Published Weekly by the Student’s Association of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
VOLUME XXI
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, APRIL 10, 1914.
NUMBER 26
Corps Goes on
Annual Hike
CAPTURE AND EXE-
cutioi of a spy
REALISTIC EVENT OCCURS BE
FORE BATTLE—COLOR SER
qEANT TURNS SPY.
PAYS PENALTY.
Camp Hutchings a Splendid Success, Three Days
Spent in Francis’ Pasture Enjoyed by All.
’‘Reds” vs. “Blues” in Sham Battle
Amusement and Drill Occupy Time.
At 8:15 o’clock Monday, March 30th,
the corps assembled along “Misery”
Avenue, equipped with blanket roll,
haversack and mess kit—not to men
tion the inevitable and beloved (?)
Sprnigiled. The day was cool and
cloudy with excellent prospects of
rain ; but every one was in high and
optimistic spirits.
Promptly at 8 o’clock the Colonel’s
clear voice rang out with the commanu
that swung the then motionless ranks
into line along the main road to the
Big Gates. With the rattle and clank
of equipment the corps moved onward
through the gates which mark the di
vision line between College and the
“Great Outside.”
The band lead the column with a
lively air and at last the actual reali
zation of the long looked for hike and
three days of pelasure had come. To
the old boys, veterans of previous
hikes and battles, it meant a repetition
of the numerous diversions and a few
discomforts they had experienced in
former years. To the fish—they alone
know just how high anticipation beat
in their breasts. Needless to say all
were ready for all the hike might hold.
To describe the appearance of the
corps from the color of the blanket
rolls it would not be amiss to say that
it reprsented the remains of a rainbow
after an encouner with a cyclone, for
every shade and combination color
were present. And as general orders
allowed other clothing than regulation
uniform to be worn, this also added
to the variagated appearance. The
majority took advantage of the orders
and wore as much of National Guord
uniform as they happened to have in
their possession.
Dr. Francis’ pasture, the scene of
last year’s Camp Schiller, but a short
distance from College, was again used.
The plan of going to the river has
fallen into disfavor for various rea
sons. Francis’ pasture contains plenty
of trees and good water (tanks and
wells!) and is of easy access, so, on
the whole, is considered a desirable
location.
After perhaps a half an hour’s march
the corps arrived at the pasture and
immediately pitched camp.
Within half an hour the green pas
ture was dotted with nearly a hundred
tents—the homes of the cadets for
several days to come. Everything was
strictly regulation and truly soldierly
in appearance. The moment Old Glory
fluttered from the flagg-staff in the
morning breeze Camp Hutchings was
in order.
It will be remembered by everyone
that the College gave practically its
entire supply of tents to the Brazos
flood sufferers during the winter. This
left the commissary entirely without
means to provide for the annual en
campment and under ordinary cir
cumstances the question of a hike
would have been quite doubtful. It is
due entirely to the generosity of Ad
jutant General Hutchings, who shipped
the needed supply of tents from Aus
tin, that the encampment was made
possible. As soon as communication
from Austin advised that tents would
be forthcoming it was decided that the
camp should be named Camp Hutch
ings. We trust that it will be a pleas
ure to Adjutant General Hutchings to
know that “his” camp will go down
in A. & M.’s history as one of the
most successful and enjoyable that the
corps has thus for experienced.
After being properly established in
camp the cadets were free until dinner
time. A glance at the official pro
gram of amusements will show that
the members of the band were sched
uled to appear first. This tuey did
and scarcely had their canvas home
been completed than did the rousing
pep. tune, “What Makes the Wild
Cat Wild?” break fourth.
The large amusement tent had been
erected and it at once became the cen
ter of attraction, as the dance floor
had already been laid. The Athletic
Association had its indispensibie soft
drink and ice cream stand located in
the tent, and from the moment “Chief
Soda Jerker” Everett asked “What’s
yours?” of the first customer to the
breaking of camp the place did a
bargain sale business.
Promptly at 12 o’clock the battalions
were formed and marched to dinner.
It may be safely said that this was
the truly first camp meal that many
had experienced. Each cadet lined
up with his mess kit and canteen and
had his meal dished out to him, after
which he was to choose any suitable
shady spot whereat to enjoy dinner.
Shortly after dinner drill call sound
ed and each major took his battalion
out over different routes for instruc
tion in advance and rear guard drill.
This was a practical application of
what the Sophomores had recently
covered in “Bull Tix” and naturally
proved of more than passing interest
to them. After sufficient instruction
had been given the battalions were re
turned to camp and dismissed. The
remainder of the afternoon was well
filled with various amusements. Sup
per call found a hungry “army” eager
to answer it. It was wonderful how
a single day in the open increased the
cadets’ appetites. No doubt Mr. Sbisa
gravely wondered for a few moments
whether his commissary could stand
such repeated attacks.
At 7:30 the “big show” was the
main attraction. An account of these
amusements in detail appears else
where in this issue. The presence of
a crowd of young ladies from the
campus and Bryan added greatly to
the evening’s pleasure, as dancing was
the chief diversion, and the floor de
clared to be fine. A novel feature of
(Continued on Page 2.)
While lying in the entrenchments
of “Fort Brown,” anxiously awaiting
the approach of the enemy, the men
of the Second Battalion were surprised
to see members of their outpost arrive
with the famous spy, Clarence Emile
Philip Wisrodt, as a prisoner of war.
This daring scout had made several
visits to the fort and its vicinity, and
each time fought his way out through
the picket lines. ■ At last he was cap
tured after having his horse shot from
under him.
He was brought before Major Le-
nert, commander of Fort Brown, and
Captain James who closely searched
and questioned the prisoner. Wis-
rodt’s stories did not agree with the re
ports sent in from the outposts, and
after a severe third degree treatment,
including plenty of “reg” belt, he was
induced to admit his guilt. Papers and
maps concealed on his person further
proved him a desperate prisoner.
A court martial was quickly held
and the prisoner declared guilty and
ordered to suffer the fate accorded
spies. The prisoner accepted the sen
tence with remarkable calmness, but
in a moment his face changed as he
looked southward to the Treasure Isle,
from which he had won the nick
name of “Seawall” and “Galveston.”
Perhaps he fancied he hard the mur
mur of the gulf, or perhaps he once
more j and for the last time, recalled
the pleasures of “the finest surf bath
ing in the world,” that he’d neve*
more enjoy. Oh! it was hard to feel
that such a military man should so
have to lose his life, but war is cruel
and inflexible in its penalties.
The arrival of the firing squad caus
ed the prisoner to remember that his
remaining moments were but few, so
he asked to be allowed to send a fare
well message to “some one” in Corsi
cana. This request was granted, after
which the prisoner knelt by the newly
dug grave and made his peace with the
Master of Battles.
At last the fatal moment arrived—
Prisoner Wisrodt former color ser
geant, but now condemned spy—was
blind-folded and placed facing the fir
ing squad. The bugles sounded taps—
oh! how differently it sounded now—
not the call to slumber after a day’s
work, but a call to sleep eternal. As
the last sad note fell upon the clear
morning air, the crash of musketry
rang out, a single volley and brilliant
career of a most formidable foe ended.
Cruel fate! But war is all that
Sherman termed it. The story of