The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-02-18
REFUSING A BARoNErcY.
A First Sergeant In the United stateA
Marines who Wanted TO Re-
malta Ineognito.

All sorts and conditions OF men 60 to
make up the enlisted personnel OF 9
man-ot-war. and, as a rule, nothing ID
known OF the ante-naval history on
most OF the men-o'.warsmen, who come.
from every walk Of life. 1t Is not sur
prlsing, therefore, that now and then
a bit of romance is revealed when the,
history OF some OF these lads OF the sea
is made known by accident.
But perhaps the most romantic inci1
dent of them all was that OF the first
sergeant OF marines upon one Of our
ships in eastern waters, who, under re-
inarkable circumstances, came 10 be Of
fered IN unusual Christmas gift. which
he would not accept. This first SER
geant was the ideal soldier. a German
by birth evidently neat, trim, an ex-
rellent disclplfnarian. and a favorite
with the men. who. however, were
never faiailiar with him. There was
something abou the sergeant that
made II impossible for his comrades to
treat him fippanily. ds seaiaring men
usually do each n,her
The cruise ws> drawing 10 a close
and the ship was lying In tropical
port on Christmas uay. with brolling
sun overhead and sea Of glass about
her. Christmas trees rose above the
inastheads. and bunting decked the
vessels fore and aft. while the men he
meath the awnings on the cold.white
deck were enjoying their Christmas
sports OF athletic games. with the first
sergeant Us referee. A Christmas din
ner laid on tables on the forward deck
awaited the ending Of the sports, and
800 jolly faces watched the fun and
made bets upon the results.
"The German consul Is coming along
side, sir" reported the quartermaster
on watch to the officer Of the deck.
-Four side. boys" sang out the latter,
and the boaiswain'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
Sntis'nns sP''"u u''s '"Jo'N" ~ '"S
various 'ap'es' ana nowhere nore 'nun
at the table OF the master at arms
mess, OF which the first sergeant was u
member. Permission 10 smoke was
granted. and the first sergeant had Just
lighted his pipe when the messenger OF
the watch came 10 MN ana sa'u' Inc
onicer OF the deck wants 10 see YOU
sergeant dropping MS pipe ne went
art TO the mainnast' where ne was
surprised TO ma awa'ting MN MOI on,yl
the oihcer OF 'ne Geek pu' ,ne eap's'r'
and ci'h'an, VINO pro'co 10 pe 'he
herman consul ~
sergeant. SAID 'ne captain 'h''
gentlenah mas sonetnihs W say !"
YOU and wh'ie the wen-oriI'eu murine
STOOD al a''ep,ion 'ne consul sa'u
baron Won senrsuer' or'ns YOU !
ehris'mas GIT Inc nrs, seisean' o''
uos iofge. ne wus so'u,e,, any, a.
'hough ms 'uce eApresseu 'ne u,'nos
surprise, ne sn'u'eu anu ss'u, au.. nv.
: togauveiy' ies, s'r iour 'aSns'
J he oid oaron' ana your eioer pro'ner' ',',
Il soh,inueu 'ne eonsu' na,e uo.n ~ ~
: ueaa ior s'S nou'ns ~"e w l"' : -
an 'h's '''ns ''.s'uf 10 ~ - H.
vu,. '"s", 80 ~
"s'e" u"uel y" assume na," 80.
ss' We | ""'s "s. 80, '.iaasurs w. - 49,
."u . " NJ s', ,,an.rs ms "s% .h;ns nroys yonr
~. 'ass. pup IN 90 ~ -, r =, 49,,
'sn. " wy WV 'D ''
'",c ."'n &c. - .,. uo ,,
- 80 - a.,an,,on
s,,,,"" ~, ~ N
- .Mu ,, s.".' ..ta no o,n,otn
o"' I'm - - a..
y. so"'su ~ ~" w. W." ,."u.n GOV, =
anndS, ''S
"Four months, SIR" answered Baron
Won Schrader, the first sergeant.