Chapter IX: The Militia

Troops arrived all night on April 12, coming from different parts of the State. They were quartered in the electric cars stalled in Chelsea Square, in Grand Army Hall, in stores, and in fact, about any place where they happened to be. It mattered little, as very few men got a chance to sleep. Headquarters were established at the Police Station in the Court House, Colonel Charles P. Nutter taking command, being relieved later by Colonel E. Leroy Sweetser. A very heavy sentry detail was swung out during the night, forming a complete cordon around the burned area and the houses on the edge, which were only partly destroyed. Each man had ten rounds of ball cartridges issued him with instructions to use them if his challenge was unheeded. Orders had been issued to pass no one in or out of the burned area during the night, but early in the morning orders were given to admit those with passes.

The following is the first general order issued in Chelsea:--

“Headquarters Provisional Battalion,
Chelsea, Mass, April 13, 1908.

“General Orders No. 1:

“1. The headquarters of this Battalion will be at police
headquarters until further orders.

“2. Officers will be held strictly accountable for the safety
of all private property within their districts, and will allow
no one to disturb or carry away any private property from the
ruins without a permit signed by Herbert W. Stebbins, or upon
orders from the proper authorities.

“3. Enlisted men will not leave the street to trespass upon
private property, nor will they touch any private property,
except to save it from loss, and then turn it over at once to
their company commanders. Sentinels will treat all persons
courteously in enforcing orders.

“4. All officers and men will cooperate and assist the members
of the city government, the police department, and authorized
committees in their work.

“5. Lieutenant Williams, assistant surgeon, Eighth Infantry,
will make an inspection of the sanitary conditions within the
city limits and report to these headquarters.

“6. Captain Whitney, Fifth Infantry, will inspect and report
all walls that are unsafe within the burnt district.

“By order of Colonel Sweetser,

“HARRY F. BROWN,
“First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant,
“Acting Adjutant.”

There were three forms of passes issued, a blue one, which admitted to the lines, which was taken up; a white one, which permitted the bearer to search among the ruins; and a special one, allowing the holder to open a safe, which read as follows:--

“Permit to Enter upon Property.

Good for this day only

---- has permission to enter upon ---- Street, previously
occupied by him, to examine premises, open safe and remove
property belonging to him, between the hours of 8 A.M. and 5
P.M.,----April --, 1908.

“GASPAR G. SHANNON,
“Chief of Police.

“Use of Explosives Forbidden.”

COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908

TROOP A, FIRST SQUADRON OF CAVALRY]

Many who had fled from the city when their homes were burned were unable to get back without much trouble, having first to satisfy guards on Chelsea Bridge and the highways leading to Everett and Revere that they had a right to be in the city. After they got through these outposts they could not get into the burned area without a pass from Colonel Nutter, who was in command. During the early hours hundreds of residents on the farther side of the fire desired to go to Boston and other places to work, but could not do so on account of the cordon of soldiers, until arrangements were made to gather the people together in large groups and march them through.

The police willingly gave in to the soldiers, and in no instance did a clash occur. Every one was stopped at the picket line and only firemen, policemen, and people with passes got by. Many people were indignant when stopped, and commenced to abuse the soldiers, but as a rule the reply, “Those are the orders, sir,” brought a smile and, “Well, I’m not blaming you.”

An incident of the military patrol of the ruins was an encounter between the sentries and a gang of one hundred and fifty Italian laborers, who failed to comprehend the fact that they could not pass the guard lines without permits, although they had been sent to work on the ruins. The gang tried to rush the lines and a hand-to-hand tussle followed, in which some of the workmen were roughly handled.

Another incident occurred on Broadway. A soldier ordered a chauffeur to stop his machine. The man replied in an insulting manner and continued on his way. He was placed under arrest and turned over to the civil authorities. Judge Bossom sentenced him to six months in the House of Correction, stating that his conduct was reprehensible, and that at such a time every one should obey orders of those in charge and do everything in his power to assist.

There is no question that the militia did its duty; the men worked hard, with practically no sleep and little food for days. They not only did guard duty, but helped in the relief work, and volunteered for many other duties.

Soldiers were detailed to search among the ruins for bodies; and when one was found, a guard was placed over it and was obliged to stay there, sometimes for hours, until the coroner could be found. They kept people away from the threatening walls and guarded what property was left. They acted as messengers and stood for six to eight hours at a stretch on guard. The rations consisted of whatever could be got together, always coffee and bread, with sometimes canned meats or beans, which was very meager compared to the regulation field ration.

It was unjust and contemptible for a certain Boston paper to come out with big headlines to the effect that the soldiers were looting, and the fact that this paper made an editorial apology the next day does not excuse the city editor for allowing it to get in. In the first place the soldiers had no time for looting, and in the second there was nothing of value left to steal. The following article taken from “Practical Politics” expresses the writer’s feelings very well:--

“Whoever framed up the story that there was looting by the
soldiers placed to guard people’s property as well as the
lives of the community, did the soldier boys a great wrong,
for the story went broadcast all over the country, to the
effect that they had been guilty of the most heinous offense,
either in times of war or peace, that of looting the dead and
the helpless people. The stories did a great injustice to the
marines and jackies from the Navy Yard, as well as to the State
forces, and that it was not true was very promptly shown by
the governor and the adjutant general, both of whom nailed
the story before it had traveled much. The harm was done when
the press associations, accepting it as a bonafide piece of
news, sent it to all parts of the world. One of the odd things
about the accusation is that two members of the Massachusetts
Legislature, Senator Tilton S. Bell and Representative J. B.
Ferber, were among the soldiers on guard at Chelsea during the
critical times, and they did not see or hear of any looting.”

Editorials like the following appeared in many papers through the State:--

“We have no hesitation in saying that the charge of looting
made against the militia on duty in Chelsea is wholly
unwarranted, and that even were some individual member of our
military force guilty of such unsoldierly conduct, his offense
is no excuse for wholesale accusations against the body. The
troops, national and State, on duty in the burnt district have
been doing splendid work; everybody who has watched their
course has spoken in the highest terms of their care, courtesy,
vigilance, and soldierly bearing; and their services have
been of great value to the afflicted community in preserving
peace and property and facilitating the humanitarian work the
occasion demanded.

“We have every confidence in the discipline, efficiency,
integrity, and fidelity to duty of our troops; and if any
individual militiaman has deflected from the standards of
conduct expected and enforced, we may confidently count on his
punishment for his offense and his expulsion from the body.
Accusations against our troops are in bad taste and should not
be indulged in unless backed by the best evidence.”

Upon the withdrawal of the State troops from Chelsea, Mayor Beck sent the following letter to Adjutant General Brigham:--

“William M. Brigham, Adjutant General:

“Dear Sir,--As mayor of the city of Chelsea, I desire to
tender this official recognition of the prompt, efficient, and
valuable services rendered by the militia under your command,
detailed to preserve order and protect life and property in
Chelsea during and since the great conflagration.

“Order was maintained by your officers and troops under the
most trying circumstances, and no just criticism of their
conduct, other than that which is creditable, can exist.

“I feel especially grateful to both Colonel Charles P. Nutter
and Colonel E. Leroy Sweetser for their harmonious cooperation
with the civil authorities during this period.

“My grateful acknowledgment of obligation is also due to the
rank and file of each company, including the Fifth Company,
C. A. C., a large number of which, although their entire
possessions were lost and their families rendered homeless by
the fire, responded faithfully to the high call of military
duty without regard to their personal interests.

“Respectfully yours,

“JOHN E. BECK, Mayor.”