Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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OLLA PODRIDA A Pacifying Expedition Vlademar Rotheler, ' 13 Before I start with my story I have to tell you that you mustn ' t doubt its certainty, because the author himself saw it with his own eyes, and wants now to try to tell everything about it in English, though it is as easy for him as to swallow the hard stones. He hopes also that the readers will not be angry with him if they don ' t understand ever3 thing perfectly well. His Excellency General B , the commander of the thirty-second regiment of sharpshooters, stationed at K •, c. small town in eastern Siberia, was very much excited. He had just received a telegram from the chief of police of the nearest village, telling him that the peasants of that village refused to pay taxes and had insulted the tax collector. At the end of his telegram the chief asked His Excellency to send over some soldiers to put down the resistance. AVhat do you think about it? asked the general, address- ing himself and walking rapidly up and down his room. ' Those earthworms dare to disobey ! They dare to disobey the orders of the officials, and they even dare — they dare to insult the officials ! They must be ptuiished severely. And in the general ' s head was a ready plan for severe pun- ishment. The general pressed the electric bell. A few sec- onds later his first adjutant in full uniform entered, making a big noise with his spurs. He stopped at the door and saluted the general. Go to Captain G , said the general, and tell him to get his company ready to — to serve their Emperor and coun- try, concluded he, diplomatically. Yes sir, answered the young adjutant, who understood the meaning of this order very well, and instantly left the room. The general went to the other room to change his clothes. 7

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OLLA PODRIDA pirates. It is said to have been worn b}- their captain as a pirate ' s cloak until he was killed at the time of their capture. But I will not vouch for the rest of the story, that if it be not well hidden and covered by other things the slain man will tmd it in the night, put it on and haunt the place wherever he should find it. ' ' We did not stop to read more, for we had had enough of empty rooms, ancient relics, and stories of pirates and ghosts. So, tremblingly we all went into one room and the five of us got into bed together for company, leaving the lighted lan- tern hanging by the door to make things seem less dreadful. ■ ' Soon we heard many mysterious noises in the empty room. Horrors I A ' e realized that we had left the gray cloak uncov- ered ! ' The noise came closer and closer, and as it approached the door of the room we all hid our heads beneath the covers. Idle doorknob creaked, and we could hear the door slowly turning on its hinges. At that moment Bernard summoned i:p just enough courage to take one look from under the cov- ers, but he drew back again with an exclamation of terror. ' A e remained trembling for several minutes. Finallv we realized that the room was now totally dark. Then at last we questioned Bernard as to what he had seen. A ith sobs snd frenzied whispers he answered: ' The ghost — he put his long gray arm in through the door and grabbed the lantern. As he said this the door slov.dy opened and the room grew light again. We could hear him breathing. AA ' e felt him take hold of the bed covers. As it pulled them away from us, the ghost commanded, ' Out of bed. all of you I Indeed we did get out of bed, and hastened with alacrity to crawl under it. This was too much for the ghost, and he filled the room w ' ith peals of deep-sounding laughter. ' Oh. boys! he said. ' I am your father ' s spirit I It was father.

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OLLA PODRIDA Captain G had just finished his supper and was play- ing cards with the first and second lieutenants of his company, when they all heard a horse stamping. A minute later some- body w as knocking at the door. AA ' hom has the devil brought at such time of the evening? ' asked he. and went to open the door. The adjutant entered and pronounced in an official tone: His Excellency the commander of the thirty-second regi- ment commands Captain G and his officers to get their men ready to act ! Ready to act? questioned the captain. Yes sir, ready to protect the interests of the government. ' ' When? Right now. A ' here? I really don ' t know, but I think there must be something w ' rong at the village of K . All right. Shall we take extra cartridges with us? ' ' Yes. I suppose you ' ll have nice work there ; but don ' t lose your time, captain, for the general will be here soon. and with these words the adjutant saluted and went out. Three minutes after half past nine, the bedtime of the sol- diers of the sixteenth company, they were disturbed by the drum signal. Soon they were standing side by side in the yard, with their rifles, and the moonlight reflected on the steel of their bayonets as well as on the frozen snow. On the left l lank several soldiers were attaching two horses to the rapid- firing gun. At ten o ' clock the general arrived, inspected the company, and told the men that they were going to punish the rebels in the village of K . Then the captain com- manded, Left face! Forward march! and the whole com- pany, consisting of one hundred and twent} ' men Avith guns, was soon marching toward the little village, two or three miles lo the south. The general and the captain were riding on the horses at the head of the company. The cold was intense, and although they had warm clothes on. they felt its chilling 8