Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1912-01-12
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COPYRIGHT BY American Pres AsDo--i
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n Copyright BY American Press No.
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During the Spanish American war
one mormng. Colonel, Brewster Of the
-th United States infantry was sit-
ting in Ills tent al: Tampa, Fla, when
Ia private mere boy with rosy cheeks
and jet black hair--was brought up BY,
the corporal OF; the guard. .>s:,
,a ::ttWelt.a corporal. = e. said the colonel,
not eeasiag to- Wags large palm Leaf,
whats he: been doing1'' u: * u : ~
Interfering with The ssasrd in the
>~HOw?'t : Ss'a :
Private Thompson, on being; reprt.-
handed 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."~ T.. -.
"What good would It; do you to try
to save him that way2'', .,.s !:
There was no reply to this, the pris-
oner standing with eyes be mt on the
noor. s'.S I
"Do YOU think" said the colonel,
t.that r. I let. you, off this time you can
let the prisoners in charge of the guard
alone?'
II don't know, sir" ~:.
"Don't known 49,.
| II think can, SIR i; -:
+ 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 ofense.
''See here. young man. said the
colonel. do you know that you are La
BILE to be shot for this?''
| mo, SIR
| '"Thompson's 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 too?'
"Could take Private Thompson's
place, sir?"
'"Take his place in what?''
Being shot,
"What in thunder do you want to do
that fory' asked the astonished colonel.
I'D like to, if he has to be shot,
"How old are your asked the
colonel, hoping the boy was under age
and he could discharge him from the
army.
"l'm twenty, sir"
'Twenty? Were you enlisted as
twenty? You're nothing but a 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"
I 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, d.
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
eyes, SIR"
"And if I remember rightly you
wanted to be shot in his placer =,
Eyes, SIR. 49, . . =
whats become of himT'
Hes Private Thompson, sir" the
corporal put In. Lieutenant Blister
withdrew the charge Of mutiny on the
ground that Thompson. being recruit,
didn't know any better than to strike
an officer. Thompson has distinguished
himself in the. battle and has been
made sergeant" :. =: .>;:>....
II don't Understand why this boy
was continually trying to save Thomp-
SON." aF*
They seemed TO be great friends"
We'll, take him back where he came
from and order Thompson to report to
me In person" :, ~. ~: s..:r .>.4
HE won't tell you anything said
O'Nedl. - .% - " =:
I'd You impudent. -eowardly youngster,
what do you mean? Away with him
Thompson reported with an arm In a
cling and bandage around his head.
h. II understand, my brave fellow"
said his commander. that you have
been promotedyfor gallantry In the bat
tie. Now, I wish you to tell me why
this little chap who II toybe tried for
cowardice was constantly interfering
/ In your behalf with the guard when we