The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-24
How q Marine
Slipped His Gable.
IorIgInal.1

Ihan human beings, instead OF today.
when every sailor, whether officer or
seaman, has his rights. But there are
natural tyrants who are by nature IT,
rannical, and Peabody was one or
them, though he kept within the reg
ulations, using insult instead OF com
hitting violation of an officers re-
strictions.
Tom Spencer was a marine on board
a United States cruiser. He was a
good soldier, always spick and span
and was well educated. The reason
for his enlistlng In the marine corps
was that he hoped some day by good
conduct to secure commission. For
some reason or other Peabody con-
ceiyed dislike for Spencer. Some
said the reason was that Peabody had
been appointed to the academy from
the gutter and IL had failed to make
him anything but gutter snipe, while
Spencer had enlisted from the parlor
and could only be gentleman. Be
this as it may. whenever Peabody got
a chance to put the screws on to Spen-
Ger he did 1t in as irritating and dis
agreeable fashion as 1t could be done.
There was fire smoldering in Spen-
GERS breast which nothing but the mu-
tiny laws could keep from breaking
out into volcanic eruption.
There had been liberty party on
shore and some Of the leave men had
got into a fight with the natives-the
cruiser was lying off the coast of
Peru-a and when they returned Pea
body was officer of the deck. Spencer
was one Of them and gave evidence OF
his part in the fracas by having his
uniform torn to shreds Peabody seized
upon this to storm at him and. his
hatred getting the better of his dis
erection, used a common opprobrious
eplthet In connection with Spencers
mother. Like flash the marines right
arm went out, and the ensign went
spraying on the deck.
Here was a case of mutiny. In some
OF the worlds navies even in time OF
peace to strike an officer means death.
The penalty is not so severe in the
Ghttcu Eiatca navy Oub ~ tuCduc III
prisonment. Spencer was put In irons
and charges preferred against him.
1t was in the hot season, and there is
no telling how long a time may elapse
before man may be brought before
court martial. It was probable that
Spencer would either be sent home IN
der guard for trial or would be held
till the cruiser went north II was too
hot to keep him between decks for an
indefinite time, and he was given the
liberty Of The ship during the day, only
being put into the brig at pipe down.
The ships master at arms was made
responsible for him and watched him
TO see that he didn't get away to shore.
1t was a grim prospect for the prison
err The insult he had received would
be no pallIation for his offense. He
might have preferred charges against
Peabody, but on no account could he
have taken the law into his hands. In
stead Of a commission. he would doubt-
less get at the least calculation dis
honorable discharge and several years
at some naval prison. Tie was the pic
ture OF woe as he lounged about and
an object of sympathy with his ship
mates. who hated Peabody.
Spencer, who was In the social
scale far above bis comrades, had but
few intimate companions His only
chum was Bob Sawin. whose father
was captain Of merchant vessel
Bob was a great scapegrace and gen.
orally conceded to be the most reckless
man on the cruiser
The trouble on land had subsidized and
liberty parties were again going ashore.
They usually left the ship at four bells
In the evening One afternoon Sawin
put in an application for liberty. There
was young ensign aboard who had
been Ill ever since the cruiser had left
United States shores. and on this very
afternoon he had returned to duty and
was officer of the deck. It was his
part to call on the names Of the liberty
party.
When Sawin's name was called,
Spencer. we'll got up in his best uni
form for shore leave. stepped forward,
with a Here, sir saluted, went down
The ladder and took his place In tbs
aunch. The ensign didn't know him
from any other marine There WAS
surprise on the faces Of the
men who knew well enough that Spen
,er was not Sawin, but never man
'poke, and when the party was check
ID off the cutter bore them. Spencer
sitting in the stern sheets. to the dock.
Meanwhile Bob Sawin was hiding
lnder tarpaulin on the fo'c's'le.
There he reclaimed till darkness spread
friendly mantle far more to. the pur-
lose. then let himself stealthily down
" the anchor chains, dived, swan
lnder water as far as he could bold
lis breath. came 20 the surface and
wan to shore. The next morning no
eturned with the party In spencer's
inform.
Spencer as soon as he found himself
shore made for the mountains and
within few days was lost TO any
earching party that might be sent for
i'm. He had some back pay stored
way in his pockets. by means OF
7hieh in time he returned TO the Unit
4 States. lie was not missed aboard
hip tin the master at arms hunted for
i'm at pipe down to put him in the
rig for the night
When the Spanish-American war
ame on Spencer enlisted in the army,
himself and came back
captain. Either before or after the