The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-04-15

going alOtt- n search failed 10 discover
the slightest trace of the toothsome
joint. Among so many. probably every
| morsel had been eaten before the cook
could report his loss.
What with the loss of so many articles
Of food and bis inability tO procure .
fresk supply, the wretched captA:L was
at his wits end to know how to properly
provide for his cabin passengers. Zap
! PLY at this stage Of affairs the ship
! reached the port of Key West, where
the depleted larder could be replenished.
During the twenty-tour hours we lay
at Key West about two hundred recruits
escaped from the ship. and the citizens
Of the town were in the greatest con-
, sternation, not understanding just what
had been turned loose on their quiet
little city. A guard from the Fifth
| United States artillery, stationed at
Fort Taylor, was detailed to restore
order, and, forming line across the wharf.
drove the recruits aboard the ship like a
flock OF sheep. Here / again thought
our trouble would end for at least the
present. But it was not to be. AS ILL
luck would have it q schooner loaded
with cocoanuts was anchored near by, and
In some unaccountable way about
hundred recruits got on board Of her and
storm of cocoanuts was the result The
Empire City was bombarded until the
supply of ammunition gave out. The
entire cargo had been transferred with
out the formality of bill of lading.
Some months after an effort was made
by the owners OF the cocoanuts = have
their value in money charged against the
pay of the two officers in charge Of the
detachment, but it was clearly shown
that 1t was not the officers FAULT and I
think finally the Government paid tho
bill.
1t was with feelings OF unalloyed
pleasure that i heard the signal given
for leaving, and when the lines were cast
of and We were under way for the Dry
Tortngas thought We might enjoy at
least short interval OF peace. The
capacions swallows were gorged to re-
pletion with cocoanuts and cistern water
and we hoped much from this fact Nor
were we disappointed. Quiet reigned
until the TOrtugas or Fort Jefferson was
reached at an early hour the next morn
ing.
As our ship came to the wharf the re-
cruits began to jeer at and chat the
colored sentinels, throwing bits of hard
bread and pork at them. They did not
know that colored sentinel is the worst
person in the world to fool with, as he
feels to an unusual degree the impor-
lance Of his position, and is quite ready
at any time and on the slightest provo
cation to shoot.
/, knowing this. several times warned
these would-be wags of their danger.
They took no heed, however, of the
warning, aud while at the height Of
their fun / saw the sergeant Of the
guard deliberately come forward and or
der his guard to ''fall in" When about
forty men were in line and before I or
the recruits could understand their in
tentions they fired volley point blank
into the ship. They were preparing to
fire again when a commissioned officer
came hurriedly upon the scene, putting
stop TO the proceedings.
The effect on the recruits was most
satisfactory to me. In moment not
one could be seen above the guards Of
the ship. Some plunged headlong down
the steps leading to the hold. Others
Rugged the deck until satisfied that the
war was over. The ringleader of all the
disturbances was shot in the mouth, and
several others were pretty severely
wounded. No more bacon and hard tack
were thrown after this, nor any more
chaff INDUCED in.
We remained at the fort for about
twelve hours and then steamed off for
New Orleans, where in due time we ar
rived without any more disagreeable ex-
periences-
The skirmish at the Tortugas we re-
garded as most fortunate occurrence
The effect certainly was gratifying to
lovers OF law and order.
While in New Orleans the detachment
was confined, like so many conscripts, in
a cotton press and guarded by nearly
regiment of infantry. When marched
to the Texas steamer, notwithstanding
all precautions, large amount OF whis-
XIV was struggled aboard, and when
became alarmingly apparent The Mt
most lawlessness prevailed, and fears
were entertained that the recruits might
take full possession of the ship. AT one
time regular battle was going on In
the forward part: a ring having been
formed by about a hundred, with some
fifteen or twenty in the center engaged
in an all-around fight, first with fists,
but as the excitement arose knives were
~ mn apd man y cavara wounds rPsultad
The officers were powerless among so
many, and it was only the giving out
of the whisky that caused matters after
awhile to quiet down. Otherwise some
thing serious would certainly have hap
pened.
As calm generally follows q storm.
so did quiet and peace return after this
wild orgie was over. We disembarked
at Port Lavaca, and went into camp
a hout ton miles ont on the line of the