Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-02-15
Private O'Neil
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911

wen, corporal bdlu Inc SoioAeit
not ceasing to wag large pa n leaf,
whats he been doingY
Interfering with the guard in the
line Of duty. sir"
How"
private Thompson on being repri-
manded by Lieutenant Blister knock
ed the lieutenant down. We put
Thompson in the guard tent, and this
man lifted up the rear part of the tent
wall while the sentinel wasn't looking
and helped the prisoner out"
What did you do that for?' asked
the colonel Of the prisoner
"Why, they told me- said the boy in
trembling voice, that Thompson
would be shot for mutiny."
what good would it do you to try
TO save him that wayT
There was no reply to this. the pris-
oner standing with eyes bent on the
floor
do you think" said the colonel,
chat If let you off this time you can
let the prisoners in charge of the guard
aloneY'
81 don't know sir"
Don't known
~ think can, sir"
The colonel told the corporal to
march the boy back to his company en-
campment and release him.
The next day the recruit was
marched to the colonel's tent again.
having committed the same offense,
"See here. young man." said the
colonel, do you know that you are liza
BILE TO be shot for this7'
mo. sir"
"rhompsons striking an officer was
outright mutiny; your helping the mu-
tineer to escape from the guard is the
next thing to it. Do you want to get
yourself shot tooY
Gould take Private Thompson's
place. sir?"
flake his place in what|
Being shot"
What in thunder do you want to do
that forT asked the astonished colonel,
I'D like to, if he has to be shot
HOW Olu ART YOU dohth iAS
colonel. hoping the boy was under age
and he could discharge him from the
army.
I'm twenty. sir"
Twenty? Were you enlisted as
twenty? You're nothing but child"
There was no reply to this. Tears
were standing in the boys eyes.
Take him away" said the colonel to
the corporal, land tell his captain to
try and find some reason to get rid of
him.
The commander heard no more of
the recruit Private O'Neil until after
the first fight in Cuba. Then. on look
ing over some papers that had come up
to him from d company, he noticed
that charges had been preferred
against one Of the men for cowardice
The colonel, suspecting that some boy
had flinched under his baptism of fire
and needed to be carefully handled, di-
rected that the accused man be brought
to his headquarters. When this was
done who should appear but Private
O'Neil
You're the man who was continu-
ally trying TO get another man away
from the guard when we were in
Tampa, aren't your
Yes, sir"
And If remember rightly you
wanted TO be shot in his placer
YES, sir
whats become of him?"
He's Private Thompson, sir" the
corporal put in. Lieutenant Blister
withdrew the charge Of mutiny ON the
ground that Thompson, being a recruit,
didn't know any better than to strike
an officer. Thompson has distinguished
himself in the battle and has been
made sergeant"
Il don't understand why this boy
was continually trying to save Thomp-
son"
They seemed to be great friends"
Wei, take him back where he came
from and order Thompson TO report to
me in person
He won't tell you anything" said
o'Neil
"Nou impudent. cowardly youngster.
what do you mean? Away with him.
Thompson reported with an arm in
sling and a bandage around his head
Il understand, my brave fellow"
said his commander, that you have
been promoted for gallantry in the bat
lie. Now, I wish you to tell me why
this little chap who is to be tried for
cowardice was constantly interfering
in your behalf with the guard when we
We're az Tampa
Il can't do that. colonel, unless VOC
order me 20 tell you"
Every we'll: order you TO tell"
"O'Neil isn't man. he's a woman
"pheww
She's my wife. When | enlisted
she followed me and enlisted too,
dressed as man. tried to make her
60 back TO our kid but she wouldn't |
wish you'd send her home"
orderly" cried the colonel go TO
the captain commanding p company
and tell him to send Private o'Neii
here
Private O'Neil came. evidently fear
ful that the cat was ont of the bag.
You are 70 20 north" said the colo
No -, HNrsN