Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-04-09
what happened last night, and the ser

WnhJ nHppcncu laSb n1Rnt, ana the ser
geant had no right to use a club on you.
You can have him reduced. You see
the adjutant over there on the parade
ground inspecting the guard" Gt was
o'clock guard mount); "you go and re-
port the affair to him. Now is a good
time; you'll get revenge"
Alas! must / confess such ignorance
at the age of sixteerR I took n quick
step for the center of the parade ground,
and when within two or three PAGES of
the adjutant, said: "Adjutant, I wish
to-"
That was all was allowed to say.
The officer gave look have not yet
forgotten, and addressing the sergeant,
said: "Who is this fellowP Take him
to the guard-house."
was placed between file of men
and escorted to the pen. Inside the
guard-house l was received by about a
dozen drunks, who had been over to
Portland on pass, and were locked up to
get sober. Unfortunately for me they
were still under the influence.
They proceeded to initiate me. First,
they searched me for tobacco. I had
none. One fellow appropriated my hat
to his own use; and then, throwing me
into blanket, they proceeded to toss
me slSyward. Nor did they desist until
l was more dead than alive. Queer re-
venge l was having. I thought of
Holmes and home that night.
Next morning I was released, and the
first man met was the old vet who sent
me to the adiutant. With broad grin
he asked me if got satisfaction. an
swered not, but walked on to quarters;
was given uniform, rifle and accouter-
ments, and began to realize that was
soldier.
| Now it happened that on the follow
| ing Sunday inspection the commanding
officer stopped in front of Johnny B.,
sized him up, poked his white-gloved
finger into Johnny's ear, twisted it
round, and 10! it soiled the glove.
Johnny proved to be the dirtiest man
in Company E.
Sergeant" said the Colonel, "after
parade detail two men to take this re-
cruit down to the beach and scrub him.
Be sure and make him clean"
AS luck would have it, Comrade T. and
I were detailed to perform the massage.
| we WcEc given d HcWs Stll ScTuUDluR-
brush and cake of saltwater soap and
proceeded to the beach. Johnny refused
to strip. We stripped him; not without
some tearing of clothes, for he fought
hard; but we finally got him in nude
state, took off our own shoes and rolled
up our pants, laid the victim down
where the tide licked the sand, and went
to work. Comrade T. held him while 1
scrubbed. / commenced at his head and
scrubbed to his feet. used both hands.
polished his teeth with the cake of
soap. l scrubbed till his blood trickled
in the sand, and then asked him if he
didn't want blanket, or would half a
one do? was thinking of the black
and-blue marks on my back. He cursed
and cried, and finally begged for mercy.
Then | desisted. He dressed himself and
we marched back to company quarters.
Johnny was clean once in his life and
was revenged. A few months later and
Johnny deserted.
During three years service l never
spoke to Lieut.. S. except when on post,
by turning over my orders to him as
officer of the day-"Regular Army o.
But he lost his sweetheart all the same
and the writer knows why.-Winfield
S. Morgan, in National Tribune.