The National tribune., 1902-11-20
HART'S ISLAND.

A few days after arriving at Harris
Island our First Sergeant happened to see
a letter written by me for German men,
Der of our company. ant, taking fancy
to my handwriting. had me detailed as
company clerk with the rank of Lance
Corporal. This First Sergeant was Max
Lipowitz, a native of Prussia perfect
martinez, who was o. a very trying temper
at times and at all times Over-strict TO men,
a goodly number of whom We're used to the
less rigid discipline of the volunteer service.
He was consequently most heartily disik-
ed 1t is well-knOwn fact that the 14th
Inf. of those days contained a great deal
Of ne. ,descript material recruited from the
watei front and rowdy element of New
York city, at that time very prolific in
the production of tough characters.
The commanding officer of the battalion,
who was present at Harris Island, was
Maj. Chaplin, gentleman of the old
school and every inch soldier; the COM
pany commanders were for the greater
part officers appointed from civil life, and
with few exceptions hardly qualified for
their military duties. The number of sub
alterns was very small, no company hav-
ing more than one commissioned officer.
The life ON Harris Island was the hum
drum everyday garrison life of recruits.
varying between drill, fatigue and dress
parade, the guard duty being done by the
regularly established garrison of the island.
l remember to this day, partly with sad
feelings, partly with grim humor, our pa
rade uniforms, the stiff leather stock
around the neck, the glittering brass scales
upon the shoulders and the very tall
black hat adorned with a single black
feather of doubtful origin. There came,
however, one incident to enliven the every
day routine of dullness and sameness, an
incident which may not be overlooked, as
II was the beginning of a sensational story,
reading rather more like a romance than
an actual occurrence, which latter, how
ever, / beg my readers to believe, it was,
and happened as related from time to time,
as its different phases developed them
selves.
We had been at Harris Island about
three weeks when a battalion order was
issued to the effect that all our napsa cks,
baversacks, and canteens should be plainly
marked with letters and numbers in white
oil paint, four inches high, preparatory to
our departure. The First Sergeant had
gone to New York in order to purchase
the necessary material, and l was alone
In his room occupied with the descriptive
lists and clothing account of the company.
l may here remark that l had begun to
apply myself seriously to the study of the
English Language and nE.::..::e. 20 my know.
ledge of Latin and three modern languages
was making steady and rapid progress
hearing nothing spoken but English. A
gentle knock at the door interrupted my
work: upon my calling out Come in" there
entered a woman. to whom l offered a
chair forthwith. She appeared to be abou,
40 years of age, and bore unmistakable
traces of former beauty. Although quito
iBdifferently, may almost say stability
dressed. she used excellent language. hei
manners We're ladylike. her voice exquisite
and, as / especially noticed. the shape OF
her small feet and hands quite aristocratic
Imagine, then, my utter surprise at hel
statement that she had come to make ap
plication to be admitted as laundress Il
our company, knowing that we had bu
one laundress. although the army regula
tons allowed four laundresses to each com
pany. She stated that she had son il
the I'd Battalion, 18th Inf, then at Van
cOuver: that she wished 10 join her son
but had not the means TO do SO, and per
haps could attain her end III the way indi
Gated.
OF course knew full well that the laun
dress of a company must be the Lawful
wife of a member of said company, and tn
lady knew it also; but she begged YER
hare 10 be taken to the company com
mander. This | could not refuse if | ba,
wished TO (Which was far from being til
case, and l accompanied her across til
parade ground to the quarters of our CAP
tain, w. Harvey Brown, Brevet Major
to whom l introduced her as Mrs. Mar
Wilson. the name she had given to me
Here l left her and returned to my work
About half an hour later she returned beal
ing slip of paper containing an order I
admit TO Co. L Mrs. Mary Wilson as
regular laundress, to assign quarters [
her, and to issue her SOAP rations, ct,
All this was done forthwith to the suprem
establishment of the First Sergeant upo
his return. do not know how much wasl
Ing Mrs. Wilson performed, if any, dul
ing our stay at Harris Island: l onl
know that she had frequent visits from til
more decent men of the company durin
all hours of the day and evening unit
taps" sounded; at all events she neve
gave cause for complaint of any kind.
LIVELY sCRIliMAGE.
At last the order for our departure wa
Issued; the rifles were packed away in Il,