Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-02-21
CINCH WENT FISHING
sE USED HIS HOOK AND LINE IN A
BIG CLOVER FIELD.
q PUSHED His Comrades q Discover
what He Was Angling For, hut He
Finally landed the Prize For
which He Was Striving.

Some young men who enlisted dur
ing the war with Spain, bur never saw
| any active service. were talking over
their days in uniform one night and
old. interesting stories OF camp life.
| The young man who had been a hospi-
tai steward told this story:
"A month In our camp in Georgia
was enough to drive a man 10 despair.
for not only was 1t hot, but every day
increased our belief that the govern
ment had no intention 81 giving US a
back to homes. lie was a mighty
tough predicament for a lot OF young
men who had left business and every
thing else in burst OF patriotic enthu-
siasm and expected TO get into a scrap
In short order. The men worked every
wire they could to get their discharges,
but II was at a time when the man
the man without a friend. After awhile
the boys gave UP trying to get their
discharges and made up their minds to
grin and bear II.
"As a hospital steward I used to hear
a good deal about the health OF the reg
iment from the surgeons. and one day
I was very much surprised to hear one
OF them say that he was afraid Cincb
Of Company C was going to lose his
mind. / knew Cfnch as a big. good ma
tured fellow. who tried TO get a dis
charge as soon as he learned that we
were not going TO have a fight. When
he failed. he became sullen and moody.
The more we watched him the more
convinced we became that something
was wrong with him. Every time we
came around we found him mumbling
to himself. and one day a crowd OF us
found him seated on a stump In the
middle Of a big clover field. holding in
front Of him a long pole. attached to
which was a piece OF cord, on the end
Of which was a pin bent TO resemble 4
fishhook. He would drop the hook In
to the long grass and let it stay there
for a time. Then he would make a
cast and when the hook fell would sit
and watch the end of his line i~ntently.
Every once in awhile he would jerk the
line out OF the grass as though he had
felt a nibble. Once one of the boys
stepped up and said:
what are you fishing fory
"He got no answer. All Cinch did
was TO urn a pair OF hollow eyes on
him and then resume his fishing. After
that n gang used to 60 out and watch
Cinch every afternoon. They would
hide in the grass and almost burst
with laughter at the seriousness with
which the poor fellow would cast his
line of wrapping cord and his pin
hook and then sit and wait for a bite
Every once I'm awhile n OF the boys
would saunter out and say
"'What are you fishing for. Cinch?
at got 10 be the regimental saying
and I suppose that the question. What
are you fishing for. Cinchg' was thrown
at the man from Company G a hundred
times 3 day. BY and by the news goI
TO the officers that Cinch was going
fast. They heard about his fishing In
the fields. and one day the surgeon
major went out and witnessed the per
Torrance. He went back and reported
TO the colonel that unless Cinch was
discharged at once he would be hope
lessly insane. The result was that hi:
condition was telegraphed on TO Wash
ington and discharge papers were re
turned at once.
"The colonel In the goodness of hi:
heart went to look up Cinch and give
him the news. He found him sitting
on a stump in the field fishing away
while around him sat about 80 OF til,
regiment. one of whom would yell
What are you fishing for. CiEch?
every few minutes. The colonel step
ped up and touching Cinch on the
shoulder said:
"'Cinch. we think your health de
mands that you leave the service, anC
so we have procured an honorable dis
charge for you. Here 1t Is and h'
handed Cinch the papers.
"Ciuch dropped his fishing pole ant
grabbed the papers. He gave n lool
CT them. and when he saw that the!
were all right waved them triumphant
ly oyer his bead and shouted ut TIT
top OF his voice:
This is what | was fishing for
dang We all. This is what ] was fish
ing for. and | got ii too And witt
that he went dancing over the field
lea wing US standing there. the frs
CLEAN of the truth creeping into oui
brains.
THE colonel looked foolish. and b,
and by we began TO sneak away on'
by one. There was 10 doubt but wha
the regimental question. What are yo,
fishing for. CinchY had been answer
ed and in n most emphatic and sur
prising fashion. Cincb was as sane a!
anybody. but when be found he coult
not get an honorable discharge In on'
way he tried for it another."-Ney
York Sun.
C0uldn't Keep IL.