The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-28
SOLDIERS BUDGET
On the Way to Santiago.

Aggie was the moving spirit among
the enlisted men of the regiment. He
was Philadelphia boy and his right
name was something else. While the
regiment was at Tampa he insinuated
himself into the good graces of one of
the village bellies. After q couple of
clandestine meetings on the streets he
received an invitation to visit the young
woman at her home. He went, accom-
panied by a non commissioned officer
as sort of chaperon and guarantee of
good faith. His summons at the door
bell was answered by the young WON
aus mother in person. She invited
the callers to take seats in the parlor
aud shrieked shrilly up the hall stair
way:
"A.a-a-aggie Two soldiers"
The non-com used to initiate this
shrill summons capitally, and ever after
the private was known throughout the
regiment as Aegie.
From the day that the regiment left
its armory to the afternoon Of July l,
when he limped off San Juan Hill with
half dozen bullet wounds in his body,
Aggie was the life of his company.
His first exploit was at Lakeland, Fla.
Strict orders had been issued that no
enlisted man should visit the village
without a pass and passes were not
easy to get. There were reasons, the
principal of which was pretty bru-
nette, why Aggie particularly desired
to pass an evening in Lakeland. After
all the excuses be could invent bad
failed, he decided to resort TO strategem
to get through the guard lines. The
army teamsters, either in wagons or on
mule back, were an exception to the
otherwise rigid rule, and were permit
ted free exit and entrance. So at dusk
one evening Aggie stole a mule from
the corral and rode boldly up to the
guardhouse. Unfortunately, the officer
of the guard was on the spot and recog-
nized the pseudo teamster
"Halt that mani" he called to the
sentry as Aggie tried to ride boldly by.
Then, hurrying up, he shouted:
"Dismount from that horse, sirl"
Aggie sat silent and motionless.
"Dismount from that horsep rep at.
ed the officer.
Not word or motion came from the
impassive Aggie.
"Do you mean to disobey me, sir?"
shouted the now indignant officer,
Aggie gazed down at him and meek
ly replied: mo, STRIP
sThen, SIR" roared the officer, "why
don't you dismount from that horse?"
"Because, SIR" responded Aggie,
with impressive deliberation, sit isn't
boss, but mule, sirl"
1t was too much for the officers
funny-bone. From fit of screaming
anger he went into paroxysm of
laughter. And through his interces-
sion on the following evening Aggie
secured the coveted pass.
Aggie's first trick at guard duty was
on board the transport Vigilancia on
the voyage to Santiago. He was on
the second relief and on duty from
eight to ten in the evening. His post
was in narrow gangway on the sec
ond cabin deck. There was nothing
there to guard--not thing to do for
two long hours but "stand like fool
and fiddle with musket." Right be-
side Aggie's post there was state
room and in that stateroom game of
penny ante was in progress. Now, if
there was anything in the wide, wide
world more than another whose bland
ishments Aggie could not resist it was
the seductive game of draw. The state
room door stood open and the chink of
the pennies and nickels and other &C.
hoes of the game Initiated Aggie's ears.
Finally, one of the players spied him
and invited him to sit in. The temp
tation was too great. Aggie put his
gun down just outside of the door,
stepped into the stateroom and set in
for Just one hand. Then he staid for
another and another and another.
A dark figure stole noiselessly up the
dimly lighted gangway. 1t was the Of
fcer of the guard for that day, the
worst martinez in the regiment. He
took in the situation at glance, and
without betraying his presence grabbed
Aggie's gun and slipped down the
gaUgway. He might have arrested bis
man on the spot. But he had him
dead to rights, and there was some
thing of the feline nature in him. He
wanted to play with his victim as cat
does with a rat. He would give his
man full play and gloat over him while
he told futile lies and then confront
him with the gun and the facts. For
be it known that the number Of each
soldiers gun is registered in the first
sergeant's books. Moreover, this was
no laughing matter. In the regular
army men are sent to prison for the
term of their enlistment for exactly this
offence. For moment the favorite OF
the regiment was uneonsciously in a
very tight hole. Then some PRESENT.
ment warned him. He jumped up from
the game and glanced out of the state
room door just in time to see officer
and gun disappearing up the stairway
to the first cabin deck. There was no
time for plans. 1t was moment fol-
action. Kicking off his shoes, Aggie
followed his enemy. Fortune favored
him, for it was dark, rainy night
Arrived on the upper deck, the officer
did not go to the guardhouse, but to
his owe stateroom. And before enter
ing it he made fatal mistake. He put
Aggie's gun down outside the door
Two minutes later Aggie was patrol.
ling his post, his gun on shoulder, the
picture of an alert and faithful sentry