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Vancouver Area Newspaper Stories |
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Vancouver Area Newspaper Stories |
News of the 14th Infantry
Our thanks to Jeff Davis, President, Vancouver Barracks Historical Association, for providing these articles and photos...
1885 November 10 -- The Daily Astorian, Astoria, Oregon [14th Infantry responds to anti-Chinese attacks by local workers]
Tacoma, Nov. 8 -- The last Chinaman, Sun Chong, a merchant, left the city this morning. Chinaman Jim Kee, charged with incendiarism in setting fire to Chinatown was discharged yesterday, for what of evidence to convict, though no doubt the fire was set by some Chinamen, as a white Deputy Sheriff guarded teh houses and no white man was seen in the vicinity.
No overt act has been committed here and the citizens view the threatened arrests by authority of the United States court as Vancouver as a huge joke.
Almost all the bar of Tacoma have placed their service at the disposal of citizens indicted, and more than half the property of the city is pledged for what bail may be demanded.
United States Marshal George went through here on a train with six companies of troops for Seattle, and returned to-day.
A dispatch from Seattle says the troops will come down from Seattle to-morrow, and will go direct to Fort Vancouver. The trip here was a fool's errand.
White men and women are coming in daily, and are getting employment. An idle white man can not be found in the place. This is the effect of the Chinese exodus. There is a marked and healthy influence in business.
Seattle, Nov, 8 -- Ten companies of the Fourteenth Infantry, Colonel DeRussy, commanding, arrived here at 2:30 this morning. They were met at the depot by an immense crowd, but no demonstrations were made. Two companies of local militia guarded the track as the train came in and kept the people from approaching the cars. Soon after arriving, the troops marched to the quarters prepared for them in Chinatown, where they are now stationed.
No disturbance has taken place except a few personal encounters between citizens and half intoxicated soldiers.
The troops received three months' pay yesterday, and are spending their money freely.
The feeling against the Chinese among the private soldiers seems to be fully as great as amount the laboring men. Several times to-day parties of soldiers have attacked Chinamen, as they consider them to blame for their having been ordered here. In one instance a soldier who was found beating a Chinaman was thoroughly whipped by a Knight of Labor who happened to be present.
The troops are supplied with five days rations. It is probable that the most of them will be withdrawn at the end of that time, and not more than one hundred will remain in Seattle. Anti-Chinese men are at work among the privates, and they are beginning to express the belief that they would not protect the Chinese in case of trouble. There is no probability of conflict.
Governor Squire is here with the troops, and General Gibbon is expected this evening.
The British consul at Port Townsend claims that some fo the Chinamen run out of Tacoma are British subjects, and states that the matter will be submitted to the British government which will take such action as may seem fit. Many here think his talk is buncombe.
Drawing: Anti-Chinese riots cause Chinese to flee northwest cities Drawing from period newspaper: Anti-Chinese riots in Seattle
1886 January 16 -- The Daily Astorian, Astoria, Oregon
Since the burial of Private Lenihan, of the Fourteenth Infantry, who was killed at Vancouver December 23d, by James Conner, it is rumored that the surgeons at the garrison positively assert that the wound was made by the ball entering the top of the head and coming out just below the left eyebrow, showing that the man was shot by Conner while stooping down, or when Conner was still on the stairs, thus contradicting Conners statement that he shot Lenihan when they were facing each other on the floor. Conner was discharged by the justice of the peace, but there is now some talk of putting him on trial.
1887 August 6 -- Eugene City Guard, Eugene, Oregon ["I" Company travels to Lebanon, Oregon]
On Friday last Battery E, first U.S. artillery, and Company I of the fourteenth U.S. Infantry, arrived at Lebanon and camped just north of the city limits, where they remained until Sunday morning. The expedition was under the command of Col. Davis, and was joined there by Gen. Gibbons. The object of the march is to acquaint the men and horses with field service. They go from here to fish Lake, where they will be joined by F troop, second U.S. cavalry. On their return to Vancouver, they will go via the McKenzie route, Eugene and the West Side.
1890 December 16 -- Capitol Journal, Salem, Oregon
LIFE WAS A BURDEN
Vancouver, Wash., Dec. 16 -- Private Gjerdwine, F company, fourteenth infantry, just released from a term of confinement for military offense, committed suicide shortly after being relieved from guard duty. He went with his gun to the rear of the guard house, and untying one shoe and placing the muzzle of the gun in his mouth deliberately pulled the trigger with one of his toes, literally blowing his brains out. It is understood that he had a short time ago inherited quite a sum of money from relatives in the old country. The cause of the suicide is unknown.
1891 September 22 -- Capitol Journal, Salem, Oregon
A DISHONEST OFFICER
Leavenworth, Kan., Sept. 22 -- Lieut. James E. Dodge, of the Fourteenth Infantry, has been absent from his post for ten days and it is believed that he has deserted. Since his disappearance it has been discovered that his pay accounts for August were duplicated. The Commercial bank of Port Townsend paid him the first time, and on the last day of August he was paid by the paymaster in Leavenworth. This was discovered by the arrival here of the first bank vouchers, which he had neglected to indorse. They were returned to the bank indorsed by another officer, but suspicion was not aroused until his absence from here beyond the expiration of his leave. The paymaster at Vancouver telegraphs that he has paid the August vouchers for Lieutenant Dodge to the Commercial bank. During the week, his father, Dr. Dodge, arrived here from Hastings, Minn., and was terribly shocked to learn of his illegal absence, and of the duplication of accounts.
1892 April 30 -- The Dalles Times-Mountaineer, The Dallas, Oregon
Idaho and Montana Miners
Wallace, Idaho, April 25 -- The secretary and treasurer of the Butte Miners' Union passed a few days in Wallace last week. They thought from what they could find out that the fight was not for a half dollar a day, but that the mine owners were trying to break the miners' union up. The Miners' Union has assessed their members $5 per month each for the support of the Coeur d'Alene union. The Butte union has about 6000 members. The president of the Coeur d'Alene union was handed ten $1000 bills by the representative of the Butte union for the support of the Coeur d'Alene miners. As attempt was made today to put non-union men at work at the Standard mine, but none showed up. The Poorman mine at Burke will take out their pumps and let the mine flood. The Northern Pacific is taking all its freight cars outside. It is a fight to a finish between the mine-owners and the miners' union and it may take two years to settle it.
[Four months later, on August 31, 1892, Lt. Col. H. A. Theaker traveled with companies C, D, E, and F to Wallace, Idaho to quell the rioting miners, reported as "an insurrection". Bravo company traveled to nearby Burke, Idaho. The miners had destroyed one mine by dynamiting it's entrance, and committed other acts of violence including destruction of railroad cars and equipment. The troops were able to restore order, and returned to Vancouver Barracks by mid-September.]
1893 May 12 -- Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon
To Eject Railroad Builders
Portland, May 12 -- Company F, fourteenth infantry, arrived here this morning from Vancouver Barracks, Washington and boarded the Northern Pacific train for Puyallup, Washington where they will use military persuasion to prevent Frank C. Ross from invading the Indian Reservation with his railroad.
[They returned in August of that year]
1893 May 13 -- The Dallas Daily Chronicle, The Dallas, Oregon
ORDERED TO TACOMA
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United States Troops Will End
the Trouble at Puyallup
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WILL LEAVE VANCOUVER TODAY
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And from Tacoma Will Go Direct
to the Reservation and Stop the
Railroad Building
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Vancouver, Wash., May 17 -- The continued intrusion of Ross and his railroad party from Tacoma, and their determination to build across the Puyallup reservation at all hazards, culminated in a telegraphic order from the war department to forcibly put a stop to the railroad building. This afternoon General Roger issued the necessary order from headquarters, department of the Columbia, and Captain Carpenter and his company of the Fourteenth Infantry were selected to repel the invaders. The troops were issued 40 rounds of ammunition and tent equipage and rations tonight, and are busily engaged in preparing for field service. They leave Vancouver barracks about 5 0'clock tomorrow morning by steamer for Portland. On arriving there they will proceed at once to the Puyallup reservation and enforce their orders against the intruders on the reservation. Captain Carpenter was selected for this service because he is one of the senior officers of the regiment and has a fine record for field service.
1894 July 14 -- The Dallas Times-Mountaineer
Under Government Protection
Tacoma, July 8 -- The local train to Seattle leaving here at 8:50 P.M. was fired at by ambushed men while crossing the Puyallup reservation, five miles from the city. The men who fired were lying in the grass on both sides of the track. They are supposed to have been strikers. They fired about 20 shots, which were returned by the deputy marshals on board. The bullets flew around the engineer's head and about the passenger coach. No one was hurt. Superintendent McCabe was notified by wire as soon as the train reached Puyallup. Thirty deputies were put aboard the Seattle train, due to leave at 4:39, which was dispatched at once. The conductor was instructed to stop the train if any shooting occurred, so the deputies could charge the bush whackers. Up to 8 P.M. no further shooting has been reported.
Companies A, B, D and E, Fourteenth Infantry, U.S.A., arrived from Vancouver barracks at 11 A.M. under command of Colonel Thomas A. Anderson. The news quickly spread, and soon a crowd of several hundred strikers gathered at the depot. Their faces were dark, but little was said and no threats were made. The troops have pitched their camp in the railroad yard at the depot, which fairly bristles with arms tonight. Besides the 208 regulars, 150 deputy marshals and a dozen special police were on duty during the day.
Beginning this evening, seven or eight regulars will go out on every train leaving Tacoma, returning with the train. Colonel Anderson expects to be here a month, and expects more troops will be sent from Vancouver. Local trains on this division are all running. A freight train started west from Ellensburgh today. Tomorrow a freight train will be sent East and another to Portland.
[Nearly the entire front page of this paper was filled with stories about the nationwide "Pullman Strike", an attempt by unions to stop all nationwide rail traffic until their demands were met. There was considerable violence, destruction of railroad property, and deaths.
President Cleveland declared martial law in the city of Chicago, as soldiers and strikers fought in the rail yards. Rioters started fires, in one stockyard they burned more than 500 stock cars, and tried to burn down the sprawling Armour meat packing complex. Railroad maintenance shops were burned to the ground. Thousands of men were recruited to join the police force, and two brigades of soldiers were brought into the city to restore order.
As for the 14th infantry, C company was sent to Wallace, Idaho and returned in two weeks. D company went to Umatillo Junction, Oregon, and Company G went to Boise, Idaho to protect local deputy marshals and to escort a large group of prisoners rounded up by the marshals, to a makeshift prison on the western edge of Idaho.]
14th Infantry troops in front of Pacific House in Seattle
Acknowledgements:
Vancouver Area Newspaper Stories
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Last modified: July 17, 2021
