The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-03-02
CORPORAL CRUPP.
How He Became the Best Soldier
in the Colony.

1t was gloomy December day in the
year of grace Ia
An east wind coming over the cold
waters of the Atlantic, and a wide ex-
panse of salt marshes, moaned through
the pines and swept over the sandy
stretch where the little settlement OF
Savannah was just beginning to pull
itself together.
The scene was not very attractive. A
rude but strong stockade containing a
number of shops and houses, the head.
quarters and barracks of the military,
and few outlying cabins of the more
adventurous pioneers-this was all.
In comfortable room in the most
pretentious building in the stockade.
the headquarters of the commanding
General, three gentlemen sat by a blaz-
ing wood fire. They were drinking
Madeira, and their rubicund visages
showed that they were not unaccus-
toned to this and even stronger bev-
.erages.
One of the three wore scarlet uni
form, glittering with profusc en-
blazonry of gold lace. but his large
spare figure indicated great strength,
and his face, with its prominent Roman
nose and brilliant eyes, would have
stamped the man in any circle rs re.
markable person, born leader OF
men.
This man. the central figure of the
group. was General Qglethorpe.
The other two. dressed also in scar
let uniforms, were brother officers.
One was Major Dalhousic. the other
was Captain Cardigan. They were
young men. but their appearance
showed them to be gallant soldiers,
well suited to the business in which
their General kept them engaged day
and night.
The three officers had something
more serious on hand than the discus
sion of their Madeira.
1.-The fellow will have to be shot.
then" remarked Major Dalhousie, air.
lily, as he swallowed another bumper.
'.rm afraid so." said Captain Cardi-
gan. adjusting his ruffles. ''but it is a
pity. Corporal Crupp is a good sol
der at times. Lord! But he can fight!'
.Zoundsr' exclaimed the General.
"'much do dcplore the necessity. gen.
tlemen. but discipline is more import
ant in these savage wilds than it is in
Europe. Here warfare is nothing but
butchery, and we need every man in
our small force. Now, when was
campaigning on the continent" con-
tinued the General, as he paused to
drain another glass, "a little drunken.
ness, more or less. did not matter.
myself once refused to take a French
officer prisoner because he was SO befud-
died that he ran into our lines. A
splendid fellow he was, too. Once our
commands were fronting each other
just as the fight opened. and the French
man, taking off his hat said: Gentle.
men. will you have the goodness to fire
.first!'
THAT was grand" cried Major Dial.
housie.
lit was" answered the General,
$sententiously, ''but it was not war. II
was an attempt to apply the tactics o.
the ball room to the battle field. Well,
my bull dogs accepted the invitation,
and in less than five minutes we had
driven the Monsieurs out of sight"
'But," said Major Dalhousie, eve
are leaving the subject Must the cor
poral be shot?"
ITO certainty" murmured Captain
Cardigan. who had spilled his wine and
was peering into his right boot under
the impression that something wa:
wrong somewhere.
'.Let us see," said the General, "yor
have had the varlet in the guard
house?"
"a hundred times" replied the Cap
tain.
Cursed if l think he has ever LEFT
it." replied the Major.
'.And yet he fights?"
Like the deuce" exclaimed botl
officers.
HE saved us from surprise :
month ago." put in the Major.
lit is serious case" said the Gen
-eral. The trustees of our infant col
-ony are determined to prohibit the
drinking of rum, and all that is brough
here has to be STAYED"
Blood and DEATH" interrupted tn,
Major. show does the fellow get hi
tipple?"
..Tremenshus mystery to me-" sait
the Captain, vino had just lost another
glass of Madeira, and was glaring a
the water pitcher very suspiciously.
Il think" suggested the General
s.that l will have the corporal brough
here. l desire to question him. -
As the officers made no objection. .
messenger was sent to the guard-house
and in few moments the offende
came in, escorted by guard
Corporal Crupp looked little tn
worse for wear. and his face wore
surly expression. but he did not appeal
70 be vicious He faced the three Of