The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-08-19
An Old Soldiers Story.

%C.'e ~ A@sS
Third street, is an old man of s., poor,
MANNED and .decrepit, but with a history
rich in incident. When the reporter
accosted him last evening, the old man,
sitting down, began to talk of men and
things which passed into history three
generations back.
"They say you have been a soldier,
Mr.. Normington," said the reporter.
The old man made an unsuccessful
effort to straighten up, and replied With
dignity:
81 have been a soldier, sir, and not a
bad one either. l served the fling bet
ter than the king served me-"
"You mean Queen Victoria, I sup
pose" said the reporter, thinking the
veteran was confusing titles.
"Oh, no. l served under four Eng
lish sovereigns. When l enlisted I
swore to fight for and protect the crown
of George Ill, the same king against
whom this country fought. When he
died I had to repeat the oath in favor
of George ~, once more for william
w., and again when the little girl was
crowned
."Were vow ever wounded, Morning
ton q
Tae ex-soldier OF the Iron Duke
pointed to several Old sears OF French,
Chinese and East Indian origin.
Il was wounded in my feelings far
worse than these scratches exclaimed
he, MS wrinkled face becoming more
wrinkled.
'How, Mr.. Normington 7"
The old man unbuttoned his SHIRT col
lar from behind, and requested the re-
porter to look at his back, which was
scanned all over with. long sears, cross
ing and recrossing each other.
al got them in Dublin, Ireland" SAID
he. "You see the regiment had Just
come home from India, and l wanted to
get leave to 90 home to my native place,
Cambridge, England, but the Colonel
wouldn't let ne go. There was g. good
deal of trouble in ireland lust then.
Well, | was a little mad at the refusal,
and I Went out in the city and stopped
absent four days with some friends |
had made. | reported myself ON the
fourth day and was put il the guard
room Of the Richmond barracks. The
Colonel was furious because l absented
myself without leave. ill fog the life
out Of you for this said he, and he put
me back for a garrison court martial. |
was tried and sentenced to receive Il
hundred and fifty lashes. Ugh l
shan't forget hat morning. 1t was on
the 10th OF December, 1926, | vas
brought out on the barrack square, in
the enter OF which stood the triangles.
The troops from Beggar's Bash, Royal,
Linen Hall. Portobello and Bridge bar
racks were drawn up all around me, and
when the adjutant had reai the sentence
I was ordered to strip. They bound me
hand and foot and then the frs. drum.
mer gave me fifty. l thought hot iron
swords were being drawn across my
back. Then another man came to re-
lieve the tired fogger. He was left
handed and his cuts made cross wounds
and fetched the places missed by the
first man. | tainted before he vas
through, and the show had to stop until
the doctor revived me-. 1t wouldn't
have been nun for them to have laid on
the remaining stripes while l was IN
conscious. When | came to, the left
handed man RECOMMENDED, and the hell
torture began again. He got through
his fifty and then Harry McDermot, my
chum, was brought to give me the clos
ing half hundred. He felt as bad as |
did, but lie hao to do it the Colonels
eve was on hial, and | believe Harry
put more force into his blows to avoid
the suspicion of showing me favor.
after | got WELL" he resumed, 81
returned to duty, and served with the
regiment until it came to Canada. /
was stationed at Hamilton, Ont, and
put on the lookout duty. Dressed in
plain clothes and well armed, l had to
look for deserters making for the States.
While in this service l came to Erie
and made up my mind to live here some
day. and you see here l am"
Mr.. NorminSton did not make a for
tune in Erie, but he obtained employ
ment and managed to get along very
fairly until accidcntc and old age rem
dered him almost helpless. Last year
he was struck by lightning and made
blind in one eye Subsequently he was
knocked down by a horse and the prin-