Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-06
RETURNING VETERANS
SWAP TRAVELLING BAGS
Valuable Manuscript History OF Louisi-
nun Tigers In MissinE-Sew Orlehns
part In Great Exciteuent.

Tigers MthStnP-NNN vi iN"""
Party In Great EHciteuen'.
Great was the wrath OF the veterans
Of the Louisiana party that journeEed
n WASHINGTON from Richmond when
/, was discovered as the train APP
proached the National Capital that
Colonel w Albertus Koch, OF the
editorial staff OF the New Orleans Item.
and historian of the camps in the
Crescent City, had been robbed
ColoneiS7Koch himself started the
commotion. rushing into coach where
u band Of the survivors OF the "Loui-
s.ana Tigers were singing a roliick-
ing chorus of "Were Burying the
Yankees In the Big Bayou
The colonel was laboring under great
excitement. His long black string tie
Aut,ered in the air as he dashed
through the aisle. His lonE linen
dus,er tapped signals of distress
against the arms OF the seats on either
side.
Com -ades." he announced, breathing
hard. as a hush came over the group
of old soldiers. some tarnation rap
scallion has sloped with my gripsack.
I leN my seat about forty miles down
the road to look after some OF the
sponsors and maids Of honor in the
coach ahead, and while l was gone.
blast my lungs and liver. gentlemen.
IL some impudent scoundrel didn't have
the audacity TO substitute for my valu-
able baggage q dirty. ragged grip that
contains nothing but a lot OF soiled
underwear and an empty quart bottle.
Ny bag contains not only my personal
toilet trinkets, gentlemen, but my
transportation from Washington to
New York, two or three dozen letters
OF introduction to prominent citizens
OF Washington and New -ork. business
papers Of great value to the New Or
leans Item. and. what is worse yet.
the manuscript of my History of the
Louisiana Tigers is gone with the
rest Of my valuable possessions. Forty
two years OF study and research l
devoted TO that work, gentlemen. To
4 begin again compiling the indis puta bic
records carried in my history Is simply
impossible at my time of life. The
blank. dashed scoundrel must be ap-
pretended at any cost. When l lay
these hands of mine upon him I prom
isa YOU / will twist the rascal around
his own neck until there is nothing
left of him but the END. of his shirt
collar sticking out Of his thievish
eyes"
The tempestuous defamation of
Colonel Koch was followed by a hur-
red search of the train. The hunt
for the missing travelling bag was
futile.
On a red-striped collar among the
so!led linen In the bag left in Colonel
Koch's seat the initials "R. E" were
discovered by Captain AL Mendoza, Of
the New Orleans party. The much
worn leather flap of the bag was
stamped with letters partly effaced
but under the initials charlottesville.
Va" was deciphered.
Captain David a. Brown. chairman
of the entertainment committee of the
reunion. was communicated with and
SUPPLIED with the clews given in the
marks on the bag. He advised TAX
ing up the matter at once with Major
C.. B. Linney. adjutant of John Bowio
strange Camp, Confederate Veterans.
Charlottesville. saying that Major Lin
s$&.ey was personally acquainted with
every veteran for fifty miles around
Charlottesville.
1t was suggested that Colonel Kochs
bag had been taken by mistake by
the mysterious "R. E." who might be
some innocent old soldier whose de-.
iective eyesight was responsible for
the inadvertent exchange of travelling
bags.
colonel Koch is inconsolable over
the loss of the manuscript of his
history Of the Louisiana Tigers" He
has notified Captain Brown and Major
Linney that he will remain in Wash
ington until next Tuesday. awaiting
information that may lead to the re-
covery of his lost bag.