Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-09
1T WAS A BLOOMIN SELL

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Capt. Van vlietsSof the 10th Infantry.
whose name appeared in the list Of the
seriously wounded after the general San
tiago engagement, has for many years been
regarded as the finest all-around athlete in
the regular army of the United States. He
Is a man of superb stature and build, and
he never allowed himself to go to seed
physically. He put in a long period of
service at posts On the western frontier,
and at all of these posts he organized ath-
letic classes among the enlisted men and
py constant work converted the best of
them into superb physical specimens. the
doughboys,' or infantrymen, who. having
served at the same posts with Van Vliet,
derived the benefit of his athletic instruc-
tlon IN these classes. are known to the
regular army surgeons who examine them
Tor re-enlistment as ivan Viiet's men,"
SO strongly DO they show in their physical
nidhe-up the muscular development that
comes from systematic athletic training.
ABOUT hve years ago Van Vliet, then a
hrsr lieutenant, was stationed at the big
reg gar army recruiting station on David's
Island, IN New York harbor He was at
the mead of the "setting-up" department,
ana every morning he put the rockies
through their PAGES at the big gymnasium.
Van Vliet went through all of the diff
ncuit and exhausting exercises himself with
the men without ever so much as quicken
lilS ms respiration, while many of the men
ccoiapseu ana 1ell to the gymnasium floor
from the violence of their exertons One
" van Fnets strongholds is boxing, and
huidoon, the wrestler and trainer of prize
nenteis, VINO knew the infantry officer
We'll used to tell the crowd of punchers
WIN Whom bis business brought him into
contact that there was quiet cocl-headed
oIlcer and gentleman up at Davids Island
VINO could give any and all of them an
arg ument with the gloves that would open
their eyes
When Lieut. Van Vliet first arrived at
DaVlo Island to assume charge of the
gymnasium work of the recruits the cock
OF the walk among the latter was a bip
DeeIy ex-soidier of the British army who
mao seen service with the redcoats, as his
papers proved, all the way from the Soudan
10 Apysslnla, and who had, three months
before, decided, upon landing in New YORK
10 nave try in the American service His
ma me was Hickman. Hickman was almost
tWo.pounder, and in feats of pure
stiehsth ne mad the rest of his fellow re-
crults at Davids Island easily distanced
he was pretty good boxer. too although
not very fast on his feet. When Van Vliet
TOOK the class of rockies in hand Hickman
s. l. the oHicer up critically, watched the
oHicerS work OH the bars the flying rings
ana SO on, and unhesitatingly declared at
Ter the nrst morning athletic session that
ne didn't believe Van Vliet was much.
Lieut.. van Flet was and is a tall man,
with not an ounce OF superfiuous flesh on
MS frame, and pair of broad deceptive
shouiaefs--deceptive, when clothed in a
UNIFORM but very convincing indeed when
pai eu. 1lcKham thought less of Van Vliet's
atfieuc ability the more he saw of him
ELS bloomin' scrub all right" said
I1ckham of Van Vliet to knots of rockies.
Els just like a blarsted cricket-Iively
ana shlfty with his feet. and that's all. e
cawn't box, I'll wijer I'd like to give him
a goo.''
Little remarks like these have way of
reaching olncers in the regular army. Van
Vhet heard of what Tickham had said of
him. The officer had not yet put on the
gloves since arriving al David'S Island and
none OF the rockies knew anything of his
boxing ability. The morning the officer
heard of what Tickham had said of him.
ne TOOK his class through the exercises, and
Wheh the work was over he called Tick
nam, and remarked that he'd be Obliged for
point or two on the gentle art of boxing
OF which he understood Tickham was n
master and in which he himself was shy
Iickham was highly fiattered and pleased
me TWO men put on the gloves, the rockies
standing around the gymnasium to watch
the performance.
Hickman very kindly told Van Vliet some
OF the preliminary facts as to boxing and
they went at it. Hickman was good but
Van Vliet was decidedly awkward-so it
seemed. The officer was the recipient of a
number of stiff rokes from the heavy-hand-
ed but slow cOckney recruit, and Hickman
grew very confident. He dropped his guard
altogether finally, when he saw how little
Roadway Van Vliet was making, and he
yelled out: ~
1t me on tina cad. sir. 1T me on the
'ead!'
"Oh. very WELL" said Van Vliet, smiling
ly, and taking a tug on his trousers belt
Just put up your guard"
Il don't need me guard, sir. 1t me on the
'eadr'
Put up your guard" repeated Van vIiet,
and the soldier obeyed, looking as If he
thought he could handle Van Vliet without
any hands.
Then Van Eliet went at him. His two
hands shot out like pair of catapults
hooked up tandem wise, and when Tick
man picked himself up his red eountenance
wore thu funniest look of surprise imagin-
able.
"A good fuke. SIR said he. do it again
On the cad"
Van Vliet knocked him fiat again as soon
as he squared off upon rising The Brit
lsher recruit couldn't get in lick edgewise
Van Nliet knocked him down five times
within just ninety seconds. The last time
he caught his man on the point of the Jaw
and Hickman was out for ten minutes.
"Wot bloomin' SELF he exclaimed when
he came to- ,--