The log cabin Democrat., 1916-01-29
"SPUD' MURPHY
sNTa.srsl

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 waits
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 a quarrel with
a sergeant and as 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 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 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 "all
in" it wasn't 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 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 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 regu-
lar old army stiff like Wrinkles or
Casey Then I'd give him an argu
ment about the advantages of follow
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 threats.
The final day was at hand for
'Spud." l 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 sc: as
near headquarters as we dared, and
as ours was one-company post and
our old captain was still in command
we looked for 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
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 wsay
standing at the orderly room door he
headed straight for them, wiz, az the
company trailing after
When he got ir front of the top" he
shook his discharge papers in the
tops" face and shouted: ,Js this the
way to treat man after he has been
IN every hike for three years.
"Why, what's the matter, Murphy?
l 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-enlst and he told
me I'd have to wait until tomorrow,
as he couldn't do anything today, be.
cause Pm 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 Butler"
coming over | think they'd be yelling
yet
"Spud" re-eniisted the next day.