Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-24

/ X R9NANE *
eSSsesss8S

when I go in | don't care how soon
death comes" said John, gloomily.
One night while on stable guard, and
with Just enough whisky in him to pc
ugly, he gave his horse Douglas, "a
beautiful bay and the best horse IN the
troop-a terrible beating with stable
broom. The snorting and thrashlng or
the horse in his stall, and his half-hu-
man cry of distress, partially soDered
Schuyler and showed him What ne was
doing. Dropping the broom he went
into the stall, put his arms around
the neck of the splendid animal, ana
whispered brokenly: Douglas, ola
boy. forgive me! 1t was the whisky,
not I. You are the best friend have
on earth, and how could I abuse your
And the horse looked at him sympa-
thetically out of his large, intelligent
ewes. and laid his head on the shoulder
of the trooper.
Drink always made a demon OF him
for the time being, but when the efects
had worn away he was repentant ana
sorroWful. He was more especially re-
morseful during the thirty days ne
usually spent in confinement in charge
of the guard, after the garrison court
martial had finished with him, for then
he could get nothing to drink. On MS
discharge at the end of each enlistment
he would take the sum coming to him
from the paymaster on his final state
ments," usually amounting to several
hundred dollars, repair TO the nearest
town, and have royal debauch as long
as his money lasted. A soldier can get
higher pay during that enlistment
called "reenlisted pay''-if he enlists
within thirty days after discharge; but
in every instance he had Overstayed the
limit, and now, at the end OF twenty
eight years service, was only drawing
thirteen dollars a month, the same as
the youngest recruit.
He wrote a clear, legible hand and
was one of the best clerks in the regl-
ment, but he could never be depended
upon, as he was liable to go wild at a
time when his services were most need
ed. The former troop clerk, who had
held that billet for several years, was
steady man as we'll as competent clerk.
He had been discharged by expiration
of term of service" and had taken his
departure for the east, intending to
marry the sweetheart who had been
waiting for him ana settle down to CIVIL
life. The first-sergeant, while qual1hed
for the. executive part of handling the
troop, was no clerk, and Captain Ores
ham, the troop commander, was IN de-
spair. For several weeks he had him
self made out the troop returns, quar-
terly acquisitions for all kinds OF need
ed supplies and numberless other Off
cial papers. In week or so the mus
ter-rolls which had to be made out care
fully six times a year for the paymas-
ter, would be due.
The captain sent for First Sergeant
O'Brien. Sergeant" said the captain,
have you got a man in the troop who
is capable of making out muster-rolls?
[ have made them out in years past,
but I am not equal to it now"
''Well, SIR said the sergeant, stand
ing to attention and assuming a refec-
tive air; there's no wan I know of ex-
cept Private Schuyler, and he is drunk
all the time. He got sixty days and
twenty dollars blind the lasht time he
was tried and he only came out today.
If he would only kape sober enough he
could make them out
us he good at army papers, SER
geant?"
'Shure he is the finest in the regi-
ment, sir-if he is SOBER" answered
the sergeant.
"'Well, he has just got to be sober
until he makes out those rolls. You
confine him to the orderly-room, and
have his meals brought to him from
the cook-house. Put a sentry on the
door until the rolls are all made out
and the troop is mustered on the
thirtieth. Mind, now, [ shall hold you
responsible for him, and if he gets any
thing to drink till this thing is over,
I'll have you reduced"
The sergeant saluted and turned
away, with a very serious face, as
though the task was almost too much
for him. Going into the barracks he
found Private Schuyler engaged in
cleaning his kit, preparatory to going
on guard the next day.
Schuyler, get your blankets and
come with me-
whats the matter, sergeant; are
going to confine me? I am only out
this morning, and haven't drank any
thing yet," said the soldier, despair
ingly.
mo, I won't confne you. Captain
Gresham says you've got to make out
the muster-rolls. I'm goin' to lock you
up in the ordherly-room and put a SEN
try over you so you won't get no wills
ky till they're DONE" said Sergeant
O'Brien. Schuyler breathed sigh Of
relief and accompanied him.
Reaching the orderly-room the SER
geant posted a guard, with strict Or
ders to see that no one held any con-
versation with Schuyler, and that I'M
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