The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1904-01-29
HOW THEY Do IN THE ARMY
Lieutenant Mapes of the Twen-
ty-Fifth Was in Norfolk.
KNEW THE LIEUTENANT KILLED
He Was at One Time in the Twenty
Second Regiment and Knew Rob-
erts, the officer Killed Saturday,


Fifth Infantry U. S. A., stationed at
Fort Niobrara, near Valentine, Neb,
was in Norfolk on Saturday evening
when the news came that two lieu
tenants of the Twenty-Second regi-
ment had been killed in the Philip
pines. AS a rather peculiar coinci-
dent, Lieutenant Mapes had formerly
been with the Twenty-second and was
well acquainted with Lieutenant Rob
erts. Lieutenant Flake he did not
know.
The two soldiers were killed while
scouting in Mindano. In speaking of
the incident, Lieutenant Mapes said,
Roberts was fine fellow. | remem
Der him well and he was always a
favorite among the younger officers"
Lieutenant Mapes was in the city
looking for recruits into the regular
army service. He had come to Nor
folk because he had heard that a
couple of young men here were will
ing to join. When he found his men
they admitted that they had thought
about it somewhat but that they
wanted to think it over little longer.
Not wishing to wait until they had
completely decided, the officer left
for the fort and will return to Norfolk
about the middle of next month.
Cold Weather Makes Joners.
"This cold weather makes joiners
for the army in great STYLE" said
I t. ~; &c,
a frigid spell that drives them into
shelter and when they get up against
it for fair they are glad enough to get
next to the army service with free
board, free quarters and liberal al
lowance of cash per month besides
"As matter of fact, too, we figure
that there is nothing better for
young, unmarried man who has a
small income, to do. He always has
a place to sleep, a place to eat and
good clothes to wear, where in every
day labor he lives up his wages and
then has to worry a lot besides.
Private Worth $1,000.
Rather a remarkable instance of
the wealth of common private in
the ranks of the regular army was re-
lated by Lieutenant Mapes. The
other day one of the colored soldiers
got on the same train with the officer,
coming to Norfolk. The private
spoke to his superior in rather a ia
miliar way, neglecting the salute and
displaying less discipline than was
L:
cided at once that the fellow must
have been discharged and asked him
if he was out of the service.
Eyes, SIR" said the private
"And where are you going now,"
was asked.
I'm going to the Philippines, lieu.
tenant" replied the man who had
quit the fort. 81 have a wife over
there to whom I am going"
How do you ever expect to get
across the water?" suggested the su.
perior officer.
81 shall work my way on a trans.
port if possible said the colored man,
'and if l can't do that l shall pay
fare"
"Why, do you realize what that
would mean?" said the army officer
in surprise. ''Do you realize that the
the fare would amount, at the very
lowest rate, to over $160?"
Eyes, sir. But l guess l can pay it,
lieutenant"
And to substantiate his statement,
the retiring private soldier, who had
been in the service for just nine years
to a day, drew forth from the inner
recesses of his blue blouse a bank
draft for exactly $2,75365. He had
saved every penny of it at a little
over $13 per month, and had dressed,
eaten and slept during that time.
The fellow passed on through Nor
folk for San Francisco and from there
he will take a steamer for the Philip
pine islands, where awaits him a pa
tient little wife. This is cited by the
army man as one of the rare and
really remarkable cases of soldiers
savings, but at the same time as an
indication of the possibilities in the
service.
Some of the soldiers become quite
expert money lenders. They will loan
$5 until the next pay day and when
that day comes around they will re-
ceive $3.50 for it. When the soldiers
'go broke" at cards or folly, they will
mortgage almost everything they
have in order to get little more cash
to pay for some pleasure that they
have planned for.
Rivalry of Regiments.
There is considerable rivalry among
different regiments which are located
near to one another. The boys Of the
Twenty-second, for instance, have it
in for the fellows of the Tenth cavalry
in many ways. They have beaten
their horsemen rivals at everything
now except polo and they are prepar-
ing to do that.
The other night the Fort Niobrara
crowd put the cavalrymen out of bus