New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-23
1T WAS A "BLOOMIH SELL"
HOW An ENGLISH RECRUIT INSTRUCTED HIS
LIEUTENANT IN BOXING.
rrom Tho Washington star

From The Washington star
captain Van vlie Of the loth nlantry o wh9ss
name appeared IN the list OF the seriously Wou"qeG
msnv Years been regarded the finest ali.round
athlete IN the Regular army OF tnG and build and
lie never Is ai eR d hisef to go sea physe
ne pEr tronties and at all Of these posts he
organized athletic classes among tne eS y" hnm
into superb physical specimens the "doughooys,
nfanynen Who hayaf b 5sI bene Of his attn
etc instruction IN these classes are known 10 ,ny
ReguaT army surgeons sn v M9G fn mean SO sTonsy
do they show IN heF physGsi m rom psy ,e
a' About i've Years ago Van vlie then fret leu
renr,,t,ng station on Davids Island. In New-forK
Harbor He at the head OF me .Se rasok}es
he PAGES a the the 6 6s sEmm nnd eahaHs
yliet went thISTgn an with f the men Without
SO much as quickenng his resprati9. WINE mum
door ' from the violence OF their exertions one OF
Van Vet's stronghods is boxing ana VI "pn
tne ,be infantry officer well used to tel me
crowd OF punchers with whom ms In rooI6c9d.
Cd ofcer and gentleman up at Davids Island %nS
could give and al Of them r an nte
When Lieutenant Van Vliet first arrived al "a
vds Island TO assume cHa ar Of Of ,b 50 walk among
the latter big beefy ex-soidier OF w. oe
Army VINO had seen service WIN frou In the sedan 10
',S and who had three months before. de-
cidcd upon landing In New ofk 10 nav ,iotran
Hickman almost 2oo-pounder ana IN leafs rer 9l
nure strength he had the rest or mis- ieIow-recIu
a. David Island easily distanced lie was Prey
good boxer, too although not very last Oh ,'S 49,
Eben Van Vliet took the class OF rockies IN hanH,
Tsckman sized the officer up critically watched inc
officers work on the bars me nyi,s a., norn
on, a,beiic session that he didn't believe Van Nliet
was much Lieutenant Van Nliet was ana Is t a.,
man. with not an ounce OF Snpc ouc sbondcrs
aacanttye when clothed IN uniform out very con-
v,ncnr indeed when barred. Hickman thought Tess
~ Van VUet's athletic ability the more ne "a" Oh
"'E,s a bloomin' scrub. all right" said Hickman
OF Van Vliet knots OF rockies ~ Just me
that's all II cawnt box. I'll wijer Ia ike 10 give
Little remarks like these have a way OF reaching
ofbcers in The Regular Army. Van Vnet heard OF
what Hickman had said OF him Tho officer had not
vet nut on the gloves since arriving at DaVld
island and none OF the rockies knew anything OF
6 n' w 5osnF ehn had sd hm be took his class
through the exercises and when the work was over
ne called Hickman and remarked that he'd be
obliged for point two on the gentle art OF box
ing OF which he understood Hickman was master.
and in which he himself was shy Hickman was
highly hattered and pleased The two men put on
the gloves. the rockies standing around the gymna-
SUM TO watch the performance
Hickman very kindly told Van Vet some OF the
Il. Tickman was good. but Van vliet was decidedly
awkward-so 1t seemed. The officer was the re-
cpent o, number OF s,T po E from the nsayy
grew very confident. He dropped his guard alto
sether finally. when he saw how little Roadway
"'It me on the cad, sir 1t me on the cad"
"Oh. very WELL" said Van Vliet. smilingly. and
taking tug on his trousers belt Just put up
81 don't need me guard sir 1t me the cad"
Put up your guard" repeated Van Vhet. and