Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-09
WHY SOLDIERS DESERT.
LIGHT THROWN ON THE SUBJECT
BY AN Ex-PRIvATE, U. S. \

Inhuman Punishment Administered to a
Recruit Who Refused TO Clean Spit
toon-His Revenge.
It is an undisputed fact that the abuse Of
the power held by non-commissioned officers
of our army tends in a great measure 70
| cause men to desert who would otherwise be
| content TO remain permanently in the serv-
ice The following short story viii perhaps
better illustrate my meaning: In the fall of
1S- I was stationed at western post garri-
soned by cavalry and infantry At the time
/ was acting post sergeant major, and my
duties required me TO verify the descriptive
and transfer rolls of every recruit forward
ed to our camp. In this way l became
personally acquainted with every man IN the
| post and his antecedents. had been some
eight months in the performance Of this
duty when chap, whose real name shall
not mention, but who was at once nick
named by the soldiers Calamity arrived
from the West Point cavalry detachment and
was assigned to duty with E troop Of my
regiment.
Calamity was modest appearing young
fellow, who had evidently seen better days,
and who to my mind had Enthusiastically
The first sergeant Of troop was deserter
from Prussian Uhlan regiment, and among
the soldiers of ''ours" was known as Linn
burger" He was a fine appearing man and
a fairly well drilled soldier. Owing, how
ever, TO his overbearing manner to enlisted
men generally, he was regarded as down
right nuisance in the camp. No less than
sixty men had deserted from his troop alone
81. -
as a tyrant at the st. Louis depot that re-
cruits upon learning they were to join his
command jumped from the train or de-
serted at some one of the stopping places on
their way west
TIED Up BY THE THUMBS.
Calamity had been just two days in camp
when he incurred the Ill will of Limburger
by Directing TO clean out the latter's spit
toon. There is no law or regulation in the
army sanctioning the employment as a SER
want of any enlisted man save in the case Of
an officer, the latter usually paying for such
services. A non-commissioned officer under
no circumstances is allowed servant
The sergeant was furious over the refusal
of Calamity to obey his unlawful order, and
without further ado directed that Calamity
be tied up by the thumbs In those days the
first sergeant and the sergeants of the guard
could do pretty much as they pleased with
privates who disobeyed their orders or who
were in any way insubordinate Such pun
ishments as tying up by the thumbs, bucking
and gagging, carrying and standing on
barrel were then recognized In the army and
inflicted by subaiterns at their pleasure.
There is 10 torture ever invented by man
that can surpass In cruelty that Of suspension
by the thumbs Calamity, after being seized
by a corporal, was ordered to mount box;
his thumbs were crossed and securely dashed
with stout cord. The end Of the latter was
then thrown over beam and he was hoisted
up until his body rested upon his tip toes
The rope being now secured to ring bolt in
the wall the box was kicked from beneath
the poor wretch and his form dangled in mid
air slowly revolving with the twist of the
rope, his entire weight resting on his thumbs
For some moments Calamity remained per-
foctly quiet when suddenly he gave vent to a
most despairing yell. His unearthly shrieks
could now be plainly heard at the distance of
a mile.
OF sudden the shriezs became fainter, and
when the sergeant of the guard and officer of
the day reached the guard Mouse it was found
that the prisoner had swooned The body
riedly sent for and the man ordered to the
hospital. Not one word of disapproval of
Lirlburger's action in this affair was uttered
by his troop commander, who dismissed the
matter when reported to him by savagely re-
marking that it would be fine lesson in dis
cipline for the beggar, meaning Calamity.
THE WORM TURNS.
After his recovery he made a brave effort
- g.. -,
horseman and quite proficient in drill. He
admitted to me that he really liked soldering,
and if permitted meant to thereafter make
the army bis home In this l encouraged
him, at the same time promising to obtain
him clerkship at the first opportounity. The
man was now trying his level best to please
old Limburger, but the latter was too pig
headed to understand his motives. Finally
our regiment was ordered into the field
against Indians. The night before leaving
camp every man was supplied with a revol-
yer and thirty rounds Of cartridges. The
company property was hastily packed in
boxes and every man exerted himself to the
utmost in his efforts to insure our speedy de-
parture on the morrow. Calamity had been
selected by Limburger to do the dirty work
in the orderly room, the former uncomplain-
inly acting as he was told.
just before tattoo a scufiing noise was
heard in the first sergeant's room, accom-
panied by loud oaths, followed by the rapid
discharge of two revolver shots On repair
ing to the spot it was found that Lirnburger
had been shot through the cheek and right
hand He was too frightened at first to make
known the name of his assailant, and trer-
bhngly asserted that his end had come. At
the hospital he explained that he had ordered
Calamity to make up his bed for the night,
and upon the latter refusing to act as his
valet de chambre he became angry and
knocked the fellow down
Regaining his feet, Calamity had drawn
his revolver and after firing as described had
fed the camp. Forty-eight hours afterward
be was retaken by an Indian scout sent in
pursuit OF him, and after being heavily
ironed he was conducted back 10 camp and
placed in tie guard house for trial by gen.
eral court martial
After already serving six months at hard
labor awaiting trial and sentence he was
given five years imprisonment with loss Of
all pay due or 10 become due and dishonor-
ably discharged the service.
This case is by no means en- imaginary one
Hundreds OF such cases have occurred in our
army where men, driven TO desperation By
the downright cruelty of commissioned and
non-commissioned officers, have attempted
the lives Of their prosecutors before desert
ing. In regiments where soldiers are human
" treated there are comparatively few de-
seztions reported-New York News
BURDETTE'S PHILOSOPHY.
his HARRISON