The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1902-01-07

To desert from either the army or
the navy, says the Regiment, is not the
easiest thing in the world, and even
when accomplished the culprit lives
in daily fear Of being recaptured and
sentenced to heavy term Of impris-
onment. Therefore, the devices en-
I ployed by some deserters are. as in
genious as they are exciting, although
they cannot be said to be always
crowned with success. For sheer au-
dacity the case Of an Irish soldier who
deserted in south coast town some
years ago would be hard to beat. Just
at that time a number Of desertions
had occurred in the neighborhood,
and the authorities were therefore
unusually sharp to prevent further Of
lenses of this nature. But the man
in question was dissatisfied with sol
diering, and having number of
friends in the town who we're disposed
to help him, and being possessed Of an
unusually large modicum Of pluck,
resolved to delay his return to civil life
no longer. One morning early he
slipped out of barracks and made his
way to a friends house without be-
ing seen. Arriving there, ne shaved
off his mustache, and, donning po-
liceman's uniform, boldly promenad-
ed the main streets Of the town. He
was of course missed in barracks and
knew that the surrounding country
was being secured in the hopes Of
finding him. On one occasion his
sergeant came up to him and asked
him if he had seen or heard anything
of the missing man, but he, of course,
replied that he had not, but he would
keep his eyes openl For more than
fortnight he preserved his Disguise
without it being penetrated by even
the nolice themselves, and he then
calmly left the town when the hue and
cry had subsided somewhat. Never
theless, his enterprise came to naught,
for he was arrested in trying to work
his passage back to Ireland
Scarcely less audacious was the ruse
employed by another dissatisfied son
of Mars, and in this case, likewise, it
proved futile. He happened to know
that certain publican in the town
was in anything but affiuent circum-
stances, for he visited the house regu-
larly, and from remarks dropped at
odd times discovered that the pub
lican was heavily in debt to Scotch
spirit merchant. One morning, as
soon as the publican opened his doors
the soldier arrived, after having first
disguised himself with beard and
wig and donned civilian attire. With
him came friend, who agreed to act
as representative Of the law, and he
promptly told the astonished publican
that he had orders to leave man in
possession unless the sum owing to
the Scotch spirit merchant was paid
to him there and then. The publican.
Of course, could not pay, so the de-
serter was quartered upon him and
lived in his house and at his expense
for more than a week before the de-
ception was discovered. Perhaps the
most successful deserter-for a time
was William Conrad. Through one
of his comrades he heard Of man
whose son had gone to Australia gold
mining, and had apparently disap-
peared, for nothing more had been
heard of him, though the parent still
believed he would see him again.
Conrad therefore hit upon the ingen-
ious idea Of leaving the army by
stealth, and, going to the man, in
form him that he was the missing son.
AS his knowledge Of Australia was
considerable, he lost no time in put
ting his plan into execution, and the
parent, believing in MIN despite the
supposed alteration in disappearance,
provided him with a home and money
galore, a commodity he confessed he
lacked. But, unfortunately for him,
at the end of IS months the real son
turned up, and what followed can bet
ter be imagined than described.