MARS AND CUPID.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 292, 17 December 1901, Page 2

MARS AND CUPID.

A SOLDIER’S LOVE EXPERIENCES.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 10. President Roosevelt and AdjutauV General Corbin are now considering one of the most peculiar cases that has ever come before the War Department. 1h- Court of Mars has been temporarily put at the disposal of Cupid. William P. Crawford volunteered at. tno outbreak of the Spanish war. lie laised a company, was commissioned a, captain and became a part of the second regiment of South Carolina M-. Crawford was the editor and owner of a Chester newspaper. He was 2b years old, tall and fine looking. IPs intimate friends know that he had an “episode.” ft was hinted that a beautiful Virginia girl with with whom he was deeply in love had put him on probation. He lived up to her requirements, and when lie expected to -lake her his bride she went to the altar with another. It was believed that this was one reason wiiy Crawlord hastened to the war. • Rut the service in Cuba was ioo mild. War in the Philippines promised ino.e danger and excitement. So, on the muster out of the regiment, ho immediately began recruiting a company for ihe war in the East and went there with a commission. For two years ho saw hard service, was in many fights, and made an excellent record as a soldier and an officer. He chased Filipinos through the marsh and forest, became familiar with the music of the Mauser bullets, and endured hardships with unfailing good humor. He wished to remain over there, hut had to come hack last summer with the last of the volunteers. However, he applied for a commission in the regular army, was strongly endorsed by his colonel, and on reaching .Spn Francisco passed an examination that put him high up in the list. Then he returned to his home in Chester. About two weeks before the death of President McKinley, it was announced that Crawford had been appointed a lieutenant in the regular army. The' President's assassination delayed the issue of the commission, and in the meantime an appeal was made by persons in this town to prevent the issuing of the commission.'

The reason alleged was that Captain Crawford had just declined to marry the young lady to whom he was engaged. General Corbin was asked to “ investigate ” the matter. This he consented to do. Captain Crawford would make no public defence, and was summoned to Washington. All that has become public is that the wedding of Captain Crawford and "eliecca Douglass, a cultured and | beautiful young woman, was to have been celebrated three weeks ago. Cantain Crawford spent Tuesday evening at the home of the bride-elect, arid on Wednesday morning, it is said, sent her mother a note saying he had ceas ed to love her daughter, and could not marry her. These arc the facts that have lieen laid before the War Department by tho friends of the young lady, who claim that Crawford, having acted in an ungentlemanly manner, should not properly he an officer in the army. Captain" Crawford’s friends say that he has potent reasons, but whether he will give them, even to General Corbin, is another matter. How far Gen. Corbin will consider it his duty to probe the matter or where he draws the line for officers’ eligibility for commissions is unknown.