Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-03-10
Nv HISTLING WILL"

won't You tell me just one more
story before tea-time - | pleaded.
Dr. RhoadeS and | We're sitting on
the piazza at the close of hot sum.
mcr day. Although he had been with
us only IL week. he and l We're great
friends. | had heard often of him be
fore. bu, on account of his busy pro-
feSSonal life. he had been unable TO
accept my fathers many invitations.
At last. worn ont by his work. he
WAS forced to take a rest. and had
written that he would be pleased t"
visit us at our country home.
My father hardly ever told any of
his experiences in the army during tn"
war without bringing in ".Io"
Rhoades." as he called him. DR..
RhoadeS had been an assistant sur.
gcon then.
We'll. yes. just one short one" he
answered. as he looked into my eager
face.
"Thcr" had been fearful carnage
that day, and the surgeons We're very
busy. Body after body was brought
in. and those that could be helped
We're sent to the operating room.
Those past our help We're sent to thu.
dead-hollse.
Late in the afternoon one body
was brought in which. even amid that
scene. made me trcmble. 1t was that
of brave fellow. Il schoOlmAte of
mine. who had enlisted at the very
opening of the war He was a happy
hearted fellow, bright in the darkest
hours. and continual whistler. Be
fore he could be seen. his clear. strong
notes were heard. and the men knew
that WhiStling Will was coming.
"rhe surgeon examined him and
said. Well. Bill. you have whistled
your last tune and hurried to the
next. 1t seemed impossible that we
never should hear his cheerful voice
again. noticed that he was not
mutlatcd in any way. and thought
that he had probably been killed by a
fall from his horse
" His body was carried to the dead
house but-and here comes the strange
part as he was being taken from the
room. suddenly and distinctly | heard
Bill> familiar whistle, Cheer up.
comrades, and be gay just rs it had
sounded as lie marched to his death
that morning. | looked about to see
if any one else had noticed it. Every
one was absorbed in the confusion and
suffering around him. ! said nothing.
About O'Clock that night the sur
gcnn sent me for some Stimulants to
the steward. passed the dead-hollse,
which WAS nothing more than Il large
shed with Il door at each end, so that
one could pass from one end to the
other. between the rows of cUrpses on
each side. AS neared the place
again came the whistle. faintly, in
Ii,
comrades. and be gay When Ipassed
the door. | hcSitatcd; somehow l want
ed to go in. but remembering that
had been sent on an erIand, | passed
ON; again came the refrain. each WORE,
sounding very distinctly. and appar-
entity right beside my ear. BY this
me | felt little queer, but tried to
Danish my fears by attributing them
to overwrought nerves.
Il started on a brisk walk to the
surgeon. determined not to be a fool
any longer Two-thir(lS of the long
building We're passed. when. hark! the
same notes again. still fainter than be-
fore. Beads of cold. perSpiration
stood on my forehead when j entered
the surgeons headquarters, but l said
nothing.
IL worked necessarily until II
o'clock. with the memory of that re-
frain before me all the time At II 80
| threw myself ON my cot, which was
placed beside II window at the ex-
trcme end of Il narrow corridor
Thoroughly exhausted. l soon fell
,sleep. | don't know how long had
ain. when suddenly on the night-wind
anne Bill's Cheer up, comrades. and
~ gay | jumped up, as If aroused
Dy Il trumpet blast.
The moon had risen full and clear