The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-04
ALCATRAZ INCIDENT

Of four long time prisoners from Alcatral
island, the military prison in the harbor o1
San Francisco" said an ex-soldisp Of the
regular army who now lives in Washing
ton, II was pretty forcibly reminded Of an
experience l once had on Alcatraz with 9
prisoner--of the only time in my life, in fact,
when I ever dropped under the gun-on
which occasion found out that being under
the gun is neither exhilarating nor enter.
tanning.
II as soldering as buck private with
one OF the Two artillery batteries stationed
on Alcatraz island, which is a seven-acre
rock right in the middle Of f'Frisco harbor,
and Of most forbidding aspect Some Of
the guard posts were comparative snaps,
and the soldier who appeared on guard in
the best shape as to his equipments and
|. general appearance was given the privilege
Of picking out these snaps, instead Of being
compelled TO walk post two hours on and
four off during his 2Ahour period OF
guard duty. One d the best Of these
snap tricks was that Of the man picked out
to be present at the Acatraz dock, with a
pistol strapped around his waist, when the
government tug stopped at the island, as
It did several hours day. The only other
bit Of work thatsthe~man on this duty had
to do was to get up at four O'Clock in the
morning, awaken the convict cook who pre-,
pared the prisoners meals, accompany him
| to the prison kitchen a gloomy room be-
| low the prison, against which the waters
Of tue Pacific storm the year ronnd-and
stay with him until the prisoners break.
| fast was prepared. This wasn't such a bad
| Job, for the convict cook always prepared
the guard an unusually good breakfast, if
he liked him. ! used to capture that guard
trick every time mounted guard, and after
few months ] got TO know the convict
cook pretty well.
This fellow was an Arizona desperate
! with record. named Caldwell. He had
| enlisted in cavalry outfit in Arizona,
stabbed trooper agains, whom he formed a
grudge, jumped the layout, been captured
and given l2-year bit on Alcatraz to
do He had done four years Of the stretch
when first woke him up and conducted
him to the kitchen. Caldwell was gen
uinely bad lot. and no mistake But he
| was a crackerjack cook. having done that
| work for innumerable camping outfits be-
fore enlisting and they permitted him to do
that work with the ball and chain to ham
per him. When first took the snap trick
| that required me to accompany Caldwell
| to the prison kitchen the sergeant of the
guard warned me that i'd better keep q
weather eve on the man; that he was a
| real hard one, and that it would be the
part of wisdom to keep the flap of my pis-
tol holster unbut toned all the time ! was
with him. and also to keep out Of the range
Of the iron ball attached to the cooks leg.
"One cIamlny, ioggy morning reused
Caldwell out Of his cell with unusual anticr
pat ion, for had lost my supper at the bat.
terry mess the evening before by being late
for it, so that ] was hungry and in great
shape for some of Caldwell's fried steak
and potatoes and coffee. Caldwell set to
work getting the meal for me before he
started to prepare the convicte' breakfast,
and when he set it before me | sat down at
the wooden table ravenously, hunger max
ng me forget all about my job Of keeping
an eye on a prisoner known to he desper-
ate. WAS eating away. while Caldwell
clomped around the kitchen, dragging the
heavy ball after him. when suddenly felt
sharp tug at the holster strapped on my
right side. When hoped up in alarm
was too late. Caldwell. with queer ex-
preston in his eyes, had my gun on a dead
line with the middle Of my forehead
Me- Oh. | sat right down again and
looked at Caldwell. What else was there
10 do!'
"'Well, son, said he to me, never taking
that gun off my head for an instant, "how
do ycu feel:"
"Lke one who formerly was said ],
gulping. What's the gag, taldwell:'
"'I'm going to do You, said Caldwell,
with an evr~look and his eyes were the
merest Sits.
THAT SOP said I. w'ha, have been
doing now?'
"Well ycu'rr on. Of 'em, that's all, said
Caldwell, doggedly, and you're all alike
to me-.
"Now ! didn't feel bit gay, as you may
imagine. but laughed whole lot. nc,v-
ousIy. righ. then,
"'Say, if you pu, my light out said to
him. and the officer Of the day finds out
tha, You've done it with my own gun, I'll
be court-marijaled and probably bob
tailed
"rhe idea Of dead man being court mar
til led seemed to tickle Caldwell, for he
erinned snrdonica,ly.
Don't YOU get gay or clipper with me,
Ombrey.' he said. however. in a tone that
wasn't laughing matter at all. The point
with me is that I don't intend to finish this
Bit out on his rock, and here's my chance
to pass the whole thing up, but before 20
| Mght Just as vel! take one o you juni-
peIs along with me. TIL give you ten min
nles to square Yourself with what's on the
other SIDE of the big divide, replied Cald-
well. and then we're going to pass over
that way together
"Oh well. those weren't happ, ten min.
utes | could feel my hair creeping beneath
my forage cap, bu, from the looks Of Cald-
well ! didilI reckon there was much use
asking him to give me show for my white
alley. and so spent the ten minutes in
thinking it over and wondering why
hadn't been real good when ! had the
chance. so that I'd never have found my
self in bucks uniform in the American
army, when suddenly Caldwell. after the
long pause. dropped the gun with grin
and handed it back to me. handle foremost.
CTS been so long since had the drop
on a man, he said TO me. in cheerful
tone, that ! couldn't resist the temptation
to stampede You up some
"Ihen he went on about his work Just
Is if he hadn't had me attuning my ears
to the anticipated sound Of celestial music
for he wors, ten minutes had ever passed
in my life,
II never let Caldwell get nearer than Is
feet from me after that ashngton Star.