Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-29
HIS VOICE WAS FOR WAR.
How Opie Read OF "kentucky Colsner"
Fame, Achieved a Military Title.

How Opie Read OF "kentucky Colsnel''
Fame. Achieved q Military Title.
The nearest friends of Opie Read,
the nOvel-writer, would not suspect
that he had ever achieved military
rank. He is a most unmilltary look
ing man who cannot be induced to
wear so much Of gaudy trapping as a
printed badge on any occasion, no
matter how great Besides, with the
exception that he was born in Ten.
les>ee and lived several years in Ken
lucky and Arkansas, it is not gen.
orally known that there is any reason
why he should have 4 military title.
But Read was once a major under
commission in military service.
What was known as the "Perry-
vile war; in Arkansas in 1882, was
a riOtOuS strike that had to be con-
trolled by the State militia. A large
body OF the National guard was sent
to the scene under command of Gen.
eral Bob Newton, and these troops
were encamped there several weeks
Opie Read, who was then reporter
for Little Rock daily newspaper,
was sert to the front as that Jour-
nails Official correspondent in the
field, and being close friend Of the
commanding officer that gentleman
sent for Read, and in order to give
him the comforts and advantages
OF headquarters appointed him to be
Major and abide camp with all the
hOnOrS and emOlumentS pertaining to
such a position.
OF course Major Read paid no at
tention to anything like personal
military service, and doubtless slept
soundly long after ''reveille," and
played poker or wrote his newspaper
letters without regard to tattoo"
and TAPS"
One day, during the war;" Read
had been writing one of his letters
for the Daily Gazette in General
Newton's marquee and was in the act
of folding and enveloping it to send
away in the mail when the General
said to him:
Here, l want to read that letter
before it goes"
"You read it?" queried the news.
paper Major
Eyes, sir. want to see if it con-
tains anything contraband of war"
'But don't intend toilet YOU read
it,"
officer"
Il don't care what you demand,
you can't see that letter until it is
printed in the paper"
'Tll have you court martialed for
INSTRUMENTATION, Major Read"
During this dialogue General New
ton had maintained very serious
face, and he fairly brstled with mill
tary dignity Read began to regard
the matter seriously also, as General
Newton was usually very jolly and
unconventional. TO the last remark
of the officer the correspondent re-
piled interrogatiyely:
Court martial me9 How can you
have me court martialed?"
TO which General Newton replied:
"You are Major, sir, and aid-de-
camp on my staff, under pay OF So
per day from the State, by virtue Of
this commission" (presenting parch-
ment role, land yet you refuse to
obey my orders, and l am command
ant here. shall prefer charges and
have you court martialed, sir"
That was the first intimation Read
had received that he was on any
other payroll than that of the news
paper he was serving. But now he
blurted out:
Say, Bob, am to get S. day as
Major on your staff"
''Ihat is your pay" said General
Bob
Read broke out al! over in big and
audible smiles, pushed the manu-
script across the table toward the
officer, and said:
''Take the stuff Read it and let
the war go on"
General Newton rushed out of the
tent bowling with laughter and re-
peating Reads last remark. The
newspaper Major remained at the
front during the war, urging reasons
in his correspondence for continuing
the troops in the field, and with his
two salaries accumulated enough
lucre to lift mortgage that had
heretofore defied him in the most
annOyjnp wav-Tnter Ocean