Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-04

the man claims it ashore. The bum
boat man also undertakes to look
around ashore for cheap OUTFIT OF
clothes, shoes, and hat for the man
VINO is about to leave the navy without
waiting FOR his discharge. He makes a
small commission on the outfit.
Monthly money" day comes around,
and the intending deserter draws all
the money he has earned, except the
months pay retained.
Then comes the day upon which he
is entitled to go ashore He goes and
simply forgets to come back. The Off
Ger of his division reports him absent
without leave for 10 days-and every
time he does so there is a general grin
along the lines of men forward assem-,
bled at quarters-and then he is mark
ed on the ships log as deserter.
The chief master-a at arms, who has
probably known all about it since the
day OF the deserter's departure goes
through the form Of looking through
the wire locker of the. man who has
gone, and of course finds nothing ex~
cept perhaps, an old cap ribbon. =
worn forage cap, or a soiled watch mark
or rating badge.
IF the deserter ever gives himself up
he may have TO serve from one to three
years at the naval prison at Mare is
land or at Boston, but he is not hunted.
Marines who desert from navy yards,
however, are carefully sought for by
the civil authorities of the town CON
tigous TO the yard.
A soldier in the army goes about the
business of desertion With great care,
complaisance, and circumspection. A
soldier does not often have much
money when he makes his escape, for
his pay is small. and the noncy-con-
Stunning canteen is never far from the
quarters. AS often as not he will leave
all of the truck in his chest behind, for
there is nobody answering to the char
acter Of the bumboat man to help him
in getting away. lie will always wait
for pay day, so as to have a few dol
lars for immediate expenses. Then he
quietly walks to the railroad station
and puts as many miles between him
self and the post he has quit as his
money will carry him. BY the time
he has reached the station his bunkies
have sWooped down upon his chest and
looted il of everything of value, for the
deserter has told them of his intention
to go and has left explicit directions as
to the distribution Of his gear
He does not hand it around before
going, because by doing so he might
excite the suspicion of the first ser.
geant. who generally has keen eye in
such matters When the first sergeant
does begin TO grow suspicious and looks
through the chest of the absent man
he finds, probably, an old Wornout pair
OF trousers and a battered campaign
hat.
Where Is this mans gear?" he asks
AL hands lying around in their hunks in
the quarters. Nobody knows.
''Gucss he took ii with him." they re-
ply. and turn over.
That * all the satisfaction a first ser
geant ever gets In such eases. a few
years ago there was q corporal who de
serted from Fort Wingate in heavy
marching order = blanket. haversack
knapSack. oVercOat, suit Of underwear
pair of socks. towel, comb and brush leg
sings. campaign hat and cartridge belt
tin cup ard plate, and rfle-but he was
unique
Not many years ago a recruit at Da-
vid's Island now Fort Slocum}, n. Y.
received word that his mother was dying
in a little town in New jersey. He showed
the captain of his company the letter and
$50" iVi ieaNt 81 to9tilVt loi'S enough
tain who feared that the telegram was
h9gdS' uecl!hel 10 iet the recruit 60
i he recruit appeaied 70 ne commanding
phIStf, VINO ItiGSed 20 iet MN 60 on lhe
same GROUNDS. 30. IN the middle or WIN
ter, the recruit swan the heavy tide that
runs between DaNld island ana New
ft9chelle ana mace ms way to me bed
sue "l III" mother III Hme 10 cloSe hef
She had hardly died before squad Of
SpldleES from ipaVid Island came TO the
mouse after the desertef. me recruit