Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-06


investigation to speedy termination.
The name of this soldier was DAILY,
and he was strapping big fellow
with the look and demeanor of home
sick man. He out on picket one
night when it rained and got wet
through. Next morning he could
speak only in whisper. The same
thing has happened to thousands of
people, but the hoarseness passed oft
after Il day or two. In Daly's case it
remained. He was given remedy
by his regimental surgeon, and later
on he was excused from all duties and
thoroughly treated, but his lost voice
did not propose to be coaxed back.
He could speak in whispers, but no
more. When he was sent up to me l
made u careful examination of his
throat. There wasn't the slightest
evidence that he had even had bad
cold. Every portion of it was in a
perfectly healthy condition, and | saw
at once that the man was shamming.
/ kept my thoughts to myself, how
ever. He had been pretending for a
month, and there was no hope of
exposing him except by some scheme
of which he had no suspicion. gave
him syrup to take and gargle to
use, and gave him quarters in a small
room by himself. Before he took
possession of it peep-hole was
arranged so that he could be placed
under surveillance.
The first pointer we got was on the
fourth day after Daly's arrival. He
left halffnished letter lying on the
table while he went out the suffers,
and during his absence the missive
was read 1t was to his brother, and
DAILY stated that "his plan had work.
ed all right so far, and he was now
where he expected his discharge in afew
days." In case he got it he was to 60
into the substitute broker business
with his brother, "and if we cant
beat Uncle Sam then we arc no good"
He finished and mailed the letter
without being any the wiser for the
pointer he had furnished us. His
general character was that of an
obstinate, mulish man. AS he had
gone into this thing to win he was not
likely to be trapped up by any
ordinary stratagem. / thought the
case over for day or two, and then
sent for him to 60 to another hospital
about two miles away and bring me a
package. The surgeon there was
under instructions to detain him that
he could not return to us until after
dark.
The officer of the day was taken
into the plot, and the sentinels on that
side of the camp where DAILY would
approach were duly posted as to their
action when the man appeared. 1t
was 6 o'clock of dark and disagree
able evening when DAILY came trudg-
ing along. As this was the first time
he had been outside the sentinels since
losing his voice he must have been a
bit anxious as to how he was to get
in. The sentinel permitted him to
come within twenty feet and then
challenged:
"Who comes there?"
DAILY waved the package in answer.
"Who comes there? Answer or
I'll fire on you"
DAILY waved his arms like a wind
mill and began slowly to advance, but
the sentinel drew up his musket and
fired at him. Two other sentinels
also blazed away, and then the first
one opened with revolver which had
been handed him. DAILY felt that his
life was in danger, and as the bullets
continued to fly he suddenly found
his voice and Justify yelled:
"For Gods sake don't kill one of
your own men! I'm no rebel-stop
that shooting~
1t was stopped, and as he advanced
to the sentinel he continued:
"You fellers are the biggest fools
outside of an idiot asylum, and you
ought to be court martialed."
"Oh, is that you, Daly?"
"Yes, it's me, DAILY
"And you've found your voice !"
"None O. your Internal business !"
When he gave me the package he
stated that the fright had restored his
voice, and asked to be sent back to
his company. | suppose he tumbled
to our little game aud wanted to put
the best face on the matter. At any
rate the cure was complete and he
was returned to the ranks.-Free
Press.