The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-08-21
Incident of Camp bifs.

" ooA'HShou GossiP os 'hO w" AOih ntcE-
curry:
For the last two months as you are aware
our city has been one vast camp and as
al the public departments had organized
military companies for the protection of the
buildings, the Government printing office
employees, no less loyal TO the Union, de-
termined 10 follow ia their wake and organ
ize company Also
The intention was no sooner circulated
among the men than long list of names
was received of the ablest young men in
the Office But among them was ore indi-
vidual, named 'Nubbs,' who, by some means
or influence, was admitted in the company
against the wish of nearly ihree.fourihs of
the members not that he was not good
! Union man, but because be loved his bitiers
better than his duty, and they were afraid
10 trust hita on duiy waen he had been
drinking.
1t SO happened that, the very first night
the company went into active service, it fell
TO the lot of 'Nubbs,' among six others, 10
stand guard outside The building; and as
he was no friend of the corporal. the latter.
determined 10 give him the most solitary
post in his power, and placed him on the
north side OF the building, next 10 an old
graveyard.
sNubbs' being possessed of no extraordi-
nary share of courage, fortified himself with
large bottle of his favoriie beverages
whiskey-to keep his company, and give
him consolation during the two long weary
hours he was compelled 10 keep guard
Before goinng on duty, he was provided
with an old hinlIock musket, which for the
want Of balls, was loaded with some old
'pi,
Il was twelve O'Clock when he was
marched out 10 his post and after receivn
ing instructions 10 'let no one pass without
it, he was left alone with his fears, rehec-
lions, and whisky.
The time, place, and hour ali conspired to
make poor 'Nubbs' send his best iriend,'
the Se'.le, on frequent excursions 10 his
mouth and before The Fl rst half of his two
hours expired, he had kissed his best friend
10 death, and consigned it to an uncovered
grave in the burying ground opposite
'Nabbs' courage by this time being equal
10 any emergency he walked his post like
Roman sentinel bot, unlike one, he
wandered far out of his limits, and halted
not until he came to we'll known resort
of his, public house, kept by one Flania
gan. and kept guard for at least two hours,
thinking it was the Office that he was
watching SO vigilanily, cursing the corporal
for keeping him on duty 50 long. He had
already driven off :wo niruders-boarders
of FIanigan's, who had been out pretty late
because they refused TO give the counter
sign, when third parry approached, ard
was quickly challenged by OUT attentive
sentinel with,
Who goes there 9
No answer
who goes there, say Stand, or riI
firep
AS no answer was returned, 'Nubbs'
brought his sshootng-stick' TO his shoulder,
and fred at the approaching object, which
he could dimly see in the distance.
No sooner had he discharged his musket
than the terrible deed flashed upon his mind
with such viydness that it caused him TO
recover his sober senses; and throwing
down his old fint-lock, he ran to see il he
could be of any assistance 10 the unfortu-
nate victim of his rashnes for be was quite
sure he had struck the object, as il had not
moved since he fired; but what was his
estonishment when, on coming up TO it, be
discovered he had shot, not traitor, but
fine large hog
'Nubbs' first thoughts were 10 bury the
hog, and say nothing about it; but as he
had nothing to dig hole with, he conclu
ed to drag it to FIanigan's yard, and leave
it till morning, with the hope that he could
get it away before any one discovered it.
But Flanagan, having seen some one
guarding his house in the night, got up
much earlier than ususal to discover the
cause of it and the first object that met his
view was the dead hog, with lot of old
type sticking in his head.
Itwas not long before the affair leaked out
and Nubbs was compelled to undergo an
examination before the captain, who SEN
fenced him to hunt for the owner of the
hog Until lound, and pay The valne of it,
Although Nubbs strenuously contended |
that he was only following his instructions
TO 'let no one pa IS without the countersign,'
he was compelled TO see the owner and pay
for the hog. And he says, to this day, that
he spent more money, drank more whisky. |
and travelled over more ground than ever
ne did in one day before in his life, just TO
find the owner Of darned dead hog ?
An UBsIEKABLE SEss-A ship built upon |
an entirely new plan, and pronounced by |
tho r,atantaa a. ha unasnkahIo h.. haan