Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 210, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1916 — BORDER LIFE OF INDIANA SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

BORDER LIFE OF INDIANA SOLDIERS

Lieutenant Tuteur Has Attack of Dengue, and Raises Beans—Major Healey Sends in Pinch Hitter. Mercedes, Tex., Aug. 31.—Several shots were fired yesterday at a detachment of the Third Minnesota regiment that is doing guard duty along the river at Progresso. The shots came from the underbrush around the camp. The shots were answered, but no one was found. Wednesday evening, just after dark, the detachment also was fired on from the brush on the American side of the river and a call was sent to Mercedes to the Third cavalry headquarters for help. The regular troops were not sent as the river guards reported they believed the danger had passed. The Minnesota troops fired fifty or more shots into the brush. The regular army officers are not inclined to believe that the shooting was by an organized band, but by some individual Mexican, who resented the placing of the troops in the locality. The fifth death at Llano Grande and the second among the Indiana troops since July 15, occurred yesterday when Loyal B. Harris, Company H, First Indiana, of Knox, died of peritonitis. Although Harris belonged to an Indiana regiment, he was not an Indiana man, but had lived at Milford, Tex., joining when the Indiana troops stopped at .Waco, Tex., on the way to the border. His mother at Milford was notified and today the bdily was shipped to her. A military funeral was held at Mercedes, the First Indiana band playing the funeral dirge and a squad from Company H firing a salute over the coffin at the railway station. As the body was placed on the train, the company bugler sounded taps. The other death among Indiana troops was that of Private Wolfe, of the Ft. Wayne company, who died of dilation of the heart, caused by overexercise when swimming. Three deaths* have occurred in the Minnesota troops, making a total of five deaths among 12,000 troops here in two months. The officers regard this as a low death rate. Two of the deaths were caused by accidents. A little row of green sprouts in front of the quarters of Lieut. Arthur Tuteur, of Major Heale.y’s battalion, attracts the attention of all visitors. The lieutenant planted some army beans and they are growing in fine style and he expects to supply the officers in a week or two. Lieutenant Tuteur was released from the hospital yesterday after a few days’ attack of dengue fever. But he never was too sick to write a letter to Madison, Ind., every day. Every one has read how Casey enveloped Mudville in gloom when he struck out in a critical game. Weil, Casey has naught on Mess Sergeant Elliott, Company G, Third Indiana, of Portland. There was a red-hot game on between the Third Indiana and the First Minnesota, and the scone was five all. Major George Healey, an enthusiastic fan, was dancing about, rooting for his team. “Put in a pinch hitter, there!” yelled the major, just as if he was bossing the Rensselaer team against the Remington Tigers. He pointed to the two men on bases and indulged in a lot of gibbering that was taken to mean that a pinch hitter was expected to knock a home run. Sergeant Elliott stepped to the bat, spat on his hands in true Casey style; rubbed them in the dust, and then rubbed them on his trousers, just like Casey did. And then like Casey did, he struck out, and retired the Indiana team. The game was later lost. Major Healey—but why continue this sorrowful tale. A month ago Pard disappeared. Pard is the bull dog mascot of Co. C, Third regiment, of Monticello. He is a favorite with the soldiers not only of his command, but also among his neighbors. Wednesday a scouting party found Pard tied to a tcns in a Minnesota battery, and at once reported to. Company C. Thirty men from the company slipped over to the Minnesota battery and engaged the artillery men in “conversation” while one detailed for the purpose slipped Pard away. The “conversation” resulted in a number of black eyes and torn ears, and came near involving both regiments in a general row. But Company C has its Pard, and Pard seems glad to get home.