Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-02-15
GAINED HIS POINT.

at the white honss the other day for the
purpose Of asking the presidents permis
son to reenist in the navy, took the best
because it was the most direct, course to
gain his end. Enlisted men who want
something and who dodge the red-tape
method Of going after what they want have
7 frequently been known 10 win out most de,
eisively in the United States military and
naval service.
The case Of a clever chap named Dun
4 bar-a name whica he later changed to Bal
four, bis correct e-who enlisted il
4 the marine corps in Washington about II
4 years ago, is in point. Drnbar belonged
to a good New Orleans family, and. in ad.
/ dition 70 being finely educated man il
/ general, he was a graduate in medicine
/ After completing bis medical studies he
! drifted around the west good deal, finally
/ settling down to practice somewhere in
! Texas He mingled with a swift lot dowr
/ there, With the result that he finally aban
/ doned his practice and started for Wash
/ ington, to obtain, il possible, certain med
! zeal billet in the government service that
! he had in mind. He wasn't able TO get this
! position, aud after month or so of fruit
| less effort here he found himself strapped
| Then ne heard OF the apothecaryships in
| the navy. The apotheeary was a well-paid
! chief petty officer on board a man-o'war
| whose duties were to assist the ships sur.
geon. Dunbar concluded that he would try
| for one Of these berths. He had no definite
idea how to go about it, but he mistakenly
| figured it out that it was his first business
| to enlist in the marine corps, and, once in
and having exhibited his capacity in medi
cine, go in for the promotion to the apothe
caryship. He did not know that the
! apothecary.hip was an appointive billet at
the disposition of the ships surgeon, and
that the rate had no more to do with the
marine corps than it had to do with the
Washington police force.
However, Dunbar went out to the marine
barracks, and, without saying anything as
to the purpose he had in mind in enlsting,
he Shipped" in the marine corps as re.
crut. He hadn't worn the uniform l..
hours before he found that he was on the
wrong tack entirely, and that, instead OF
being on the direct road to the coveted
apothecaryship, he was in for stretch OF
years as a buck marine.
He was pretty gloomy when he found this
out, particularly as number of his com
rades in the corps who had ascertained his
mistake guyed him good dead about it.
He was a high-grade as well as a game
Ildi, uOWtNtis anu HC tO1h MS ihCoiNlhe
calmly, performing his duties in a soldierly
manner, and waiting for something to turn
up.
A few months after his enlistment as a
marine he learned that there was a vacant
apothecaryship on a man-o'war at the
Brooklyn navy yard that was about to start
on a fine Europran cruise, Dunbar sat
down and wrote 10 tae surgeon of that ship
naming his qualihe atoms for the billet, but
not mentioning the fact that he was at tie
moment of writing a buck marine. BY re-
turn mail he received an invitation from
Athe surgeon at the Brooklyn navy yard to
run over to New York and be looked over
The surgeon stated in his note that if Dun,
bar came up to his letter he would be given
the apothecaryship.
With this letter Dunbar went to the Off
Ger Of marines in charge of his company
and stated his case, saying that he would
like to get his discharge so that he could
go TO Brooklyn and be inspected for the
apothecaryship. The officer told Dunbar to
quit talking foolishness.
You're in to stay your time unless you
run away my man, and you know what
that would mean, said the officer to Dun.
bar.
Dunbar, however, hadn't the remotest
idea of running away He went squarely
TO the then commandant. The latter's
eountenanee was swept by a smile almost
of pity as Dunbar proceeded with his little
tale.
Give you your discharge so that you can
make application for an apothecaryshlp!
said the astonished commandment You look
and talk like an intelligent soldier. Do you
know what you are talking about, man?
Are you entirely sober?'
Dunbar replied that he'd never been more
sober in his life. but he repeated that he
certainly would like try for that apothe-
caryship on a ship that was going to make
a fine winter cruise in balmy south Euro
pean waters. The eommandant, bit testy
then, babe Dunbar go back to the barracks
| and behave.
"The secretary of the navy is the only
/ man who could give you your discharge,
! said the commandant, "and the secretary's
not doing tJat sort of thing"
| well, I think III try the secretary of
| the navy out, anyhow" said Dunbar to
| himself So he repaired to the barracks,
/ donned his best uniform, got half days
! leave from the barracks, hoped car at
/ the gate and went to the navy department
| Arrived there. he told the surprised messen-
ger outside the secretary's door that he
would like to have a talk with Mr.. Whitney
DE sec'tahy he amt seem no marines, -
/ said the messenger to Dunbar, but Just at
that moment Mr. Whitney himself emerged
from his office. Ire heard the messenger 5
remark. and he looked over the fine-appear.
ing. spick-and span marine curiously.
you want to see me?" inquired the Sec
rotary.
Yes, sir" said Dunbar, saluting.
Come right in, then, said Mr. Whitney
pushing open the door of his Office, Dunbar
followed him, and, standing at attention
alongside Mr. Whitney's desk, he told, in a
concise manner, his little story to the secre-
tary. Mr.. Whitney, with his chin in hi:
hand. looked the marine over shrewdly az
he spoke, and at the end of Dunbar's state
ment he impulsively picked up his pen.
ITO the Commandant; Discharge this
man. William c. Whsney," he wrote on a
piece of official paper and handed it to Dun
bar.
This viii make you all right" said Mr.
Whitney. Hand it to the commandant
| I homo ,ou land tho anothecarysh IN y and