Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-10
TROOP BIS BOY
MASCOT KILLED
Lad, 10, Who Ran Away to
Camp Fetzer, Meets Death
Riding Army Truck
SON OF TYRONE WIDOW
By n StdF Corrcspor dent


Camp Fet1cr. MI. Gretna. Pa,
Aug. l0.-"Buddy. mascot Of Troop
II. First PPunsylvania Cavalry, who
ran away to war" with tho troop when
II left Tyrone last week for this camp.
was killed this morning.
His real name was Paul THOMPSON,
son of Mrs. Ira Thompson. widow.
of Tyrone. He had been the troops
mascot from the time of its reorgani-
zation.
When the troop cntrained for camp
the mascot pleaded to go along. BE
cause Of his vouth--hc was thirteen
years old--thc troop commander refused
to permit him. The lad hid aboard the
troop train. and when it neared Mt.
GrctDa. he revealed his presence to the
troopers
Get mo n uniform so I can be n
regular 'buddy.'' he told the supply
sergeant of the troou. An examination
of the uuartcrmastcr' warehouse dis
closed there was no uniform small
enough for tho mascot. A uniform was
cut down to his size and hat was
procured which. lined with much paper.
was made to fit him. He proudly wore
thc yellow cord Of til" cavalry. and from
tho start belonged" "
Jclteh from Truck
This morning. he was sent from
Fountain Head field. where the troon is
oncumpcd. to Mt. Grctna. Returning,
he jumued on the rear Of n motortruck.
Near the camp. he was jolted from the
truck. His head struck rock.
When the men on the truck reached
Buddy's side. they. they asked him
whore he belonged.
Wincing with pain. he half rose and
pointed to his hatband.
Troop B. he said proudly.
He lapscd into unconsriouSncss then
and died an hour later. although Major
Douglas Ma"farlan. Of Eighteenth and
Chestnut streets. Philadelphia. made
every effort to save tho boys life at tho
rcgimental infrmary.
Buddv'S body will be taken tn LCban
on. and later shipped home. Members
of Troop B. many of them hardened
overseas men. We're touched by the fate
of their mascot.
Coroner Probes Death
They will send flowers with Buddy'S
body when it iSsent back to the mother
at Tyrone. An honorary escort may
accompany the body.
Investigation of his death is being
made BY Coroner John LIGHT. Of Ieb-
anon.
Major General Charles Muir. who
commanded the Twenty eighth Division
in France. visited the camp today, and
expressed himself aS highly pleased with
lis general appearance and the morale
of the men.
He said the new Twenty eighth hi.
vision. reOrgauizcd since tho war. il Il
worthy successor to the old Iron hi
vision. He also commended the work
of General Price.
Major General Charles VI. Clement.
retired. who commanded the Twenty
eighth on the Mexican border and at
Camp Hancock. was another visitor at
Camp Fctzcr today.
He said this years camp Is far su
pcrior to the last one. back in 1916.
He noticed particularly the fact that
there is no loaiing about the camp and
that the morale of the troops is Spcn-
did.
Work Is Praised
Both General Price and Adjutant
General Bcary arc to be- congratulated.
he said. for the reorganization of til"
Twenty. eighth. lie pointed out that
two years had been required to rcor-
gauizc the PENNSYLVANIA guard follow
ing the Spanish American War. where
as the reorganization of the Twenty
eighth following tn" world war has
been accomplished in one year.
I'p here. where the mountain breczcs
blow and tho thunder storms play
aroundS the hills, $50 late citizens of
Philadelphia are damply but surely
turning into soldiers.
Major j. g. Macomb, Of the regular
army. was billetcd with tn, Phiiadel-
phia organization yesterday afternoon.
and will direct their military activities
during the next twelve days. He was
pleased with the looks of his charges
and smiled appreciativcly at their game
efforts to make squads right look less
like the crowd around subway ticket
Office.
Many Recruits 1S to 20
I'VE are started now, was the COM
ment Of Major Jackson W. Study,
in command of the regiment, ''and I'm
looking for tine work from my officers
and men.
II" explained that The rest o. this
week would BE- devoted to fundamentals
and squad movements Physical cXcr-
ciSoS every day will also play large
part in development of the now men.