Evening star., 1948-09-12
Fifty Years Ago

The Star on September ), 1898, reported
"A dispatch has been received at the War
Department from Maj. Gen.
Trouble in Breckenridge showing q bad state
Comp OF affairs at chickamausa. He
said that the undisciplined rest
lessness Of the troops led to an attempt to
assassinate Col. Govan of the 1st Mississippi
Volunteers, and that q court-martial of the
remaining officers of the regiment had been
convened to investigate the matter" Gen.
Breckinridge in his telegram disclosed that
there were l,22S cases Of sickness in the camp,
Of which $50 were Of typhoid fever. Meanwhile.
at Montauk Point, Long Island, soldiers who
were seriously Ill were lying on mattresses on
the floor, because Of the lack of tent space. "
Among 900 veterans from Santiago, 200 were
sick The military hospital at San Francisco
had 315 patients. Veterans not Ill were rest
less because they feared they soon would be,
If they were not discharged and allowed to re-
turn to their homes Immediately.
According to an official statement from the
Army high command, printed in The Star of
September 6, 1898, the number
Officer of soldiers killed in battle in
cosuojties the war with Spain was 1884,
OF these, 231 were enlisted
men and 80 were oficers-a "strikingly large
percentage" Of commissioned personnel. Such
record, 1t was explained, was unprecedented
in the battles Of the world" At Omdurman,
although the loss Of life was particularly heavy.
the list Of killed included only one officer Of
the British Army"
when Company B Of the 10th Regiment.
Pennsylvania Volunteers, returned from Ma
nila," announced The Star for
Monument September 7. 1898, 'the members
Reodv will find their names emblazoned
on tablets Of marble on . huge
steel tower Of Einel-like design, standing In
the very center Of the business section Of New
Brighton, and surmounted by the nag they
fought and suffered for in the Philippines.
New Brighton, few miles below Pittsburgh,
is the first place in the United States where
memorial Of the just-ended war has been
placed. It will 60 down in history with this
distinction, as we'll as that Of having honored
its soldiers while they were still In the field.
This is an innovation in the method OF monu-
ment making The memorial Is Of the finest
steel and 100 feet high. - = It is OF graceful
design and built on the general lines Of the
Eihel Tower at Paris"
-
Most Of the edition Of The Star dated Sep
tember 9, 1898, was devoted to describing the
return Of the LIST Regiment, Dis
Heroes an trict of Columbia Volunteer In
Parade fantry from Cuba. When the
train arrived at the station. from
every throat there poured paean OF welcome
Cheer after cheer went up from the throng IN
the streets The soldiers leaned out OF car
windows and returned the salutations to the
best of their ability. Every face, no matter
how wan and pinched it was, bore glad smile
that seemed to glorify it, and 1t was easy TO
see how delighted all were to reach home and
their dear ones again" Col George H. Harries
was greeted by his son Percy and his sister.
The latter came forward with beautiful
wreath of laurel leaves and orchids. tied with
profuse ribbons in the national colors.' Then
luncheon was served to the veterans. After
the meal the regiment marched up Pennsyi-
varia avenue to be reviewed by President Nc
Kinley. 'It was generally remarked that the
men In the ranks, while greatly enaaeiated.
looked well"