The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-21

ediy 10 say l-idI ~ gag Hds S4lPpSu i4eo
the prisoners mouth 10 prevent artic-
ulation before he was strapped on the
rack. No man could endure the supreme
pain inflicted by this torture withou.
screaming. / have seen a strong and de-
termined man faint in less than ten min
utes under the strain OF this severe and
brutal punishment. to be cut down and
never again txiri sponge staT. have
heard men beg to be killed rather than
TO be tied on the rack.
BUCKED AND GAGGED.
ITO be bucked and gagged? eYs. that
was severe, but not dangerous II was
highly disagreeaole and painful, too. II
prolonged, and al al times calculated 10
make mans eyes stick out OF his head
as Holsters eyes do. And then the ap-
pearanee OF man while undergoing the
punishment was highly discreiitable.
The soldier about 10 be bucked and
gagged, general a drunken and noisy
soldier, was forced 10 sit on the ground.
his knees were drawn forward 10 his
shins, and there were securely bound TO-
gether. A long stick was then thrust
under mis- kness and over his arms
gag was then securely bound in his
mouth. A soldier who was bucked and
gagged could not hurt himself or any
one else. He could not speak, but be
could make articulte sounds indicative
OF his suffering, and ne invariably made
them before he was released.
Daily many men were tied up by the
thumbs, and that was far from pleas
ant. The impudent bounty jumper.
who stood on his toes under a tree for
a couple OF hours 10 keep his weight OF
his thumbs, which were tied 10 a limb
over mis- head. was exceedingly apt 20
heed the words OF his officers when next
they spoke TO him.
1t will be seen from this ,stratling and
graphic description that by tying up by
the thumbs is regarded oy Frank Wilke-
son as one OF the lighter punismenls
in vogue in the Army of the Potomac:
that it was OF everyday occurrence; that
1t often lasted hours. not minutes.
Army officers stationed here cannot
with propriety talk, in view of the in
vestigation now in progress at Fort
Sheridan, and allow their names 10 be
used. That would be considered SUBJ
versive OF discipline at Washington.
THE first duty OF soldier is cbed
ience." said an officer who has been
hero OF many an Indian fight, and who
is beloved by the men in mis- battalion.
IF 1 were ordered by my superior Of
ficer 10 ride my horse up an impossible
cliff. 1 would make theattempt 10 do it.
although knew the feat was utterly
impracticable. That Il was impossible
would rbe the fault Of my superior, not
mine
That spirit is what makes armies
strong. II should be developed as
strongly in the private as in the officer.
The question now comes as TO the best
way OF intoxicating that principle in the
common soldier. In an ideal army the
spirit would be there: there would be no
need Of cultivating il.
THE "GUARDHOUE LAWYER"
But in an average regiment of any
army there are all sorts and conditions
Of men. The worst OF all is the guard
house lawyer" He is usually a man o.
some education who has been induced
to enlist by dissipa ton or crime. He
knows something about the constitution
of the Uunited States, something about |
about law, and uses the bill Of rights |
in his quotation. He has none Of the |
finer feelings OF humanity. Physical |
suffering is the only thing that appeals |
TO MIN. He thinks that officers have no 1
right 10 compel him 10 do certain things |
which army history has made it indis- |
pensable for privates 10 do. An order |
is given him.
Il won't do it," he says. I'm not !
compelled to-
Perhaps his remark is heard by TWEEN |
ty other privates. They are subject 20 |
the same discipline as ne. They await |
the result with interest. II the mans |
characterization is passed over or treated |
with tspunishment they think they |
can follow the same course With impun-
ity. 1t would 'oe subversive OF discipline. |
Now, take the case of Hommond. In |
the army it is the argumentum ad hon.
inem which is effective. II l had been
in Captain Coverings place l would have
been tempted 70 take my stirrup strap |
and haste the man until he oOeyed me.
The man was wrong. My action in |
bringing him to his right senses would |
have shown the other privates that was
always 70 be obeyed, no matter what
the consequences. That is a condition
which an officer wishes 10 have OBJ
served.
Unusual punishments in the army"
said another officer. They're all abol-
ished now. They used 20 be many, and
We're it not for the fact that a better
class OF men now enlist I think they
would be continued. The log carrying
was the mos; common form Of punish
ment. Then We used 10 tie men up by
the thumb; that was brutal.
In the old days fl was not uncommon
for an officer TO strike a man or prod !
him with a sword. That does not go !
now, and I'm glad Of Il. beca use II was
undignified- Then there was the long
drill with heavy requirement. The
Capitalization OF troops near large cities |
has in a measure accounted for the !
change In the methods OF punishment.
OF course sometimes. even now. an off,
Ger strikes a private. but he is always
tor doing So"
WHAT'S the worst punishment I ever
sufferei?" repeated a private al Fort
Sheridan Il have been hung up. by the
thumbs until I tainted dead away: I
have carried the hog until could hardy
put one foot before the other. But the
worst experience 7 ever had vas soil
tary confinement in a dark cell Tor for
ty-eight hours. A. tae end of the frs,
hour I though; I mad been imprisoned
FOR day Al the end .: the second I
waited 70 die quickly.
The pos: surgeon knew that the pun
ishmen; was to- severe. for ne came
and gave ne opia,ss. TIE sound % nu-
man voice and 'Es sIaso the ~~rss-- |