Sergeant, Troop D, 8th US Cavalry Regiment.
From the Sturgis Weekly Record (newspaper) of December 5, 1890: Last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, two members of D Troop, 8th Cavalry, "Dad" Lewis and Joseph Bradley, went to Smith's Drug Store in Minnesela and asked for some alcohol, saying they wanted it for horse liniment. It is supposed that they had been drinking before that, and wanted alcohol to tone up the stomach. The proprietor was away, but his wife sold them a bottle of methylic alcohol, commonly called wood alcohol [editor note: this is used as an antiseptic; it is highly poisonous if taken internally]. It is more like naphtha than anything else. They put it in their coffee that night and also the next morning. Lewis went out with a detachment and rode about twenty miles. He complained of being sick, and it is thought he had some of the stuff with him and took a drink of it. On his return to camp, he laid down and both he and Bradley soon died; the latter having remained in camp. They were buried Saturday at Fort Meade, the GAR post of Sturgis attending in a body, Bradley being a member. Both were soon to be retired for age and length of service. Bradley had been 30 years in the Army. They were well known in Sturgis, and neither were considered drinkers as the word goes.
Both men have two grave markers each for their graves: the first is the government issued stone tablet, the second is an obelisk that was purchased by the members of Troop D, 8th Cavalry, in honor of their comrades. The obelisk lists the names of both men.
Sergeant, Troop D, 8th US Cavalry Regiment.
From the Sturgis Weekly Record (newspaper) of December 5, 1890: Last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, two members of D Troop, 8th Cavalry, "Dad" Lewis and Joseph Bradley, went to Smith's Drug Store in Minnesela and asked for some alcohol, saying they wanted it for horse liniment. It is supposed that they had been drinking before that, and wanted alcohol to tone up the stomach. The proprietor was away, but his wife sold them a bottle of methylic alcohol, commonly called wood alcohol [editor note: this is used as an antiseptic; it is highly poisonous if taken internally]. It is more like naphtha than anything else. They put it in their coffee that night and also the next morning. Lewis went out with a detachment and rode about twenty miles. He complained of being sick, and it is thought he had some of the stuff with him and took a drink of it. On his return to camp, he laid down and both he and Bradley soon died; the latter having remained in camp. They were buried Saturday at Fort Meade, the GAR post of Sturgis attending in a body, Bradley being a member. Both were soon to be retired for age and length of service. Bradley had been 30 years in the Army. They were well known in Sturgis, and neither were considered drinkers as the word goes.
Both men have two grave markers each for their graves: the first is the government issued stone tablet, the second is an obelisk that was purchased by the members of Troop D, 8th Cavalry, in honor of their comrades. The obelisk lists the names of both men.
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