The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1914-10-17
Excuse BIusIaoksts Give for
Breaking Rules.
Some Of Thsm Ar Novs.-A eaiios
Drunk on Shore Duty, Blamed To-
cal Malaria Epidemic ~ the
Cause Of His offanss.
Nov lay AFT to the mast ALL the 70

Nov lay AFT to the mast ALL the 70.
ports"
When this word il passed aboard
one Of Uncle Sans battleships 1t 10
time for the sailorman ION report" to
think Of his excuse. II he has one. for
the mast IL the daily court held
aboard ship by the captain, and 1t In
there that punishments are handed out
to the offenders against the ships
rules for the previous "a hours.
1t is there that the offender ID OF.
cused. passed along for courtmar
tial or given a minor punishment, 40
cording to the nature of his offense.
the shippers humor and his readiness
with the gift Of CAB" Many and
varied are the pleas put up by the de-
tense. Some of them would entitle
the author to life membership In the
Ananias club. and II the captain is .
of view he will give you the benefit Of
the doubt when otherwise anything
from few hours extra duty on the
quarter deck with a rife to short
stay in the brig on bread and water
will be your portion.
At eleven O'Clock every weekday
morning the reports" are all assem-
bled at the mast. The executive officer
reports the fact to the captain. The
bugler sounds attertion as the "old
man" appears on deck, a mental re-
hashing Of stories and stifening Of
backs goes down the line. The order
reports, salute" is given and the cap
tain is ready to hear the first case.
Brown, H. R., two hours over leave
from liberty" reads the yeoman
standing by with the records and re-
port book Brown steps forward,
saiutes. gives his spiel and is excused
or punished. according to the fates
and the shippers humof.
well, sir, you see." he explains ut
was Just like this. I was called late
this morning. Just had time to make
q run for the dock and catch the last
boat for the ship. J was coming along
struight for the ship when passed the
Salvation Army. The band struck up
The Star spang:ed Banner. and. Of
course. had to stop and stand at at
tention until they had finished BY that
time had missed the boat
The captain calls for Browns enlist
ment record, looks 1t over and sees
that Brown is habitual liberty break
er. Young man." he says. II don't be-
lieve you. four hours extra duty with
q rifle on the quartsr deck" and Brown
retreats forward to explain his case to
his shipmates.
The story is told Of captain. old In
the service Of the navy and wise in the
ways OF liberty breakers. who claimed
to have heard every excuse that could
be offered at the mast for overstaying
snofe leave. Should a man give him a
new excuse he declared he would be
excused. but for an excuse he had
heard before the punishment was to be
doubled.
Before long man appeared at the
mast three days over leave Sir he
said, II heard about your offer for
new excuse. Accidentally broke my
liberty for an hour and I have been
over in town ever since trying to think
up new one"
go forward" said the skipper.
The yeoman consults the reports
book.
Smith, @. E., drunk on duty ashore
he reads, and Smith. newly rated pet
ty o6icer. steps forward. cycling the
"crow" on his right sleeve in manner
that would lead one to suspect that he
was fearful 1t would soon take flight
and soar away.
Well. young man. what have you TO
say!"
You see. sir. 1t was this way. was
sent ashore on patrol. You know. sir.
how the doctor has warned us about
the epidemic of malaria now prevalent
and the danger OF drinking the water
ashore. AS a preventive took an
overdose of whisky and"
'Twenty-four hours solitary confine
ment ON bread and water Master al
arms take him away"