Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-07


for him to come home to marry her,
and he was in terrible hurry to &C
commodate her. He had taken care
OF everything there was to do. and
nothing remained except to bring
home those left in hospital. Calling on
Surgeon Fergeson, he asked him the
condition OF things In his department
There are two men who can't live
twenty-four hours. As soon as they
are dead we can get out Of this beast
ly country and go home"
Are you sure they're both going to
der asked White.
They've both got the fever, and
can't see any chance for either OF
them There's Lieutenant Berkeley OF
! the til New Jersey as good as dead.
| The other one is Sergeant Moore OF
| the til Massachusetts. He's not quite
so bad as Berkeley, but there's no show
for him."
81 say, old man." said White thought
fully, we're both anxious to go home.
Now, you wouldn't mind having things
ready to bury these fellows, would
you, just as soon as they are deadT'
Fergeson shrugged his shoulders and
made no reply, but silence gives con-
sent, and White knew that when the
invalids' souls had left their bodies
there would be no necessity for vast
ing time as to the interment
The gunboat had steam up, ready for
departure, and Surgeon Fergeson was
busy over some papers, while bis strik-
er was packing his belongings. hos
pitaI steward came into mis- tent and
said:
Doctor, one Of those cases is dead,
and the other has disappeared"
The surgeon uttered an exclamation
Of impotence. He had expected to get
off within an hour. and here was a COM
plication that might cause no end OF
delay.
"How the dickens can man at the
point of death disappearr' he asked
impatiently.
"Don't know"
"You go hunt for him and let me
1t is Berkeley. White Is crazy to be
or. and If Pm not on hand at the min
ute TN afraid he'll go without me-"
Half an hour later the steward came
back and reported that the missing
man had not been found and the dead
man was Berkeley. Fergeson was so
sure that Berkeley would not live that
ne did not question the man in the
matter, especially as be was about
] E,Na h,,1o xat
to the shore, where a boat was waiting
for him to put him on board the ship.
He told the steward to see that the
lieutenant had a decent burial and
made a mental note to put the de-
ceased's name down on the dead list as
soon as he boarded the gunboat
All these persons were young. Fer.
geson was an assistant surgeon, hold
ing only the grade of first lieutenant.
White was but an ensign. graduated a
few days before the breaking out of
the war at the Naval academy. Berke-
ley. who was reported dead. was but
twenty-three years old and the hos
pital steward not much bis senior. To
the youth Of the persons concerned Is
due the want of care in the matter that
mas been mentioned. Youngsters are
not TO be trusted as older officers, who
would not have been likely to hurry
away from the duties committed tc
their care. leaving one sick man roam
ing no one knew where and another tc
be buried without making sure as tc
who be was.
From the time that Surgeon Berge
son entered the name of Lieutenant
Berkeley on his death roll he though
no more of him. he worried abou
. Sergeant Moore, whose disappearance
, the hospital steward had reported
> fearing that since the man had beer
. IN his charge, something might tuu
p. up to bring out his failure to remain
IL Cuba and discover what had be
come OF him. But as for Berkeley, b