The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-06-11

has been mentioned. Youngsters are
not to be trusted as older officers, who
would not have been likely to hurry
away from the duties committed to
their care, leaving one sick man roam
ing no one knew where and another to
be buried without making sure as to
who he was.
From the time that Surgeon Ferge
son entered the name of Lieutenant
Berkeley on his death roll he thought
no more of him. He worried about
Sergeant Moore, whose disappearance
the hospital steward had reported,
fearing that, since the man had been
in his charge, something might turn
up to bring out his failure to remain
In Cuba and discover what had be-
come of him. But as for Berkeley, be
was safe underground and could not
In anyway stir up the army regula-
tons against the doctor.
Five years after the Spanish-Ameri-
can war party Of young persons was
making merry together at Fort Mon
roe. One of the young ladies', Miss
Julia Hulet. was receiving some at
tention from a young officer, Captain
John Foster, who had been promoted
from the ranks, or, rather, Captain
Foster, was Offering his attentions.
which Miss Hulet was chary of ac-
cepting.
Since 1t was near the hour for dress
parade, one Of the party proposed that
they go into the fort and see the cere-
mony. As they moved along a gentle
man Joined Miss Hulet. who seemed
very much pleased to meet him. She
introduced him to her friends as Mr.
Berkeley.
On hearing the name Captain Foster
looked fixedly upon Berkeley as
though trying to recall some memory
concerning him. From the moment
Of the latter's arrival he devoted him
self to Miss Hulet, who received his
attentions graciously, evidently to the
annoyance of Captain Foster. The
Spanish war was mentioned,
and Berkeley spoke Of having partici-
pated In the affair.
BEG your pardon, Mr.. Berkeley"
Foster spoke up; with what corps did
you serve in Cuba"
THE til New Jersey infantry"
There was a Lieutenant Berkeley
OF that regiment, but he died In Cuba"
II was the only Lieutenant Berkeley
in the regiment" replied the other
land I did not die in Cuba" The
words were spoken sharply since Eos
ter had implied that Berkeley was
passing under false colors.
''Pm sorry to differ from you as to
Lieutenant Berkeley's DEATH" said Eos
ter insultingly. Il know for a fac
that Lieutenant Berkeley Of the til
New Jersey died in Cuba. The reason
l know 1t Is that I came home with
the last departures from Santiago, and
Surgeon Fergeson, who was with us.
spoke of Berkeley's death, regretting
that he was unable to remain in Cuba
to attend to the officers burial"
II will call upon you tomorrow" re
piled the man who claimed to be
Berkeley, 'and Will convince you that
Mr.. Berkeley is alive and very much
In evidence"
This ended any further reference to
the matter at the time. but there was
not a person in the party who did not
think about 1t intently. Miss Hulet
was the one principally affected by it
and during the time the party were
witnessing the parade she showed by
her manner that she took sides with
Mr.. Berkeley, being especially gracious
to him and cool to Captain Foster
After the parade was finished and the
party were walking toward the hotels
Berkeley stopped to speak to an officer
whom he had met in Cuba.
'TWho is this Captain FosterT' asked
Berkeley.
"He was hospital steward during
the war. After it was over, through
influence at Washington, he received
an appointment as lieutenant in the
regular army. He has recently been
promoted to be captain"
That was enough for Berkeley. The
same evening when party were gath
cred In the principal hotel, Foster and
Berkeley being present, Berkeley said:
Captain Foster, do you remember |
going into ward in hospital in San
tiago where two men were supposed to
be suffering with feverY' ,
Foster started, but made no reply.
II had been in that ward at the point |
Of death, but in the gray Of the morn
ing the fever left me, and l craved
water got up to go for it. Where
l went 1 don't know, but a few days
later 1 found myself in a Cuban hut.
not knowing how got there. learn |
ed long afterward that hospital stew
ard had reported me dead and that the
other man, a sergeant in a cot beside !
me, had been buried under my name
AFTER my return to the north it be- |
came necessary to prove my identity.
which | did to the satisfaction of a
court. But l believe that to the pres
ent day | am on the rolls of the dead |
Of the army at Santiago"
While Mr.. Berkeley was making this |
statement Miss Hulet kept her eyes I
fixed on Captain Foster When Berke- |
ley finished Foster stammered some
thing about an unlikely story" then
turned and began to talk incoherently |
with one of the young ladies of the
party. Miss Hulet. with a look of !
contempt at him, walked away with
Berkeley.
Thus ended an episode due to the
hurry Of two officers to get away from |
4 benighted land, one of whom was
Eager TO meet his fiancee and the other
to avoid being left behind. The third
hospital steward-was doubt
less too lazy to make certain as to the
IDENTITY of dead man.
Nevertheless the saying murder will
put is true in less important matters
The story that has been given here
WIS repeated in the army. and Foster
Was finally called to account for a de
inquency of several years before Sur
geon Fergeson was involved, and both
ulcers after an investigation were
eprimanded.