The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-26
AN ESCORT ADVENTURE
Which Turned out "Creditable to
the British Army"

Sergeant, you have been detailed t.
proceed on escort with the prisoner Scales
Iwould advise you to keep a sharp ey,
upon him. He is desperate character
and if he gets half q chance, viii endeavo
to give you the Slip" remarked our Ad
Jutant to me.
Every good, sir,' replied.
"Here is your paper" said the officer, a
he handed me the warrant which bound
me, under severe penalties Tor non-fulfl
ment OF its provisions, to take private
Jeremiah Scales dead or ali5e'' TO thC
district military prison.
salUted the Adjutant, and was turning
to leave when the Colonel entered th(
orderly-room.
'Good-morning, Colonel" said the Ad
jutant. This sergeant Is going on Scale'E
escort, and | was just warning him to take
great care of the rascal
'Confound the fellow" gTumbled the
Colonel after all, it seems the scoundre
is coming back to me- The cOurt-marJial
that tried him-very properly, considering
his ntecedentS-sentenced him to be dis
charged on the eXpiry of his term of i'm
prisonment; and now the General, pre-
sumably acting on superior instructions,
RENTS the only part of the punishment;
that is likely 10 benefit the service.
During my twenty years experience.
i have always found it the same IN the
army. Last spring, for instance during
the wholesale reduction that took place,
we had, perforce, to send away number
of good men, infinitely better than this
blackguard. Now, the FTanco-PrusSau
business comes on the boards, and the au-
thorities at the Horse Guards are moving
creation to obtain recruits in order to get
the regiments up TO full strength. Every
broken-down scarecrow in the kingdom is
being enlisted, atleast il | may Judge from
the precious specimens sent up TO me. Be
sides, the recommendations of courtS-mar-
tial with regard to the discharge with ig-
nominy Of the scum of the army are not
being given effect to. and the rascals are
allowed to remain in the service. Yes, ser
geant," resumed the commanding officer,
addressing me, you've got a cUt-throat,
incorrigible blackguard to deal with: and
If you don't look out, he'll give you some
trouble"
then saluted the officers, and leaving
the orderly room, retired to my quarters
to make a few preparation for my journey,
which was tramp of about eight miles
along the seacoast. These finished, pro-
-ceeded to the room of the private who was
detailed TO accompany me, in order to have
a consultation with him on the subject
was veteran whose period of service had
almost expired. He vas, speaking liter
ally the hero of a hundred tights;' his
experience of active service beginning
while a boy in the second Sikh war. He
subsequently was engaged in katiirland,
the Crimea, and in India during the sup
preston OF the Mutiny, finishing with the
Abyssinian expedition, which took place
two years prior to the time of which
write.
NARRATED to Williams the remarks of the
Colonel and the Adjutant regarding our
prisoner; but the veteran affected to trea t
the matter very lightly. I've had tougher
jobs than this in my time, sergeant" he
said; and then added significantly, point
ing to bis Snider: Just let him try to bolt
and my word, he won't get very farn'
The prisoner, Scales, was repulSive
looking fellow of about twenty-five. He
was more 1.-the and active than a power
full man, but was nevertheless, by reason
of has brutal and vindictive disposition,
the terror OF all the peaceably disposed
men of the corps. He had served in the
army for about three years, during which
period he was always in trouble. On the
return of the regiment from abroad, he
came to us from the depot with an ex-
tremely bad character; and this evil repu-
tation he afterwards consistently maiu-
tained- At the reduction of the army
deferred to in the Coloners remarks, the
services of Mr.. Scales would to a certainty
have been dispensed with had he not at the
time been deSerter Being apprehended
and brought back to the corps at the begin
ming of the scare occasioned bv the dis
turbed relations of Prussia and France, he
received two months Imprisonment, and
was sent to his duty. Three days after his
release, an officers room was broken into
and all his valuables abstracted; and in
this business it was supposed Scales was
implicated conjointly with a comrade OF
equally bad repute. This private deserted
with the booty. aud Scales was appre-
hended on suspicion and handed over 10
the civil authorities: but he was liberated
owing to no sufficient evidence being forth
coming to warrant his being sent to trial
on the charge. His next feat was striking
a non-commisSioned officer, and for this of
fense he was now sentenced to nine months
imprisonment; the further recommends
tion by tine court-martial for his dismissal
from the service with ignominy being re-
mitted by the General commanding the dis
trict,
Nc, wonder that our worthy Colonel was
indignant at the prospect of having such 8
character sent back to the regiment Black.
guariSof his description, in regard to the
relation of soldiers with civilians, invaria
bly, bring the regiments which have the
misfortune to own them into general dis
credit, The great majority of soldiers are
respectable and well-conducted men, and
to SUCH II Is very CALLING and annoying &c
be subjected TO social oStracism as rigid
In some cases, as that experienced by 6
time-expired convict, because of the eX
ceSSes committed by diSreputable minor
ity of their number; the civil community
being addicted to the belief that all who
wear the redicoat are bad alike. It is to bt
regretted that the commanding officer of q
regiment has not the power of Summarily
dispensing with the services of an incor
rigi5le rufiian by having him kicked out oi
the barrack gate.
In the afternoon Williams and equipped
In nlarching order, and provided each wit
ten roCnds of ammunition and q day.
rations, made our appearance at the regi
mental gIar1room. The sergeant of the
guard gave me a word of caution, and in
fnrIneh me that Scales had been boaStins
TO tho men that he meant to make hi:
escape.
Our man received Us with stolid look
and mechanically held out his wrists fol
the reception of the handouts; and after q
word of farewell to the other prisoners, ht
took his place beside the private, who has
his bayonet fixed. then marched them out
OF barracks into the principal street of the
town. Perceiving a man of my own regi
rnent who was engaged on garrison poles
duty, asked him to accompany us to the
outskirts, in case the prisoner took fancy
to bolt down one of the numerous tortuou.
alleys that led to the Sharts near the pier
ssss-ssasases