Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-30
POLICE COURT ON TRANSPORT.

On the Sherman Maj. Brinkerhon
holds summary court. The courtroom.
for want of a place of more judicial
surroundings, is in the office occupied
by the quartermasters clerks. At
high desk of the counting-room type,
and perched on high stool to match,
sits the major, while at hand before
him are the papers in the cases he IS
to judge and a copy of the army reg
ulations. An orderly who stands at
the door fills somewhat the functions
of court officer, and the prisoners are
brought as sent for, by the sergeants
| of their companies.
Private Dash, who was caught in the
act of eating a piece Of bareback on
the berth-deck, is brought in. His Of
! Tense seems a very trivial one, but in
reality is rather serious, for the health
of all the soldiers depends upon a
strict observance of the rule forbidding
the presence of food on the berth-deck.
Decaying food is a quick, sure disease
breeder. The officer ordering the ar
rest and the witnesses to the unlawful
eating are not present. If the prison
er pleads guilty" they are not needed.
If he pleads mot guilty. they will be
sent for. But Private Dash admits the
corn as soon as questioned.
"Do you realize, Dash" says the
major, speaking very quietly, gently
and slowly, chow greatly you are help
ing to endanger the health of the other
men?"
81 hadn't thought much about it,
sir" replies Dash, hesitatingly.
Had you heard of the Order?'
Dash hesitates, but finally admits
that he has. He goes on to explain
that he has been helping the sailors
hoist things in and out of one of the
holds. The exercise had made him SO
hungry that, obtaining bareback. he
sat down to eat it.
(Which would have been very pro-
per-" mods the major, softly, had you
eaten it on the mess deck, where such
refreshment is supposed to be taken.
But if you men continue this sort Of
thing when you get in tropical waters,
only heaven can save you from a dis
astrous epidemic. That is all; tell
your sergeant that you are released
from arrest Next time it will be nee
essary to make your punishment more
severe" And on the papers his mill
tary honor writes, 'Fined one dollar"
Private Blank was found by one of
the officers of the guard smoking on a
berth deck. He explains that he was
only lighting his pipe there, and meant
to go up above with it. The major
mods thoughtfully, and the "rooky"
imagines he is apt to get off this time.
In another instant his hopes are shat
tered by this reply:
BLANK, your offense is very seri-
Gus one, and you knew better than to
commit it. You are permitted to smoke
on the mess deck and spar deck. By
smoking down in quarters, where there
are canvas berths and piles of clothing
all around you, you were taking great
chances of setting a fire. In these
crowded quarters a fire, even if not a
serious one, would be sure to cause a
panic. 1 will fine you, and you may
tell your sergeant that you are out of
arrest. That is all" Against
"rooky's" name is inscribed, Fined
$40" Six whiffs in a forbidden part OF
the ship have cost this man the better
part of a months wages, but be sure
that he will not again disobey the reg
Weekly.