Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-01-30
ocCo oCco oCCo oCt
in THE CAUSE
OF REFORM
By CYRUS DERICKSON
Copyright. 1908. bu T. C. Mcclure
BY CYRUS DERICKSON
COpUright. 1908. bu T. C. Mcclure

W hen captain Trent WaS tTdnSl eITeu
from the Seventh to the Twelfth regi-
ment and took up his quarters at Fort
Congcr he found that his reputation
had preceded him. lie WAS known to
the rank and file as hard man. The
captain of company is well liked or
totally dislikcd. Captain Trent was
proud of the fact that lie was not only
totally disliked, but positively hated,
by the men he had power over. 1t was
his nature to bulIdoze and bullyrag and
tyranniZe.
At the first roll call of Company B he
had few words to say to his new COM
nTand, and from that time on the men
knew what to expect. The old captain
had kept them fairly up to discipline,
and the commander Of the post had not
let things go at skies and scvcns, but
Captain Trent referred to his company
us il set of loafers and slouches who
didn't know enough to wear their uni
forms properly. They were hump
backed and lop shouldcrcd lot; they
were lazy and shiftlcss; they needed
strong hand to frcShcn them up. He
had the hand. He would teach them
what discipline was and what soldier
ing meant. and any sullcnneSs or hang
ing back would be promptly punished.
Then began something akin to a reign
of terror for the seventy men of Com
pany Is. Although nearly all were vet
Grams, they drilled from morning till
night. Certain privileges enjoyed when
stationed at posts in time of peace were
abolished New rules We're made and
enforced regarding this and that, and
in a fortnight the men felt like lot of
cOnvicts. Cursing was Il part of the
new regime. Captain Trent was down
under the heading of "Otlicer and Gen
tlpman." and yet he was shockinGly
profanc and shamcfuliy abusive. More
punishment was inflicted in a month
than for two years before: more deser
tions took place within three months
than had been recorded for three years.
1t was generally understood that the
"old man''-mcaning the commander of
the post - didn't appreciate Captain
Trent's zeal and that he was not sup
ported by his fellow officers in his bully
ragging. but he went ahead on his own
lines just the same.
There was enough to make the men
Sullcn and vcngcful. and the captain
kept adding TO it. He broke" two
ScrgoantS and three corpOrals and at
length. as Il sort of climax. preferred
charges against his orderly sergeant
and had him suspended from duty
while awaiting court martial. The
state of affairs in Company B was
simply lamrntable when Miss Blanche
Taylor and her mother arrived at
nearby ranch owned by n son and
brother. If Miss Blanche was not pos
itively engaged to Captain Trent they
had known each other for two years,
and there had been correspondence Of
Il very friendly nature. The arrival
benefited Company B in way-that
is, it took the captain away from the
post much of his time and turned his
thoughts into other channels. His lieu
tenants were neither martinets nor
bulldoZerS.
1t became the captains custom after
few days to ride over to the ranch
every morning to take Il long gallop
with Miss Blanche. On such occasions
he was attended Gy a private soldier
acting MS orderly. 1t had been Private
ORourke up to certain Tuesday
morning. Then Private Higgins hum
bly, followed ut the regulation distance
without the change being noticed. Fri
vate Higgins had been Sergeant Hig-
gins for two years before the coming
Of Captain Trent. Then cause had
been found for reducing him to the
ranks. On this morning the girl was
ready and waiting, and she and the
captain rode straight away and did not
draw rein until reaching the boiling
spring among the hills. Then they
dismounted for a rest, and Higgins
came forward to take care of their
horses. Even then the captain did not
remark the change. 1t was fifteen
minutes later, as he sat with his back
to rock and smoking a cigar. that
Private Higgins suddenly appeared be-
fore him with leveled revolver and
quietly said:
captain Trent, have bit of busi-
ness with you, and If you raise any
row about it I'll shoot you through
the head"
"Is 1t you, Higgins?" asked the Off
Ger rs he turned.
It's me, sir, one of the men you
broke. acted as orderly today that
might kill you. Give me the slight
rst excuse and I'll do it. You have
your revolver, but 1t is not loaded.
tampcrcd bit with your man last
night. Now pnt your hands behind
you or this little lady, who is keeping
so quiet, will see n case of killing"
Captain Trent was no coward, hut
he knew when he was beaten. When
his arms were thrust behind him they
were made fast with buckskin thongs
brought for the purpose. Then his
ankles were bound, and Private Hig-
gins lighted cigar and sat down and
said to the girl who had been so sur
priscd and frightened that she had not
said n word:
81 beg your pardon, miss, but there is
naught for you to fear. You see. Cap
tain Trent and are both military re-
formists, only we go about it in diff
ferent way"
"put ynII don't moan to kill himr' aX-