The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-10

OF the chief petty officers ine iau Was
a striker for the chief petty officers
mess, and one day In fit of temper ne
threw the chief petty officers mess
stool violently away from the mess-ta-
BILE. Grown men in the navy are not
permitted TO spank the apprentice las,
much as the boys occasionally need
spanking, 50 this chief petty officer
went tn the officer OF the deck and told
quietly OF the occurrence, saying that
while he didn't care to have the boy
punished, he'd have to insist upon the
apprentices picking up the mess-stool
and replacing il at the mess-table- The
apprentice boy was summoned by the
officer of the deck, lectured and told to
pick up the chief petty officers mess
stool and replaee 1t where it belonged
The boy would not do it, and said he
wouldn't This was simply mutiny,
but the boys age was considered. He
was double iroBed and put in the brig
Ten days later be was given chance to
put the mess stool back at the mess-ta-
bic, but be wouldn't do it. The stool
was permitted to remain just where the
boy had thrown it, even during Sun
day inspections and one muster. The
lad was general court martialed for
rank disobedieuce Of orders, and was
sentenced TO thirty days confinement
in the solitary brig on bread aud water.
After doing twenty-seven days Of this
hard stunt the lad wilted, babied at the
mast and was released. He picked up
the mess-stooi.
Even when uniformed men Of this
generation mutiny, or buck, in body,
they very rarely make their point stick
The reason why seven bells is never
struck in the British navy is because at
seven bells one evening over one hund-
red years ago, there were mutinies-
long pre-arranged-aboard a lot of Brit
ish ships of war throughout the world.
Seven bells has never been struck on
the evening watch on British man-Of-
war since that occasion, in order that
the absence of the half-hour tolliBg at
that particular period Of day may be a
perpetual reminder of obedience to
British naval tsrs-for the necks of
slew OF the mutineers were stretched
when the thing was all over and the
mutinies were suppressed. But this
was a long time ago. Mutiny doesn't
go now. The old Hartford, Farragut's
flagship, had as wild and reckless a
gang Of sailors aboard of her after the
war as ever jumped to the piping Of
mess gear. This ships company then
included scores Of buekers. A few
years before the Hartford went out Of
commission the buckers got together
and decided that they didn't like the
quality of the neckerchiefs and tobacco
being served out TO them by the ships
paymaster. So they declined to accept
the tobacco and neckerchiefs. 1t was
big ships company, and the buckers
numbered 2l7. They thought they'd
surely overawe all hands with such
goodly numbers. The 217 of them did
all the way from two weeks TO two
months in double irons for their little
job of skipper bulldozing, and that was
the last mutipy in our navy. But the
individual bucker remains, and he
probably always shall remain as long
as there is a navy.
The most picturesque bucker the reg
ular army of the United States ever
had was a wild Irish drum major who
arrived at his finish at Fort Leaven-
worth, Kan, good long while ago.
The man was good drum major, but
the commanding officer at the post had
to break him time and again to the
ranks for all-around tumultuousness.
1t wore on the Irish drum major might
lily, this thing of being frequently rele-
gated to the privates' barracks for bad
conduct, and his nerves, no doubt, got
on edge. Anyhow, the last time he
was broke 20 the rank of private he
went into line at dress parade one after
noon with the determination that he'd
get square with the commanding officer
for breaking him if he had to hang for
it. So, as the command was passing
in review before the commanding Off
Ger the ex-drum major dropped quietly
out Of ranks, made for a loose brick
walk, picked up half brick and let
the COMMANDING officer have it right
in the chest. The commanding officer
went down as If he had been hit by
bullet. The soldiers broke ranks and
made for the ex. drum msjor. He stood
them off, pelting them with bricks, for
ten minutes, and he used them up a
good deal. Then they overpowered
him and he got twelve years at the Fort
Leavenworth military prison.
The army andinavy, in brief, are bad
places for the man OF an analytical
turn of mind He is liable TO meet up
with some things that were not devils
ed for analysis, but for performance.
There is justice, the very best quality
of it, in the two United States services,
no better in any service in the world.
But the bucker who sets about TO undo
the man with the gilt ornaments on his
cap and blouse has got an incOnceiva-
BILE amount of bitter experience in store
for him. 1t is the easiest matter in the
world for man TO behave himself in
our land and sea services. The trouble
is that it is still easier to misbehave.
But the cost Of misbehavior is so heavy
that the young man Of judgment stands
by willing tn do anything to keep
his gaze averted from the cool stare
Of the Judge Advocate of a court mar
tial.