stronghold of the Moros on the
Island of Jolo. This was one OF the
most decisive battles in the islands
and the loss of the troops was heavy,
but in the midst of the fight General
Duncan, who then was a 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
loan state from which the United
States secured the territory known as
the Panama Canal Zone 1t 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 al the pres
idential election as TO jeopardize the
future of the country, and so they
have asked the authorities At Wash
ington TO delegate United States Of
ficials to supervise the election and
to see that 1t passes on peacefully.
The United States has consented.
1t is long while since there were
troops at the polls In the United
States. 1t is possible, of course, the
troops may not be sent to the voting
places in Panama, but that civilian Of
flcials may be asked to perform the
duty. this government taking 1t for
granted that their presence will have
the necessary moral effect. The
chances are. however. that the Tenth
Infantry, which is now stationed on
tho isthmCs win be sent into Pana-
ma On registration day and again on
election day to keep the rival fac
lions In order and to see that there
is fair play all around.
People Flock TO Mount Vernon.
The women regents of Mount
Vernon have just held their an.
nuaI session at the ancient mansion
of the Washington family. The build
ings on the Washington estate. except
the main structure. have run down
and extensive repairs will be neces-
sary. From the first Of April until
the present writing the number Of
pilgrims to Mount Vernon has broken
the records Of the years for the same
length OF time.
The board Of womer which has
charge of Mount Vernon on behalf OF
the association, which years ago took
over the care Of the estate. is COM
posed OF enthusiasts in the cause Of