Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-15
AN ANXIOUS NIGHT.


20 send me to a military college, 20 de
cided to enlist and ondcavor to obtain q
commission from the ranks AT the time
enlisted England was on the verge OF =
struggle with Russia aud recruiting was
very brisk. had no difficulty in pass
ing the medical ordeal. and was allowed
10 choose my regiment chose tn,
Nnoty-second Qhc Gordon Higlilandersj
thinking that. being a crack fighting
corps. II would be most likely to be- one
OF the first TO be sent TO the front
After joining my regiment and passing
through three months recruit drill, the
captain Of my company, finding that
was better educated than the general
run Of recruits, and that tool, great In
terest In my duties, recommended me foi
promotion. aud was made Glance cor.
poral." my first step on the ladder oil
fame. | was proud Of II, and wrote 10
my parents such letters Of hopel I al.
most pictured myself with the queens
commission In my hand.
But such Is not unusual with newly
made noncommissioned officers. They
don't seem TO think that thoy are like
young bears, with all their troubles he.
fore them. l found later that had n
great deal Of responsibility to contend
with, although my rank rs yet did moi,
amount 10 much.
Nevertheless, tho officers spoke Of me
rs q promising "noncom." and up 10 the
time at which my narrative begins had
given them no cause 20 think otherwise.
But on the night Of Dec. ~. iss-, l wa,
within an acc Of being caught tripping
and Of being put back for court mar.
tisl.
Christmas In English regiments Ia the
day set apart for feasting and morn.
ment, but the Scotch celebrate tho new
year. Discipline is relaxed to great
extent on that day, and soldiers may do
things then for which ut any other time
they would be severely punished.
On tho morning Of Dec. 81 was de.
tailed as corporal of guard Of three
men. 1t was my first guard, aud mis-.
trusted my ability to pull through this
important duty without assistance. One
OF the privates OF my guard was n yeter-
at. He had been years in the service
and had been formerly color sergeant,
but through incorporate habits had
gradually been reduced to the ranks.
This man volunteered to give me point.
ers" and come to my assistance in case
Of need. ! accepted his kind offer gladly
and resolved TO be as indulgcnt rs pos
sibly could with him and his comrades
during the twenty.four hours that W,
would have TO remain on duty.
At about o o'clock In the afternoon
everything had gone on without a hitch
until then-this man, Mcdonald by name
came to me rs was sitting by the guard
room fire, and handing me bottls, said
''Haye u sup out Of this, corporal.
Don't be afraid Of IL; it's only whisky
It'll do you good this cold weather gnj
warm You up"
"why, Mcdonald" l replied; "you
ought to know better than to bring liquor
into the gunrdroom. You know very well
it's against the rules. and that you ar,
going the right way 10 get us all int,
trouble"
mot n bit OF IT," he answered. at
Now Years eve, corporal. When you'v,
been In the regiment us long as hav,
you1l not DO 10 squeamish about sucl
small matters as that, I've been eighteen
years In the service, and when | was
'noncom' on guard Of New Years eve
! never objected TO allowing the mel
have n wee taste, Ms long a. thoy did moi
oyerdO 1t. OF course everybody know.
1t isn't allowed 10 the guard, but bles
your soul, corporal, it's winked 1t OF
New Years"
did not like to be more severe witl
the men than was absolutely necessary
ms I though | might become unpopular
among them, 80 asked him II that wa
the only bottle he had.
yes" he replied, land it's only tire,
parts full Mt that. My chum as fetched
the dinner down brought it along iron
the mess"
"Well, II that's the case" | said, :"
win allow you to have II. | won't talk
any myself but you must put It ava!
until tonight, after the orderly officer hal
been his rounds aud all is quiet"
knew was not justified in givinl
this permission, and II it leaked out
stood good chance Of getting into seri
Gus trouble, but reasoned with mysel
that three parts Of bottle Of spirits be
tween three men ON Il bitterly cold nigh
would not be likely to hurt them, nnt
that there was no possibility of its beini
found ort.
The general routine OF guard is YER
monotonous Inc puyates between the
turns of sentry co." the sentry bein
relieved every two hours, are able TO &,
an hour or two of sleep, but for the moi
com" this is out OF the question. He la
to post the sentries in their turns, atten
10 the gate and see TO u hundred and OF
matters, more or less import tn
helps TO keep him employed.
There is always something stirring II
10 or II at night, but after that III
time begins to hang very heavy. I'll
only sounds that break tine nocturni
silence are the steady tramp of the SCI
try ut his post and the occ' .sional suorin
of the other members OF the guard O
the wooden guard bed,
On this New Years G,yo all went we
until In the evening, when, Will
parading the relief f.entry prior to pos
ing him, noticed that instead OF hol,
ing himself Ms a sol .dier should on parad
he appeared inclhIed to make light {
the matter and W Us grinning all over hi
face. reminded him that he WAS o
parade and not in the regimental cai
teen, and also chat there was prisoner