The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-02
"spUD'' 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 q 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
sergeant and as a result $40 was
docked from his pay to buy new flags
for the United States. This taught
"Spud" to be careful, but 1t 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
It was he who dubbed the captain
Butler" and the top" Jimmy
Wrinkles, and what he didn't do to
old Casey, the quartermsster, would
be hard to discover. He made . song
about old Casey and sung it to the tune
Tim Toolin."
It 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 I
remember was on the Picking hike.
1t was that awful day going into Ma
tow. The fellows were nearly all
in" it wasn't . case of strength then
1T was nerve only that held q fellow
in the ranks. All the fellows were
showing the strain and were swapping
and barking at one another. It just
seemed as II 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 a 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
a long time after that.
Well, finally it came around that
"Spud" and had but 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: We'll. it's Just two months
now, Jock, and then back to Gods
country with me; but l suppose it
doesn't matter to you, for you're 60
ing to take on again and be q regu.
lar old army stir 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 1t looked as five were going to
fly 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
guard mount, after which "Spud"
would report at headquarters and re.
ceive his "buzzard." We all got al
near headquarters % we dared. and
as ours was q one-c0mpany post and
our old captain was still in command
we looked for rare treat when "Spud''
and old Butler" should have 1t 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
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.
i 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 a man after he has been
in every hike for three years."
why, what's the matter, Murphy?
. I thought the captain was going to
give you an excellent character. What
J 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 B 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" re-enlisted the next day.