Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-03-04
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Want onc:'
"Yes."
Jump in and come with me-"
lie LOOK Inc 10 the recruiting office
at the foot OF Market street, and the
wind'up OF IL WAS that before the dav
was over l was enlisted in the Marine
corps as n private at thirty per, and
on my way 10 the barracks ut Mnre
Island.
which Is MI merely by way Of on
plaiiinG how ! came 70 he doing y
mid-watch In nj orderly box in front
OF the commandments house on that
auSpiciouS night four months later.
shortly after midnight the telephone
rang.
"Commnndant's orderly" answered.
This is wireless. Message from
Western Union"
grabbed n pencil and memorandum
PAD anu prepared TO copy It. LET
'er gO." I said.
This was the astounding message
that ! received:
Commanding Officer. Murlnc barracks
Mare Island, via Comma ndant. Navy
Yard '
Place Private Fred Il. Mcdonald under
immediate arrest Further INSTRUCTIONS
by mail.
tsigned). Bliss.
ComuIandant Marine Corps
Fred T. Mcdonald, That WAS nv.
self!
Rather than stay ami fnce tho mr.
certain Charge. with IFS still more un-
certain attendants Of trial and punish
Hent. would run nwny.
What with the scntries and civilian
Wntchmcn and guards II wasn't going
10 be any easy time getting Off the
island. and that 7 knew.
Then 7 started down Dnvis street
toward the WATERFRONT
lkncw where there. was Il shore boat
lying alongside tho Sca-walI at tho
end Of The street. ! would steal that,
or borrow II, rather. and get away.
IT was mighty dark night: had
that in my favor. got halfway
down the street without being dis
covered
Then. just as ! WAS passing fife En-
gineer building, some one turned into
the street about fifty feet ahcaT. I
stopped and skunk against the side of
the building; but he had heard Ine.
'ITalt J" nc cried. Who's lhere!"
1t was u sentry
Just above NE was barred window.
l took hold Of the ledge and pulled
myself up n0isclessly.
There cluHr. monkey-like.
The sentry challenged three times.
Then lie proceeded to investigate:
Several times he passed me so close
that ! cOulcf have kicked his hat or.
But at last he gave ii up and went
his way, and ! went mine, gratefully.
! made II tn the sca-wall without
further inisftap.
Aud then the do"r Of Il nearby buii,h
ing opened ana night watcfInan,
came out
"Oh-h, yc divi,, Oi have We: have.
OiT' he cried. and made a dive for
me-
"You have MOI ~ said
] sprnng ont of The huni and dOdgeT
him us II" came. Sprntcd up. the
waterfront ut 81 tcm-scc"nd gait. with
him numbering behind.
"Stop or orr! shoot. Oill shoot" he,
yelled.
didn't think lie would, ana so q
kept on running.
But, afl of Il sudden, from in front
of me ct,nc the sharp:
"Ualt, Halt. Halt" Oi u Scnfry.
| knew that meant business.
There WIS only one thing to do. II
was \ long swim across the channel.
but turned md d0vc. hcadlOn- from
the Scn-wall.
Rang,
Say, did you over make Il running
dive, expecting to, hit water, and In
stead land square CIT Il solid oak plat
form. No? Wen. that's what ! had
done.
A font. for the use Of sb9re-boats,
had been anchored there. I learned
more astronomy in that instant than
I ever had at school.
Tho sentry and the Waterman pulled
me of the hoat. was pretty we'll
dazcd; but got myself together in q
moment.
"Sure. m We are lucky beggar,"
said the Waterman. "Wh1t arc We
goin' to do with hum, sintryT
"Turn hin over to the sergeant of
the guard, suppose" snid tho sentry.
"whnt were you trying to do, any.
wayi"
'1'm restricted" J said. II was try
ing TO make a liberty. I haven't been
on the island since payday"
"Wel,. ] don't know aS blame
you much" said the sentry. who VA
la rc-euIisted IMAM. aed had probAb,y