The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-01-20
MILITARY PRISONERS.
How They Are Guarded at Garrisons.
The Bull Rino.

How They Are Guarded at Garrisons.
The Bull Ring.
5 The hardest duty that Il soldier IL
ever called upon to perform in times of
peace and the duty which be dreads
the most is the guarding of military
prisoners. These are divided into two
classes:
First.-Garrison prisoners. who have
received light sentences for minor
breaches Of discipline and will be re-
turned to duty In short time.
Second.-Military convicts. who for
attempted desertion or other serious
military crimes have been dishonor-
ably discharged by order of court
martial and have received sentences
varying from a few months to several
years confinement at hard labor. az
cording to the gravity of the offense
lnto-their ranks the vicious element or
those WHO hold their oath Of enlist
. ment too lightly eventually find their
way.
\ Every morning at fatigue call the
prisoners are drawn up in long line
In front Of the guardhouse and sur
rounded by chain Of sentries. The
somber prison garb of the generals
military convicts were formerly known
as genera! prisoners"-is marked with
a gigantic capital "P." which renders
them conspicuous and therefore makes
escape more difficult
Some are evil hooking fellows with
long and unsavory records. DonltIess
many have done time" more than
once in civil prisons before pvading the
watchfulness Of the recruiting 'tlic.r
and finding their way into the army.
Others are rosy checked lads who in
allsprobability have vet to see their
twenty-first birthday. and In nine
cases out Of ten the charge against
them is desertion. Homesicki,pss or
restlessness under military restraint
and discipline have led them into ti,'
rash act. the heavy penalties of which
they may not have fully realized.
In groups of twos and three and
guarded by sentries with loaded rifles.
these men perform most IT the dis
agreeable work and menial labor
about the army post. which is highly
varied in. character and may consist
of anything from sprinklng the h"wpr
beds on the officers lawns tn digging
bitches for monster sewer pipes. Al
| though they generally perform their
enforced tasks cieerfully. occasionally
a particularly disagreeabc pir" Of
work causes miniature strike. aud Il
| dozen men may ''buck" is. re-
fuse to work.
1t is then that the historic hull
/ ring, IL resortcd to. A huge circle is
| marked out on the ground. and the
| malefactOrx are required 20 walk
around IT'S circumference in Indian file
| for eight hours Il day. preserving. alb
solute silence. A ten minute respite
Is allowed at moon for bread and
wafer lunch day or two "f this
treatment usually suffice TO break the
most stubborn will II not there stiil
remain solitary confinement on The
bread and water diet and rs last
resort the dungeon.
/ ~ nusv ~ Sy NNe'F ''N
| grimmest phase Of the soldiers life.
/ He may find himself standing guard
over bis best friend, with orders to
| shoot to kill should his man attempt
to escape Youths Companion.
Where He elundered.
A Cleveland lawyer tells story
about Il Milesian wielder Of the pirl;
who had been digging trench for \
gas pipe leading to n private residence
IA one inch pipe.
4 Contemplating the excavation and
comparing its capacity with the loose
dirt. he shook his hend in doubt. BE
this and he that" said he. I'm think
ing I'll not have room in the ditch for
4 all the DIRT on the pile. bad cess"
."But." said bystander. ''why not
Patw
Sure" he made reply. because
didn't dig it deep enough!-Cleveland
News.