A Spilled Bowl of Soup, a Fatal Shot at Camp Murray

A great shock came to Camp Murray Saturday night in the fatal shooting of Private Thomas C. Vandiver by Private Frederick R. Stubbs. The shooting occurred after supper and was the result of a quarrel over some soup which had been spilled in the mess tent.

After leaving the mess tent, Vandiver, it is stated, followed Stubbs to his tent. Stubbs claims that he feared violence at the hands of Vandiver and shot him with a 30-30 Krag-Jorgenson in self-defense. The bullet struck Vandiver above the right groin and passed through his body, coming out the left hip.

The wounded man was taken to the brigade hospital at Camp Steilacoom and was operated upon by Major Ebert, chief surgeon; Major E. M. Brown, of Tacoma, chief surgeon of the First brigade, and Assistant Surgeon Arthur W. Morse.

The bullet tore a zigzag hole through the body, piercing the intestines nine times, and in the operation over 11 inches of the intestines were removed.

There was no hope of his recovery from the beginning and the wounded man died early Sunday morning. Before he lost consciousness, Dr. Brown obtained his ante-mortem statement that Fred R. Stubbs did the shooting.

Stubbs was arrested immediately after the shooting, placed in a closely guarded tent for the night, and yesterday turned over to Sheriff Denholm, who brought him to the county jail.

Stubbs is a smart-looking, well-built fellow of about 24, and said that his home is in Oliver Springs, Tenn. He has an uncle in Seattle and brothers in Chehalis. He maintains that the shooting was done in self-defense.

Vandiver's parents reside at Colorado Springs and they have been notified of his death. He was only 22 years of age.

The news of Vandiver's death cast a heavy gloom over the men in camp, and especially over Company X, Nineteenth U.S. Infantry, of which he was a member.

Prosecuting Attorney Harvey says that no inquest will be held.