The Russellville Democrat., 1880-05-06
DANCING WITH A SKELETON.
The Horror that Startled Bail-Room Re-
 veIers.
N. Y. Mercury.

The Horror that Startled Bail-Room Re- veIers.
 N Y. Mercury.
 George Francis Hochstein, twenty two years of age, native of Bruns- wick, North Germany, landed at Castle Garden in connection with two young friends from his native town. They were all well provided with funds. All three left Germany to avoid military service. All were the sons of people in good circumstances. Hochstein, alone remained in New York, the others going immediately to Chicago. Hochstein, after bidding good-Dy to his friends, took | his baggage to hotel in the Bowery. He was immediately an object of atten- tion to some of his countrymen, who are always on the lookout for "greenhorns," the real object being to rope the unso- phisticated stranger into those dens com monly called "skin games"
 Hocbstein visited the Atlantic Garden the first night after his arrival in Amer ica, and was delighted with the beer, the music. the ladies' orchestra, and, finally with the unusual liberality of two young countrymen, who paid for his whole en- tertainment, compelling him to put hls money back in his pocket. No wonder his heart opened to such good fellows. When they proposed to show him the American elephant he was more de- | lighted than ever Just where his new friends took him, or how it happened that he "coppered the ten spot don't matter now. He woke up next morning with headache, and only 6 cents left out of $1 200.
 Hockstein told his troubles to his landlord, but the only sympathy he got was being called Dutch fool'
 It was rough beginning for fortune in America. Meeting one of his fellow passengers in the street, Hochstein bor- Iowed dollar from him. This gave him food for two days, during which time he tried hard to get something to do. He could find nothing. The third day, by the advice of another country man, he enlisted for five years in Uncle Sam's service. The enlistment was made under an assume name, Hoch- stein being too much ashamed of what had befallen him to let his family know anything about it.
 Thirteen recruits, of whom Hochstein was one, were sent to help swell the ranks Of the 11th Infantry, four com | panies of which regiment form the gar rison at Fort Sully, Dekota Territory The life of a soldier became intolerabley l irksome to Hochstein. He was also very homesick. Desertion was almost impossible and a discharge in his case was hopeless. All sorts of plans to get released from service, he says, were dis cussed by the men. Insanity was the only dodge possible, and that hazardous, even dangerous.
 "For more than a month," said Hoch- stein, "I was considering day and night how to fool them into believing me really insane. The trouble feared was the soldiers. They really knew I was sane enough, and if I tried to play off any tricks they might give me away" | But in the middle of the night Private Hochstein, gun in hand, invaded the officers quarters and endeavored to put them all under arrest. For this first dis play of insanity Hochstein was kept in the guard-house for month, the post surgeon declaring the prisoner was not insane, but vicious. At the end of his confinement Hochstein was put back on duty and warned not to try in sanity again unless he was anxious for something worse than the guard-house.
 But knew 1 was insane," said Hoch- stein; "the only trouble was to make them believe it. Of course I was not sane after only one trial. 1 tried it again."
 This time Hochstein climbed up on the roof of a building and astonished the officer of the day by suddenly crowning loudly. This feat soon brought the whole garrison out to see what was go- ing on. The officer ordered Hochstein to come down, but he refused. He was the cock that must crow to warn St. Peter that he had been telling a lie, he said. This was only his first crow, and | it would take two hours to finish and make Peter liar. The officer ordered some men to bring him down, but be- fore they could do so he crowed twice more, and announced his mission of cock-crowing ended. St. Peter could tell as many stories as he pleased, but after 1 this Col. Wood, or some one in command would have to do the growing whenever Peter didn't tell the truth.
 This caper cost Hochstein another month in the guard-house He played his part as well as he could, hoping the post surgeon would finally pronounce him insane and order him sent to the asy- lum at Washington. That would insure his discharge from the army. But the surgeon was still skeptical.
 During this last time in the guard house." said Hochstein, "I got desperate and determined to do something differ ent. My insanity was a failure, and I had to think of something horrible to do or they would only keep me locked up in the guard-house." When at liberty again, Hochstein waited patiently for his opportunity, and when it came he promptly improved it.
 There happened to be a number of ladies in the fort at this time, officers wives and others. To amuse the ladies the younger officers got up an entertain ment and a dance This was Hoch- stein's opportunity to put climax to his insanity dodge.
 Just when the company was in full en- joyment, and the dancing was fairly in- spring, came horrible Interruption. In among the dancers strode Private Hoch- stein, Enthusiastically rigged out, and car rying in his arms his partner, a skeIi- ton.
 We are little late," he said; q had to wait for my partner, but we'll make up for lost time; won't we, my dear,?" addressing the skeleton.
 There was an instant commotion. Two or three ladies fainted, others screamed with fright. The music stopped. Hoch- stein and his skeleton were thrust out, the man himself put in the guard house.