Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-02-10
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"SPUD" MURPHY
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ply. He was always finding fault
with something and ii anything
! pleased him, instead of being salts
fled, he would compare it with some
thing else and begin to "groWl,' as
the boys said.
| first made his acquaintance on
board a United States transport in
! Frisco, where we rockies" were wait.
ing to be taken to the Philippines.
he was known as the biggest "growl'
! er" in the outfit We finally reached
Manila and were sent out on the line.
"Spud," as the boys called Murphy,
myself and six more boys went to
company. We hadn't been there two
; days before "Spud" had quarrel with
a sergeant and as result $40 was
docked from his pay to buy new flags
+ for the United States. This taught
"Spud" to be careful, but it didn't stop
his growing.
He said the funniest things when he
was mad. He never could see any
funny side to them until the fellows
would be splitting their sides laugh
ing. Even then someone would have
to show him a diagram of the joke.
1t was he who dubbed the captain
Butler" and the top Jimmy
Wrinkles, and what he didn't do to
old Casey, the quartermaster, would
be hard to discover. He made song
about old Casey and sung it to the tune
Tim Tooin"
1t was things like this that made
"Spud' liked by his ollicers, for he
had the knack of saying things when
he was mad that put the rest OF the
company in good humOr. One time
remember was on the Peking hike.
1t was that awful day going into Ma
tow. The fellows were nearly all
in" 1t wasn't case of strength then
it was nerve only that held fellow
in the ranks All the fellows were
showing the strain and werl Swapping
and barking at one another. 1t just
seemed as if something must give way,
when "Spud" was seen to forge ahead.
He cried out, mad as a wolf: If this
thing is going to be siX-day Madison
square affair I'm going in to win.'
Then as one man the company let out
yell and when the news Travelled
along the line it had the effect of
Frightening up the whole outfit Mad
ison square was a standing joke for
long time after that
Well, finally it came around that
"Spud' and | had but a short time to
serve. Many was the roasting "Spud'
gave me. He was sure that | would
re-enist. He would start at me this
way: We'll, it's just two months
now, Jock, and then back to God 5
country with me; but | suppose it
doesn't matter to you, for you're GO
ing to take on again and be a regu.
lar old army stiff like Wrinkles or
Casey" Then Id give him an argu.
ment about the advantages OF o. fellow
staying in the army and in a few min
utes we would be yelling at each other
until it looked as if we were going to
fly at each others throats.
The final day was at hand for
"Spud" | had still week to do. AT
ter "Spud' turned in his arms and
accouterments everybody waited for
guard mount, after which "Spud'
would report at headquarters and re-
ceive his "buzzard." We all got as
near headquarters as we dared and
as ours was one-company post and
our old captain was still in command
lnnlynI fIp p N W
and old "luller" should have it out
together. Guard mount was finished
and then "Spud" went over to head
quarters with the gait of peacock
and all the company out to have
look at him. Well, he was in there
about ten minutes and there was no
explosion.
Then the door opened and "Spud'
walked out, growing away for dear
life. Seeing the top" and old Casey
standing at the orderly room door he
headed straight for them, with all the
company trailing after.
When he got in front of the "top" he
shook his discharge papers in the
tops" face and shouted: rs this the
way to treat man after he has been
in every hike for three years"
"Why, what's the matter, Murphy?
thought the captain was going to
! give you an excellent character. What
more do you want?"
That's all right too, top says Muir
ply, but old Butler doesn't want me
! in his blank company"
How do you know?" chips in old
Casey.
why, he told me So" yelled Muir.
ply. Il tried to re-enlist and he told
me I'd have to wait until tomorrow,
as he couldn't do anything today, be.
cause I'm serving today on the old en-.
listment."
Then company went mad and such
cartwheels and handsprings you new
er saw before. Old Wrinkles couldn't
do anything and only for old "Buller''
coming over l think they'd be yelling
yet.
"Spud" resenlisted the next day.
!