The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-05-11
"SPUD" MURPHY

| If ever there was a man with q con
| tinual Crouch" it was 'Spud" Muir
| ply. He was always finding fault
with something and il anything
pleased him, instead of being salts.
lied, 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-
| Manila and were sen out on the line.
"Spud," as the boys called Murphy,
| myself and six more boys went to B
| company. We hadn't been there two
| days before "Spud" had a quarrel with
a sergeant and as a result $40 was
| locked 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 my
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 a song
about old Casey and sung it to the tune
Tim Toolin."
1t was things like this that made
"Spud" liked by his officers, for he
had the knack of saying things when
he was mad that put the rest of the
company in good humor. One time l
remember was on the Picking hike.
1t was that awful day going into Ma
tow. The fellows were nearly AL
in" it wasn't a case of strength then
it was nerve only that held a fellow
in the ranks. All the fellows were
showing the strain and were swapping
and barking at n another. 1t just
seemed as if something must give way,
when "Spud' was seen to forge ahead.
SllCu OuI, Llod oo WI. l L ShAAS
thing is going to be a six-day Madison
| square affair I'm going in to win!"
Then as m man the company let out
a 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
a long time after that.
Well, finally it came around that
"Spud' and I had but a short time to
serve. Many was the roasting "Spud"
gave me. He was sure that l would
re-enlist. He would start at me this
way: well, it's just two months
now, Jock, and then back to Gods
country with me; but 1 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 I'd give him an argu-
ment about the advantages Of a 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
lily at each others threats.
The final day was at hand for
"Spud." l had still a week to do. AT
ter "Spud' turned in his arms and
accouterments everybody waited for
.uard mount, after which "Spud"
you'd report at headquarters and re.
eeive his "buzzard." We all got as
ear headquarters as we dared, and
IS our was a one-company post and
our old captain was still in command
We looked for a rare treat when "Spud"
and old Butler" should have it out
together. Guard mount was finished
and then "Spud" went over to head.
quarters with the gait Of a peacock
and all the company out to have a
!oolI at him.. Well, he was in there
about ten minutes and there was nc
xplosion.
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 stop" he
shook his discharge papers in the
tops" face and shouted: "Is this the
way to treat a mar after he has been
in every hike for three years"
why. what's the matter, Murphy!
/ thought the captain was going to
1--WE you an excellent character. What
aore do you want?"
That's all right. too, top" says Muir
ply, but old Butler doesn't want me
l IL, 1ie b1orly ooy,ropx,1 % - 81
How do you know" chips in old
Casey.
Why, he told me 3d." yelled Mur
phy. Il tried to ~re-enlist and he told
me I'd have to wait until tomorrow
as he couldn't do anything today, be
u I'm serving today on the old en-
listment."
Then B company went mad and such