Webster City freeman., 1913-11-25
Three DEATHS
IN COMPANY c
Guy Burkhuff of Ellsworth, James
Stevens of Jefferson and
Burton Dutttu of
Jewell.
DIED AT CHICKAMAUGA PARK
Company G Did Guard Duty at Sioux
City in 1894 Under Capt.
Aug. F. Hoffman,.

ter the return of the recruiting par
ty to their regiment, considerable
time was spent in drill and in Sc
curing equipment for the recruits.
Orders came to prepare for a move
to Porto Rico. Surplus baggage was
burned and all preparation made for
light travel, but suddenly the order
was countermanded. Then immedi-
ately followed the great typhoid
fever epidemic that created such sad
havoc at Chicamauga Park. The
men had held up under the excite
ment for a prospective journey and
when the journey was abandoned
and the news came that the war was
practically over, a reaction set in
and wave of sickness submerged
the camp. There was hardly COM
pany in the fifty-second regiment
that did not have forty men sick at
one time, and there were hardly
well men enough to take care of the
sick This sickness consisted mostly
OF typhoid and malarial fever. Com
pany c was saddened by three deaths
from this cause. The first was Guy
Barkhuff, of Ellsworth, who died
August 22d, then James Stevens, of
Jefferson, Iowa, who died August
2Sth, and Burton R. Dutton, of Jew
oil whn Hiad hox,
Guy Barkhuff was a lad of little
more than eighteen years of age, but
he had taken his enlistment much
more seriously than many of his old
er comrades. He was anxious to do
his full duty and considered it a dis
grace to be heard complaining of
any duty or hardship that fell to his
lot. He was young man Of unusu-
al promise. Sickness overlook him
in less than one month after his ar
rival at camp.
James Stevens was indeed a
martyr to the cause of charity. When
the typhoid fever broke out in the
camp, Stevens was one of those who
volunteered to take care of the sick.
Physically, he was almost perfect
and he had strength and endurance
far beyond the average. But in car
ing for the sick, he became infect
ed with the deadly germ of typhoid, |
against which strength and endur-
ance were powerless. His sickness
and death followed. No hero of any
battle deserves greater credit than
Stevens. He lost his life in the per-
formance of voluntarily accepted |
duty. that he knew was filled with |
danger
Burton r. Dutton was a stenog-
rapher, and was therefore employed |
great deal about headquarters.
Just prior to his sickness, he had |
been detailed to assist at the head
quarters of General Brooke and had
gained distinction on account of his
careful and accurate work. In 60
ing to and from the generals head
quarters, he passed spring of wat
er so cool and enticing that he stop
ped to drink. The water was laden
with the germs of typhoid fever and
Dutton had thus taken into his sys-
tenn the poison that caused his
death. On July 1st, Dutton had
been appointed corporal; after his
death the vacancy was filled by the
appointment of VIII Frazier.
During this period of sickness, the
good people at home were burning
with anxiety to do something to help
the men in camp. Public meetings
we're held and the situation discuss
ed. kilograms were sent to those in
charge, Offering any relief that
should be asked. Money was sub
scribed and forwarded to the COM
pany to aid in securing such extra
accommodations as the sick needed;
and everything that loving, anxious
hearts could prompt was done for
the relief Of the suffering.
THE COMPANY MUSTERED OUT. |
On August 2Sth, the Fifty-second
regiment was ordered back to Camp |
Mckinley, at Des Moines, and on the
12th Of September, was sent home
on thirty days furlough. On Octo-
Der 18th, the regiment re-assembled
at Camp Mckinley and on October |
30th was mustered out of the ser
vice.
After the muster out CT the Fifty
second regiment, the National guard
was reorganized and Company &C"