Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26
NEBRASKA BOYS EAT TURKEY
Willie Green Manages to Capture the Only
Gobbler in Manila
THANKSGIVING DAY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Dan Mnloney Tried and Convicted of
the Crime of Wearing Clothing
Unbecoming a soldier-Tbird
Nebraskn's Thanksgiving.

can citizen proposes to have a good dinner
on Thanksgiving day. He realizes that the
day Is an occasion set aside for feasting and
prayer, and as a rule the aforesaid American
citizen takes 1t upon himself to do a good
deal Of the former. even II he does not in
dulge in the latter to any great extent So
It was with the soldier boys who were fight
ing for the flag in the Philippines one year
ago.
1t has been supposed that the boys who
were stationed at Manila one year ago did
not have much OF a Thanksgiving feast,
However, this seems to be an erroneous idea.
A few days ago several OF Company LIS
boys were sitting about one of the square
tables in the armory when Captain Rich
ards spoke out, saying: Boys, 1 wonder
what we will have for Thanksgiving dinner
this year,"
The query was the signal for a general
conversation which gradually drifted back
to big meals in the Philippines. A number
present we're men who have never crossed
the Pacific and each in turn demanded that
a tale be told Of how Thanksgiving day was
passed one year ago. Finally Willie Green,
who was always regarded as the historian
and story teller of the company, was pre-
vailed on to furnish the information. ut was
know that the Spaniards and Filipinos know
nothing about Thanksgiving. Still, last year
they were thankful to know that they were
alive. Christmas is the big holiday with
them, but as it was a month away we con-
cluded that 1t was too long to wait and so
we concluded to have little feast on the
day that had been designated by President
Mckinley as a proper occasion for giving
thanks.
"At the time we were living in the bar
racks down by the wharves, and most of the
boys were working about the customs house
checking off cargo that had been brought
from Hong Kong by one of the big steamers
a couple of days before. We worked all the
morning and until about 2 o'clock in the
afternoon when we got orders to knock off
for the day. After washing up, the boys held
council and decided to have a feast Of
some kind. A collection was taken up
and man was sent up town to
buy turkey and other things for the spread.
An hour later he returned, bearing half a
dozen chickens raisins, plums and coffee
cakes at the same time furnishing the infor-
nation that the turkeys were not in the mar
ket and what was more that there were none
on the island.
You never cav more downcast lot OF
fellows in your life. They had fixed their
mouths for turkey and they proposed to have
it. Right at this point Sam Mummaugh
came to the rescue. He said that he knew Of
Chinaman residing over in the outskirts
of the city who had real American turkey.
whoop went up and Immediately Sam was
appointed a committee of one to secure that
turkey, regardless of cost
GObblcd - Turkey.
Another collection was raised, but Sam
informed the boys that he was a friend Of
the Chinarnan and could get it without put
ting up good silver dimes Away he went
and in a ehort time he returned with a big
bird dangling under his arms. How he got
it we never knew, and we never pressed him
for an explanation, yet we were aware that
he did not spend any coin in securing it.
All hands turned in and assisted the cook,
and in short time we had dinner served
that would make the mouth of glutton
water. In fact We had about everything
necessary for real Thanksgiving dinner
with the exception of mince pies and cram
berry sauce.
after f1niehng dinner most Of the boys
spent the afternoon loafng around the
barracks, smoking Filipino cigars and telling
stories of home, when. suddenly and without
any previous announcement Dan Maloney
appeared upon the scene, and he was a sight
to see. He was dressed to kill. On his head
he wore a silk tile and was dressed in pure
white, from the sole OF his feet up to the
rim of that hat, barring his shirt, which
was dark pink, something never seen in
Manila before and something that l fancy
will never be seen again. Where Dan came
from no person could tell. He seemed to
hov Md frop fha 81 4
never been touched by speck Of dust. His
collar was Of the latest Spanish cut and in
his hand he carried one OF those bamboo
walking sticks so popular with all of the
dudes over there.
Where are you going, DAM? was the
greeting that came from nearly 100 pairs OF
lips as the young man entered the room.
Conviction of Dan MnIOncy.
"As soon as Dan left devilish desire to
have some fun seized the boys. 1t was de-
cided to arrest and court-martial him i'm
mediately upon his return. We had watched
him depart from the barracks in a carriage
drawn by pair of Filipino ponies driven
by coachman dressed fit to serve a king
We waited and watched, and alcng about
midnight the soldier returned. He was in
the pink OF condition, and as soon as he
entered the door an officer, appointed for
the occasion, placed him under arrest. Pat
White, dressed in a long, flowing robe of
silk, brought over from Hong Kong, sat as
judge OF the court martial and read the in
formation. charging Dan with conduct un-
becoming a soldier, that he appeared in full
dress and broke all army rules and regula-
tions by attending pink tea where women
were present. OF course the prisoner entered
plea of not guilty to the majority of the
charges, which compelled us to prove our
case. Dan said he was ready for trial and
the case was taken up. Herb Taylor T. S.
Lamb and H. NJ Cross prosecuting, with D.
Burr Jones, Francis Hanson aud James H.
Whitmore appearing for the defense. A
jury was sworn In and Sam Mummaugh was
elected foreman. Evidence was introduced
and strong case was made out. Dan got
to the front and tried to prove an alibi, but
everything was against him. We had the
evidence of his appearing In the swell
garments and then We had the testimony OF
men who saw him go to and enter the house
where the pink tea was given. However to
cap the climax, and just after the last wit
ness for the defense left the stand the
Chinamap who had owned the turkey ap-
peared He was put upon the stand and
testified to having lost his bird, positively
idesfifying Dan as the man who was seen
running down the straet with N undar hia