Evening journal., 1922-11-16
Mystery Surrounds Death
of Major Cronkhite
Rr ERANK 4. CLARNOE
Omitted Press STAFF Correspondent)
CHAPTER I.

Omitted Press STAFF Correspondent
CHAPTER I.
Across the edge Of the parade
ground at Camp Lewis Washington
and out toward the open countr,
would the regular columns OF tht
.15th engineers. At the head OF the
; column. oficer-in-command for tha'
day marched Captain Robert 7
Rosenbluth. United States army In
. an advanced position some forty
guards in front OF the guide Of
Company A. marched Sergeant Bug
Ter Roland II. Pothier, detailed 10
relay orders back TO the regiment
from the examination officer, Ma
jor Alexander p. Cronkhite, L. S. A.
mounted and riding some fifty yards
ahead of the column.
II was a practice march. Route
, step had been the order and as the
men stroke along, talk Of the war
it was then October 25, 1918, and
the Boches were cracking, 50 re
ports said-was heard in every
squad Of every company. Snatches
OF hummed melody were lifted oc-
casionally. A puff Of cigarette
smoke mingled with the dust tend
rils eSery yard or so. The soldier
lads had not care in the world
except the regret that they had not
been sent across" before the fes-
INVITES in France were brought TO
q successful conclusion.
Captain Rosenbluth strode along
wiki set face. The march perhaps
was not so much OF a pleasure for
HIM He had Just gotten by" in
his commission examinations. and
the march today was 10 he the final
test Of his ability to retain his cap
tain's commission. He seemed los
IN thought. Sergeant Bugler
Poth.er. bugle dangling at his side
Eept-his eve fixed on the straight
back OF Major Cronkhite. riding on
before him. That officers eyes were I
busy. his figure alert. He was 70 /
to, the ability Of an officer today
and he was looking for likely I
ground for maneuvers. Suddenly
before him loomed the danger sign
81 a crossroads. Figuratively speak
Ing. a crossroad would be under
shell-hre and to all intents and pres
ent purposes the column behind him
was in France, advancing toward
the front line trenches. He refined
In his horse. and raised his arm 10
Signal the regiment. Sergeant
Pothier repeated the gesture. and
all along the column officers or nom (
commissioned officers did likewise.
The snake-line column shuttled 20
a halt and grounded arms.
At a signal Sergeant Pothier and
Captain Rosenbluth walked forward
to Join the examining officer. The
iiien AT rest fifty yards back OF them
could see gestures lips moving, and z
ahe two officers apparently examin- 7
ing the terrain. The underbrush s
was thick Probably they were :
boxing for a COW trail or abandon- !
ed road 10 take the column around Il
the danger point. The men should a
Y orry. Let the officers figure II out. I
Few took heed OF what was going d
on in front OF them. Majsr Cronk-
hite disappeared into the under .
growth. In a moment several shots q
rang out. :
They're sure trying 10 make It L
muttered big fellow in i
he first squad Of Company a.
Then they saw Sergeant Pothier u
flashing back toward the column. o
4 Major Cronkhite is dying" ;
5othier gasped. Get a doctor" ;
A file closer obeyed. The body OF .'
he major vas brought back 20 the lS
column. He was dead. The riEh- :
ide OF his uniform reeked with I
ilood. His opened blouse revealed I
gaping wound in his right arm
't. Sretcher-men were summoned
nd the major was borne back to
he hospital The column was
loaded about and sent back TO its
arracks. At the post hospital med
-7sl officers declared the major had
led within two minutes after the %
ullet had struck him. 20
Captain Rosenbluth reported Al Ia
~.