Evening star., 1900-11-24
AN INCIDENT AT ALCATRAZ


Island, the military prison in the harbor of
San Francisco" said an ex-soldier of the
regular army who now lives In Washing
ton, Il was pretty forcibly reminded of an
experience I once had on Alcatraz with
prisoner-of the only time in my life, In fact.
when I ever dropped under the gun; on
which occasion 1 found out that being
under the gun Is neither exhilarating nor
entertaining.
Il was soldering as buck private with
one of the two artillery batteries stationed
on Alcatraz Island, which is a seven-acre
rock right in the middle of Frisco harbor,
and of most forbidding aspect. Some of
the guard posts were comparative snaps,
and the soldier who appeared on guard in
the best shape as to his equipments and
general appearance was given the privilege
of picking out these snaps. instead of beins:
compelled to walk post two hours on and
four off during his Neutrality-suspicious. period
of guard duty. One of the best of these
snap tricks was that of the man picked out
to be present at the AlcatraZ dock. with
pistol strapped around his waist. when the
government tug stopped at the island, as
it did several hours day. The only other
bit of work that the man on this duty had
to do was to get up at 4 O'Clock in the
morning, awaken the convict cook who pre-
pared the prisoners meals. accompany him
to the prison kitchen-a gloomy room be-
low the prison, against which the waters
of the Pacific storm the year 'round-and
stay with him until the prisoners break
fast was prepared. This wasn't such bad
job, for the convict cook always prepared
the guard an unusually good breakfast, II
he liked him. L used to capture that guard
trick every time l mounted guard, and after
few months l got to know the convict
cook pretty well.
This fellow was an Arizona desperate
with a record, named Caldwell. He had
enlisted in cavalry outfit in Arizona. stab
bed a trooper against whom he formed
grudge, jumped the layout, been captured
and given a twelve-year bit on Alcatraz to
do. He had done four years of the stretch
when l first woke him up and conducted
him to the kitchen. Caldwell was a gem
uinely bad lot, and no mistake. But he
vas a crackerjack cook, having done that
work for innumerable camping outfits be-
fore enllsting, and they permitted him to do
that work with the ball and chain to ham
per him. When 1 first took the snap trick
that required me 20 accompany Caldwell
to the prison kitchen the sergeant of the
guard warned me that I'd better keep a
weather eye on the man. that he was a
real hard one. and that it would be the
part of wisdom to keep the flap of my pis-
tol holster unbuttoned all the time l was
with him, and also 10 keep out of the range
of the iron ball attached to the cooks leg
''One clammy, foggy morning | reused
Caldwell out of his cell with unusual antlc-
ipation, for 1 had lost my supper at the bat
terry mess the evening before by being late
for it, SO that 1 was hungry and in great
shape for some of Caldwell's fried steak
and potatoes and coffee. Caldwell set to
work getting the meal for me before he
started to prepare the convicts breakfast.
and when he set it before me l sat down at
the wooden table ravenously, hunger MAX
ing me forget all about my job of keeping
an eye on a prisoner known to be deSper-
ate. l was eating away. while Caldwell
clomped around the kitchen, dragging the
heavy ball after him. when suddenly l felt
a sharp tug at the holster strapped on my
right side. When l hoped up in alarm L
preston in his eyes, had my gun dead
line with the middle of my forehead.
Me? Oh, I sat right down again and
looked at Caldwell. What else was there
to do?'
well. son. said he to me, never taking
that gun off my head for an instant, how
do you feei?'
Like one who formerly was said I,
gulping. What's the gag, CALDWELL?
Tn going to do YOU said Caldwell,
with an evil look, and his eyes were the
merest Sits.
That So? said I. What have 1 been
doing now?
well. you're one of 'em, that's all said
Caldwell, doggedly, and you're all alike to
me-
Now. I didn't feel bit gay, as you may
vously, right then.
Say if you put my light OUT said to
him, and the officer of the day finds out
that you've done it with my own gun. I'll
be court-mdrtialed and probably bob
tailed
The idea of dead man being court-mar-
tailed seemed to tickle Caldwell, for he
grinned sardonically.
Don't you get gay or clipper with me.
Ombrey,' he said. however, in a tone that
wasn't laughing matter at ALL The point
with me Is that 1 don't intend to finish this
bit out on this rock and here's my chance
to pass the whole thing up, but before l go
1 might just well take one O. you junl-
pers along with me. I'll give you ten min
utes to square yourself with what's On the
other side of the big divide, replied Cald-
well, and then we're going to pass over
that way together
"Oh, well, those weren't happy ten min
utes. l could feel my hair creeping beneath
my forage cap, but from the looks of Cald-
well l didn't reckon there was much use
asking him to give me show for my white
alley, and SO I spent the ten minutes in
thinking it over and wondering why 1
hadn't been real good when I had the
chance, so that I'd never have found my
self in bucks uniform in the American
army, when suddenly Caldwell, after the
long pause. dropped the gun with a grin
and handed it back to me, handle foremost.
It's been so long since had the drop
on man., he said to me, In a cheerful
tone. that 1 couldn't resist the temptation
to stampede you up some.
"fhen he went on about his work just
as if he hadn't had me attuning my ears
to the anticipated sound of celestial music
for the worst ten minutes had ever passed
in my life.
II never let Caldwell get nearer than
fifteen feet from me after that