Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-08

which occurred on Decoration Day. at
the Liscomb cemetery. and protest.
ing against the sensational and un-
warranted dispersion contained in the
article as gathered by the reporter of
your esteemed paper, appearing under
date Of May S1.,1920.
1t is true there were several per-
sons injured. It Is not true So far as
can be ascertained. that there was
any negligence In misdirecting the
firing Of any gun, in the hands Of the
firing squad, nor is it known that
the barrel OF one OF the guns was
struck by shot from such misdirect-
ed gun, or that the same was the
cause Of the accident.
Reference was made in the article
to the shot being No. 5. 1t was In fact
No. IN.
The further statement is made that
a veteran whose name could not be as
certained, but who was a French
man know as Jack the Bearman."
was said to be responsible. and that
he was not familiar with the hand
ling OF q gun. This man, namely
Benazite Baptiste. was we'll known
In Liscomb and that neighborhood,
where he has been employed for
many years. He was q veteran and
had one year OF training in the man
ual Of arms during tho worlds war.
and had four, years service in the
French army. and waa Thoroughly
accustomed to the use Of fire arms,
and perhaps no man in Marshall
county was his superior in the matter
Of handling fire arms or knowing the
manual Of arms. Nearly anyone of
the neighborhood could have given
his correct name.
Post No. 81 Of the Legion wishes it
understood that they do. not attach
any blame whatever to him, and
they feel that, II there is any liability
which Is not admitted. that the mem
bers Of the post were equally re-
sponsible. The guns had been in
spected and three had been rejected
as unsuitable. and they, were loaded
with the guns turned in a direction
opposite from that OF the crowd. and
tho accident was one which was en-
tirely unforeseen. and the crowd was
fully warned to keep back. and the
guns were handled with proper care,
considering that they were loaded with
shot, and the persons injured were
standing In a direction back Of the
firing squad. -.
Exception Is also taken to the claim
that there was wild confusion. and
tho crowd milled about. women
screamed, and the wounded were
crying with pain" Nothing OF the
kind occurred. There was no con-
fusion. no hysteria and no screaming.
Exception is also taken to the
claim that "semblance OF first aid
was organized" but on the contrary
they wish 1t known that the best Of
first aid was at hand In the persons
of three skilled and competent sur
geons and several trained nurses.
Exception Is taken to the branding
Of the ceremony as a celebration in
any sense. Shot cartridges were not
used because of desire to celebrate
with greater notes.-the firing squad
found that by cutting of the load in
shot cartridges, the use of the guns
was Intellectual as q salute, and all
precautions were taken in firing the
salute SO that no disastrous result
could have been anticipated, and up
on investigation the Post has con-
Guided that no one is justified in
charging that the charge from the
gun in the hands OF any member of
the firing squad struck the barrel
which exploded.
We trust that you will give pupil
city to the contention of the mem
bers of the Post and give as much
publicity to this article as to the
featuring Of the same In your issue
of May 31st. The following resolution
expresses the sentiment OF the Post:
Be 1t resolved by members of the
Harry e. Powers Post No. 81 that we
do most sincerely regret the UNI
avoidable accident which occurred at
the Liscomb cemetery on May 30,
1920, resulting in the wounding of
many bystanders. during the firing
OF a salute over the grave of COM
rade.
We do also take this occasion to
make known the fact that upon in
vestigation we believe the occur
renee to have been wholly accidental.
and that no one should be charged
with any responsibility therefor, and
particularly do we wish to exonerate
Benazite Baptiste from any charge
of negligence or want Of skill or for
any responsibility individually, for
this most unfortunate accident. Harry