The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-28
WORSHIP RUINS \ WAR HERO.
Rise and ran of Kline, Private,
Lieutenant, and Unhappy Civilian.

Rise and FalI of Kline, Private,
Lieutenant, and Unhappy Civilian.
From the New York Times.
A story of a hero undone by excessive
adulat!on is this unhappy tale Of the rise
and fan Of Frank \. Kline. But brief
while ago the pet and idol of sentimental
women, the envy of his fellows, to-day
Kline finds himself forgotten ana an out
cast from the service in which he was so
recently a shining star. The beginning OF
Kinnes sky-rocket career, as told by
Lieut.. Col. Huntington of The marine corps
yesterday, dates back to the breaking out
of the war Kline was then a private in
the First Battalion of the Marine Corps
stationed at The Brooklyn navy yard.
Lieut.. Col Huntington, commanding the
battalion, was ordered with the men to
Cuba. The battalion landed at Guantana-
mo from the transport Panther and took
part in the several engagements with the
Spaniards at Camp McCalla, the first land
fighting of the war The marines who
faced the Spanish bushNhackers were
brave fellows all but none eXcelled in
valor and fearlessness Private Kline. His
bravery was so marked that it attracted
the attention of Lieut. Col Huntington
and Kline was speedily advanced to the
rank of sergeant lie was transferred to
the cruiser New York, and, as he spoke
Spanish fuently. he was detailed to i'm
portant duties by Admiral Sampson, and
acquitted himself in a creditable manner
on each occasion. For his bravery and
general excellence in his duties Kline was
promoted to the grade Of lieutenant.
When Admiral Cervera and his officers
were sent North on the ST. Paul, Lieut..
Kline was assigned to special duty on
that ship, because of his knowledge of the
Spanish language. When the St Paul
reached Portsmouth, ". H., with the
Spanish prisoners, Lieut.. Kline had be-
come a great favOrite with Admiral Ger
vera and his officers
The handsome young lieutenant became
a sort of popular idol with the young peo-
pie Of Portsmouth He was dined and fet-
ed and petted by the girls until the exces-
sive praise bestowed upon him, it appears.
quite turned his head. That was the be-
ginning of the decline of the star Of Lieut..
Kline.
One day the manager of a theater at
| Portsmouth, at which was running a
melo-drama of which heroic Americans.
unhappy Cuban beauties. and Kissing
Spanish Williams were the stellar features
wishing TO add a little realism to the
show, requested Lieut. Kline to take part
IN the play with a squad of marines from
the navy yard. Lieut. Kline, il seems
was by that time ripe for anything in the
| public posing line and he readily consent
! ed to appear in the Cuban melodrama. He
asked permission Of Lieutenant Comman-
der Meade to appear on the stage with
a squad of marines, but his request was
| promptly refused. Then, il is asserted.
| the young lieutenant openly deded his SUI
| perior officer by taking "A number of ma
rines TO the theater and appearing with
them in the play.
1t was great night for Lieut. Kline
the girls simply went wild over him But
tho next day there was trouble, and plen-
! ty of il, too. For the one night of foolish
| posing Lieut.. Kline, brave and dashing,
| sacrificed his whole future in the navy.
| He was ordered TO be court martialed
| and, rather than be degraded. he resigned
from the service. After that Lieut.. Kline
hero of Guantanamo dropped out OF
| sight
Several days ago a handsome young fell
| low appeared at the BROOKLYN navy yard
and applied for enlistment in the marine
corps as a private The applicant was
Kline but Kline greatly humbed. Ii
fling his application he gave an address
on the Bowery Lieut.. Col. Huntington re-
ceived the fallen idol of Portsmouth cold.
ly, but forwarded his application TO Wash
ington. Yesterday instructions were re-
ceived from the navy department denying
Kline readmission to the service.