The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-13

/
own, saw coming upon them these
clouds of Germans, against whom they
must still struggle-fresh troops sup
ported by formidable artillery. The
enemy were putting forward new re-
serves. The burned village of Woerth
was nothing but heap of rubbish,
whence rose towards the sky thick
clouds Of dull smoke zigzagged BY red
flames.
The two battalions of the Third stole
ally awaited this avalanche that was
about to fall on them. Diminished by a
good third, in tattered uniforms, black
with powder, stained with blood and
greatly fatigued, the zouaves, with that
inexhaustible spirit which has contrib
ated as much as their bravery to the
fame that they have earned, exchanged
jokes, laughing with that nervous laugh
which is the forerunner of anger.
Bayardet was in front of his company,
of which he had taken the command, the
captain having been disabled. Sidi was
lying on his belly, his nose between his
paws and seemingly asleep.
The fire had ceased on both sides, as
If French and Germans were DESTROYS Of
taking breath before the final shock
But the calm was not of long duration.
A sharp hiss rent the air, soon followed
by report; a shell had just fallen into
the left of Bayardet's company, telling a
| few men; then aGother, then ten-a ter
rible storm beat upon the zouaves. The
French cannon. stationed upon the hill
| side opposite, answered. The bugles
sounded ellie down. A few minutes
passed, and the pointed helmets, which
! had been invisible for moment-for the
! Prussians had had to cross valley not
very wide, but deep-rose again at dis
lance of seven or eight huntSed yards
A furious firing began, and then came
the order:
& "Charge bayonets"
This cry started the zouaves, who
rushed forward with lowered heads. In
a moment they had swept everything
before them; the enemvs ranks, thinned
already by the musketry, were broken.
The Prussians fed - full speed, either
toward the village or through the hop
fields. But two mitrailleuses stopped the
rush of the French, who were even forced
to retrace their steps. The Prussians re-
formed their lines, and the musketry was
resumed with still greater intensity.
Twice again the zouaves charged, and
twice they stopped the enemy. But deci-
mated and without hope of aid except
from few companies of the line, the
zouaves had to fall back toward the
wooded heights that overlook the plain.
The Prussians steadily advanced, utter
ing loud hurrahs and brandishing their
guns over their heads after each dis
charge.
Almost all the officers were killed or
wounded; sergeants were in command
of companies. Bayardet had not been
hit. He had picked up gun and was
firing coolly, methodically, his counte-
nance as imperturbable as ever. Above
the ranks. and not far from Bayardet, the
tricolor, torn by the bullets, was floating
amid thesmoke. The young sub-lieuten-
ant who carried it, having had his right
arm pierced, grasped the staff in his left
hand and held it tightly against his
breast. He was seen to sink upon his
knees and then roll over, his head broken
by ball. A sub-officer seized the flag;
he fell in his turn. Then a captain took
the sacred emblem.
Just then went upa cheer more furious
than all the preceding ones; the Prussians
were charging.
The ZouaveS massed themselves and
battalion commander ordered them to
form a square. But this order, necessi- e.,
tated by the onrush of the enemy, which |
threatened to envelop the French troops,
could not be carried out. The combat !
anita met with cut and thrust, and the |
whole mass was in furious confusion. !
The zouaves had had their ranks broken,
but they held together in groups, while /
the body of the regiment tried to take a
position a little fart er off in order to re- /
form.
Lieutenant! Lieutenant! The fagI" /
cried zouave to Bayardet
The latter saw fall, at ten PAGES dis |
lance, upon heap Of corpses. the flag
still held in the hand, clenched in death,
of young corporal of his company.
Bayardet dropped his gun, the bayonet
red with blood, drew bis saber and seized |
the flag, calling his men around him
There were only fifteen OF them.
give la Francev cried Bayardet, way
ing the standard.
Thirty Prussians rushed upon the
group, and q desperate hand to hand
struggle. with bayonets and stocks, was
engaged In 50 Violently that in moment
the combatsnts had slaughtered each
other.
Bayardet, almost alone, took a few
steps in flight with the purpose of saving
the flag. a German, who pressed him
close, fired at him almost within arms
reach and missed him. Bayardet buried
his saber in the Germans body. But as
be was resuming his fight a gigantic
Prussian officer arose before the lieuten-
ant, revolver in hand. shouting IN excel
lent French:
Surrender"
''Vive la FranceT answered Bayardet,
leaping with lifted saber upon his enemy
The German fired. and Bayardet, hi.
squarely in the breast, tottered. The
German officer rushed forward and
seized the flagstaff, uttering a roar Of
triumph. The lieutenant Strengthened
up and dealt the colossus a blow on the
head with the edge Of his saber But
the blow, struck by weakened hand.
only slightly wounded the Teuton, who.
dropping the flag, took Bayardet by the
throat and tried TO strange him