Daily camera. [volume] (Boulder, Colo.) 1891-1928, 1899-10-30
FUN AT coURTsMARTIAL.
Noise That Aroused EvsFy-
one In CAM.

| A G. A. r. court-martial is one Of the
most solemn of all military affairs, and
it is rare that its solemnity is disturbed.
1t is, moreover, a dull and generally
uninteresting performance, full of red
tape and time-consuming formalities.
| When, therefore, something occurs to
break the monotony of question and
answer, the relief il all the more well
| come.
On one occasion some visitors to a
| certain post desired to see a trial which
| was to take place, and at the appointed
| time they appeared in the courtroom.
The case was an ordinary one. sol
| der had created disturbance in bar
| racks and had struck another. The vic
tim of the assault was on the stand.
He was an old Irishman, very blunt and
direct in his testimony.
The judge advocate drew from him
his version of the affair, and proceeded
to further enlighten himself and the
| court with regard to the exact nature
| OF the assault, which, it seemed, had
been a most scientific tactical opera
ton, as the enemy's flank had been
ioulCo ny d NlROIouS dtldCh 1TOIH inc
rear. So when the judge advocate
asked: "And now, Casey, where did he
| hit your" the court thrilled with horror
and the ladies didn't seem just at ease.
But Casey Was equal to the emergency.
Sure, sor, he hit me on the bunk"
Some years ago cadet was on trial
at West Point for violation Of the
Devils article" or (Which is the same
thing) the sixty-second article of war.
The charge was Conduct to the preju-
dice Of good order and military disci-
pline," and the specifications alleged
that said So-and-So had exploded a
bomb in the Fort Clinton ditch near
camp. This at or near West Point, N.
Y, on or about certain date. The trial
proceeded smoothly, and the judge ad-
vocate had succeeded in proving the
names and rank of several witnesses,
and the fact that they were acquainted
with the accused, but nothing more,
when he finally called in his star wit
witness and swore him in with a con-
fident and almost triumphant air. The
preliminary questions were put and an
swered and recorded in the proceedings,
and the judge advocate settled down to
business.
where were you on the night of
August LIP"
I'm my tent, sir, from taps till rev.
ellie"
Where is your tent?"
ION the north side of "a company
street"
Near Fort Clifton ditch?"
Eyes, SIR"
IBID you hear any loud noise before
daylight on the date mentioned"
Eyes, SIR
what kind of noise was it?"
at sounded like an explosion"
"Ah! Where did the explosion seem
to be?"
Near the western end of the ditch,
sir"
| The court began to take great interest
i in the witness, and several members
whispered together earnestly. The
judge advocate smiled gently and pro-
ceeded.
What effect did the explosion have ?"
ut aroused every one in camp, sir"
| is there any one whom you suspect
of causing it?"
Eyes, SIR"
The judge advocate leaned forward
and asked impressively: Now, judg-
ling from the character of the sound, its
location, its effects and attending cir
cumstances, what in your opinion was
its cause?"
The witness thought deeply for a
Few seconds and solemnly replied:
Judging from the character of the
sound, its location, it's effects and at
tending circumstances, it is my cpinion,
sir, or rather my conviction. as there
is no reason for doubt in the matter,
that it was the reveille gun, and that
1t was fired by the corporal of the guard.
heard no other explosion IN Y Sun