Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-03
FIRST SERGEANT WAS A BARON

New Orleans Times-DemOcrat: All
sorts and conditions of men go to make
up the enlisted personnel OF a manor
war and, as a rule, nothing Is known OF
the history of most of the man-Of-war's
men, who come from every walk of life.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that now
and then a bit Of rOmance is revealed
when the history of some one Of these
lads of the sea is made known by acct
DENT.
Perhaps the most romantic incident Of
them all was hat of the first sergeant or
marines Upon one Of our ships in Eastern
waters, who under remarkable circum-
stances, came to be offered an u
| Christmas gift, which he would not ac-
fcept. This first sergeant was the ideal
tsoldier, a German by birth, neat, trim,
an excellent disciplinarian and a favorite
with the men, who, however, were never
familiar with him.. There was something
! about the sergeant that. made 1T mpos-
fsible for his comrades to treat him flip
PANTY, as seafaring men usually do each
other.
T. The cruise was drawing to a close n
| the ship was lying in a tropical port on
Christmas day, with a broiling sun over
head and a sea of glass about her.
Christmas trees rose above the mast
heads and bunting decked the vessel fore
and aft, while the men beneath the avn
ings on the cool white deck were enjoy
ing their Christmas sports of athletic
games with the first sergeant as referee.
A Christmas dinner laid on tables on the
forward deck awaited the ending of the
sports, and three hundred jolly tars
watched the fun and made bets upon the
results
1.-THE German consul is coming along
side, SIR reported the quartermaster on
watch to the officer Of the deck. "Fou
side boys sang out the latter, and the
boatswain's mate piped the side as the
German consul came over the gangway.
He was escorted to the cabin, and the
interrupted sports went on. The prizes
were awarded, and the Christmas spread
duly enjoyed at the various tables. Per-
mission to smOke was granted, and the
first sergeant had just lighted his pipe
when the messenger Of the watch came
to him and said: THE officer Of the deck
wants to see you sergeant Dropping
his pipe, he went aft to the mainmast,
where he was surprised to find awaiting
him not only the officer of the deck, but
the captain and a civilian, who proved to
be the German consul.
Sergeant" said the captain, this
gentleman has something to say to you,'
n while his well-drilled marine stood
at attention the consul said: Baron
Won Schrader, I bring you-a Christmas
4 gift" The first sergeant did not forget
he was a soldier. and, although his face
expressed the utmost surprise, he sa-
luted and said .interrogatively: Eyes,
sir?" your father, the old baron, and
your elder brother" continued the con.
sui, "have both been dead for six months
4 and we have been all this time trying to
find you-a difficult task, since, as it
proves, you enlisted under an assumed
name. However. we have accomplished
our task, and it gives me much pleasure
to hand you these papers which prove
your right to the title and the estates of
your late father"
The first sergeant took the papers me-
chanically, but stood at attention, a SOL
der still.
Nov, sergeant" said the captain, "of
course, you want your discharge. How
much longer have you to server"
-Four months. sir" answered Baron
Won Schrader, the first sergeant.
well, I think it can be arranged -
said the captain" and now that you are
! SO great a gentleman" he added smiling,
"of course, you will not care TO take your
place among the crew."
The first sergeant hesitated, then sa-
luted, and said: 'tSir, l do not think l
am a greater gentleman now than I have
been, and, if this matter can be kept
from the crew, sir. I would rather serve
| out my enlistment"
The captain thought a moment, and
then said: VERY well. ser eant, you
may go forward"
And serve out his enlistment he did,
refusing this strangely offered Christ
mas gift, hi no m forward vas a whit
the wiser. nor did they learn that their
sergeant was q baron until he had put
aside with honor the uniform of Uncle
Sam and entered into his new estate in
hin Rhenish home.