Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1898 — Discipline’s Power. [ARTICLE]

Discipline’s Power.

Some years ago a strange incident occurred In a war ship. All hands were busily employed. The marines were cleaning their guns and bayonets, laughing and chaffing one another, when, without the slightest warning, one of their number—a smart and wellbehaved young marine—went suddenly out of his mind. In his madness he smashed his rifle on one of the big guns in the battery. When a eorpoiral tried to approach him he snatched his rifle out of his hand and, with a wild shout, flung it through the port hole. Then, with a naked bayonet, he rushed aft to the wardroojn, Where several officers were assembled. The confusion was great. Thinking discretion was the better part of valor, all the officers, excepting the captain of marines and a gunnery lieutenant—who had sprained his foot—disappeared. In came the madman with murder in his eyes, making straight for the lieutenant. What was to be done? Seeing his comrade’s danger, on the spur of the moment the captain shouted in a commanding voice, “Halt!” The result was astonishing. So strong was the habit of discipline that the poor fellow immediately stood at attention, trembling in every limb. The officer quietly motioned to a file of marines, who without any difficulty led him below'.