The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
MEDDY AND THE MAJOR.
Story of the Santiago Campaign Told at n
Meeting of the Anti-Typh0id Club.

Meeting Of the Anti-IyphOid Club.
The ex-voluntecrs OF the Santiago campaign
who compose the Anti-Typhoid Club were
holding their regular weekly meeting. A mem
Der who admitted that he had taken a drink OF
water had been promptly suspended for one
week. in spite Of his plea that he had taken the
fluid from IA pint bottle under the impression
that it was gin. Amember of the Hospital Corps
read n paper describing the deadly results of
Understanding on soldiers and attributing his
own good health during the Cuban campaign
to his discovery of II quantity of wood alcohol
among the medical stores. which he had used.
slightly diluted. as preferable to straight water.
At the conclusion OF the reading a member
who had been putting industriously on a corn
cob pipe raped the fire and ashes out against
tho edge of the table. took a pull at his stein
and observed:
Il have been deeply interested in the paper
Of our learned medical comrade. 1t throws
light upon an incident Of the campaign that
has been enyclopcd in mystery. You may not
all know that our learned friend here. Meddy.
put in 6 days % hours and 80 minutes in the
guardhouse. That's the limit for which an
officer can lock up an enlisted man without
prcfcrring formal charges. 1t happened after
the surrender. and while we were camped on
the ridge back Of Santiago. Meddy was doing
the early morning cooking for the sick in the
regimental hospital, and also for the surgeons.
He had to turn out before break OF day and
hustle wood and water. build n fire and cook
cruel for the sick and beefsteak for the officers
of the medical staff.
We'll, ono morning Just Mt daybreak Major
Bolus, the chief surgeon, woke up TO find u d.
sheveled, mad looking private OF the Hospital
Corps. with a blood-reeking butcher knife in
his hand. bending over his cot and ~gloating
nyar hin, with hlnpIShot pyag .Tha lIainr
recognized the private MS u mar whom he'had
reprimanded severely and in supplementary
language the day before.
For n moment the Major was paralyzed with
horror. and then. with a now for help. rolled
ont of his cot on the other side. Extrlcating
himself from his blankets. the Major grabbed
his sword and backed against the side wall OF
his tent. The private continued TO glare at
him. his blood-strcaked eyes distending with
some violent emotion. TO this day the Major
could not he convinced that the emotion was
surprise and not murderouS rage.
"'Wh- what do you want 2 stammered the
Major. his sword and scabbQrd rafting to-
S'"'Thic private 'extended" his bltoSdrstained
Weapon rapier-fashion, and starting around
the foot OF the cot toward the Major. opened
Halt Gasbed the Major. in turn extending
9 MS weapon In very wo6biy fashion, 'H-halt!
THE private glared wild-eyed at the MAJOR
some more, but il seemed odd that a despera-
dos, knees should knock together AS his did.
Again he, started to speak and made a gesture
with the butcher-knile. but the Major parted
the thrust and exclaimed:
"'Iu c-call the g-guard. sir! W-what do you
want. STRIP
THE private was trembling with suppressed
rage, but at this threat he lowered the point OF
his butcher-knife and suffered:
~ w-wanted-hic-t' know. Major. VIII
whether you wanted your steak rare or-hic-
well doneY
Then the Major ordered the private under
arrest, and while he made no formal charge /
am confident that he believes TO this day that
our friend Meddy here, and 1t appears TO me
that his learned paper on the subject Of wood
and murdcrous appearance that morning, and
also his neglect 20 put aside the knife with
which, he had been cutting, up steak before
disturbing the Majors sleep"
The Hospital Corps man realized that II was
up to him, and gave a skirmish-line signal to
which the waiter promptly responded.