The San Francisco call., 1898-06-12


 and mentioned that yellow was an in- frequent color in Alcatraz Prison.
 This man has just come over," said the Sergeant
 This man was the steward, six feet four or l am no judge of inches, and never saw twenty-five or I am no judge of years. He looked a handsome soldier and, by my faith! brave one, standing there in his six feet of disgraced strength with a napkin on his arn He stood we'll, with his chin up, his chest out, his shoulders squared, his heels together and his hands clapped to his sides. The officers regarded him thoughtfully. Such men are needed to- day in the field. His eyes met mine steadily, but his face flushed. It was a good face, well and squareIy boned, the brow and nose strong and straight and Creek the lips firm the jaw set in the outward curve with which Greece corrects the exaggerated beauty of such broWs and noses. He waited like man waiting for execution-brave to meeth his fate, but by no means cheerful about it. And it is not so easy to talk to men in trouble. I mouthed the Sergeant for a moments grace.
 So you have just come over?"
 Yes, madam
 What" I began and hesitated as to the putting of 1t and began again. What was it?"
 Fraudulent enlistment, madam" What was there against your enlist- ment in the regular way?"
 His eyes hickered and his color rose, He hesitated moment. Then he said steadily enough. I'd deserted
 The answer surprised me. This man had no look of running away about him. What for?" l asked abruptly.
 'Pd rather not say," he replied quietly.
 T beg your pardon"
 "No!" he said, looking distressed. 'T didn't know there was going to be war; he added. "It was from the Fourth the Fourth Cavalry-and when I heard about the fighting I enlisted again, right away, in the Fourteenth Infantry. That was in Oregon
 You came down with the Oregon troops?"
 Yes madam
 And they took you at the Presidio?'' 'sYes, madam
 How did they find you out?"
 By the description card, I suppose. It was quite awhile that they didn't and I hoped that I might get to the front" he looked dejectedly away. You wanted to fight?'
 "Yes, madam"
 ''I think you ought to let him. said to Captain Hobbs. as the man went back to his table. Don't you think he's brave man?"
 T dare say" The Captain shrugged his shoulders.
 And there isn't the slightest chance for him now?"
 "Not with us"
 T hope you don't mean with spain?'' No" said Captain Hobbs. But there is no regulation to prevent the en- lstment of man from here with the Volunteers If they knew him for military convict very probably they wouldn't have him. but 1T he could get somebody to give him certificate of character that would pass muster at the recruiting office there is no military law against his using it. I understand several non commissioned officers among the Volunteers are discharged military convicts."
 And then" said I, faithful to my brave, If he distinguished himself in the field and did something particularly heroic, you'd forgive him, wouldn't you, and take him back into the army? Wouldn't you?"
 ''I?" said Captain Hobbs. T couldn't. The President might
 
 saw the others in the gallery leading to the cells. It's bricks are painted white, it's roof is glass. The sun shines here when it shines at all. The salt breeze from the sea hurries in and out at the open porthoIes past the grated doors and sweeps the gallery clear. Here Is no foul prison smell. no dank prison slime. The cells are clean as that waA which has become a housewife's prov erb. Each is furnished with an army chair. All are decorated, by their in- mates, in that spirit of home adorn- ment so touching in captivity.
 The men came singly and stood against the whitewashed wall and ans- wered questions. Their military man. ners served them well. Some were shy and some were shamed, but they all stood rigidly erect and gave their ans- wers promptly. They all wanted to fight.
 One man was there for insubordina- tion; he had struck an officer and he did not care to talk about it. The rest were deserters.
 Where were you taken?" I asked an Irish eye which twinkled even under conditions such as these.
 'Shure, Oi nivver was taken at ali Oi came av me own accourd.'
 That's not quite usual, is it?" I in- quired politely.
 Faith, thin, it is. There's lots av poor divvils come and give themselves up and that's all the good it is to them. Oi deserted wanst, but whin Oi hearrud the war news Oi wint shtraight away and gave meself up and said Ord loike to foight."
 ''And-?"
 The Irish eye winked takingly.
 "They thought me country wouldn't need me for about two year-r-s."
 But 1t is not every man can take a light Irish heart to prison with him. The next had given himself up because he could not believe the Government would refuse a man who wanted to fight.
 Didn't they want me for deser- tion?" he said bitterly, ignoring the presence of the official braid. Wouldn't they have held me for that if they'd taken me? And 1 went and gave my self up. I was sick of being what I was I wanted to serve again. And I'm here serving-serving time.'
 Oh, wise government of the people, for the people, by the people, and which