The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
"spup' MURPHY

II ever there was man with con-
tinual crouch" it was "Spud" Muir
ply. He was always finding fault
with something and If anything
pleased him, instead Of being salts
fed, 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 B
company. We hadn't been there two
days before "Spud" had quarrel with
a sergeant and as a result SO 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 any
funny side to them until the fellows
would be splitting their sides laugh
ing. Even then someone would have
to show him 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 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.
It was that awful day going into Ma
tow. The fellows were nearly "all
in" it wasn't a case of strength then
it was nerve only that held fellow
in the ranks. All the fellows were
showing the strain and were 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: II this
thing is going to be a six-day Madison
square affair I'm going in to win!"
Then as one 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 standing joke for
long time after that.
| Well, finally 1t came around that
"Spud" and had but short time to
serve. Many was the roasting "Spud'
gave me. He was sure that I would
re-enlist. He would start at me this
way: We'll, it's just two months
now, Jock, and then back to Gods
country with me; but / suppose II
doesn't matter to you, for you're go
ing to take on again and be regu
lar old army stiff like Wrinkles OF
Casey" Then I'd give him an argu
ment about the advantages Of fellow
staying in the army and in few min
utes we would be yelling at each othel
until it looked as if we were going tt
fly at each others threats.
The final day was at hand fol
"Spud" had still week to do. AT
ter "Spud' turned in his arms ant
accouterments everybody waited TO
guard mount, after which "Spud'
would report at headquarters and re
ceive his "buzzard." We all got al
near headquarters as we dared, an(
as ours was one-company post ant
our old captain was still in commant
we looked for rare treat when "Spud'
and old Butler" should have it GU
together. Guard mount was finished
and then "Spud" went over to head
quarters with the gait of peacocl
and all the company out to have I
look at him. Well, he was in Their,
about ten minutes and there was n,
explosion.
Then the door opened and "Spud
walked out, growing away for dea
: life. Seeing the top" and old Case.
standing at the orderly room door b
headed straight for them, with all tn
company trailing after.
,, When he got in front of the top" h
shook his discharge papers in tn
, tops" face and shouted: rs this tn
way to treat man after he has bee
in every hike for three years."
,, "Why, what's the matter, Murphy
, thought the captain was going t
:, give you an excellent character. VIVA
more do you want?"
9 That's all right, too, top" says Mul
!. ply, but old Butler doesn't want m
r in his blank company"
, How do you know" chips in oil
y Casey.
r why, he told me So" yelled Mul
I ply. Il tried to re-enlist and he toll
a me I'd have to wait until tomorrow
+ as he couldn't do anything today, b,
q cause I'm serving today on the old Ell
4 listment."
b Then B company went mad and sue
/. cartwheels and handsprings you me-
\ er saw before. Old Wrinkles couldn
/. do anything and only for old Butler
a coming over | think they'd be yellin
n yet.
"Spud" re-enlisted the next day.