The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-02-21
TRUMPEIEl MUELLER. !,
SOLDIER -,
The story Of = Man who Wss
Thooght Fit Only to Blow
BuEia Calls.
BY EDwARD =. cLARk.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Hans Mueller USED to toot a trumpet
in the Third cavalry. Hans WAS more
or less OF butt for the jokes OF the
nsen Of hls troop. lie took all kinds
of gibes Mithsa good nature that was
ms perfect as II was stolid. The trnm-
peter knew more about music than lie
I'D about nuskets. When for, awhile
he tried what the other men called
straight soldering, he MAS continually
getting tangled up with his equip
1ents. mud ON several occasions ut
skirmish drill lie came within an ace
of shooting himself. His comrades
told Hans that as long " lie confined
his efforts TO killing himself they would
offer no strenuous objection, but TINT
IL lie got real careless and shot the
head off some one else he must look out
for trouble. As matter OF fact, he
did one dry come pretty close TO put
ting IA bullet through the heart of Ser
Eclnt Peter Nelson. who forthwith
thrashed Hans in an approved style.
Captain Roberts called Hans gross
and said that he must slick to Ills
trumpet.
The edict of his chief made Hans
feel bad. He blew the whole scale
of calls from rcvcille through fatigue,
recall aud drill to taps. but his soul
wasn't in his music. Down deep III
Hans soul there came the Thought thar
somehow IL. was not like other men.
The s,uartness of appearance which
characterized Sergeant Nelson. Corpo-
raj Brady aud n score of priratcs he
knew could nevessBe his. There was
lacking in his mikcup. that something
which gives dash To a soldier. Hans
used to fall over his feet in Il most I'M
military way, and his hands were new
er in the. pfopcr places. There was
one thing, however, that could be said
for him, he always tried 10 obey orders
implicitly. He generally Numbered
while making the attempt. but the in.
tent was right, and that covers mul-
titude OF sins much more serious III
nature than mere blunders.
The Third cavalry was in the Wyo-
ming country in the Elkliorn creek re
gion. There had been Il good deal OF
trouble with the Ncz Perccs. and !.
troop had been kept on the jump most
of the time for IL month. ]. troop was
Hans outiif. There had been one con
slant succession of scoutinSs. II had
been necessary 10 send small squads in
half n dozen different directions nj one
and the same time. The trumpcter had
been forced 10 stay With The main
body. which was not very big main
body at that. Mt I'LL times, He had
been IN everything i'll which the whole
troop was engaged but Tie idea or
sending Hams out on reconnaissance
where coolness and the Subtlety Of the
devil were necessary for safety was
the last thing that ever entered the
head of the troop commander
One ,lay, however. one of the coolest
days of tire second winter month. it
became necessary 10 send scouting
party 10 investigate the rrmor of tile
approach Of ~ band OF sayages. Now, it
laappcncd that tl,c whole command
was tagged out. and this IN Il nutshell
Is the reason why Hans Mueller found
himself for til" first time In his life in
d position OF acute responsibility. He
was ordered hy Captain Roberts 10
proceed with Sergeant Nelson aud two
privates northwest until something
was ''fclt' or until the sergeant was
satisfied that u wrong report had been
turned into the camp
When the little body set ont. the fa
tisue OF the individual members Of the
troop showed that 1t Was not, 50 TO
speak. strong enough to Keep these
same Individuals from giving Hans a
sendof. HAMS had Il carblue and re
rolvcr. His trumpet WAS hanging up
ON a peg. One of the bystaniers sG III
to the sergeant In command: Look nut
for Haus IL you happen 10 get into u
acrimmnge. The first thing you know
he'll forget himself. and he'll try 10
1,iow retreat on his carbime. You may
lose one man II iIans puts his mouth I"
the. wrong and ~ til" barrel"
Then they said y few other things to
TYans. He was told TO he sure not 10
get lis cantecn mixed up with his car.
tr-itlsc brlr ard TO make sure that he
took nntc Ut the landmarks on the way
aut 20 liz could get back 10 camp ia II
hurry Il he hnppe-:l TO hear an Indian