Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-10-15
SKATERS : r AID.

1t was II cosmopolitan group that sat
around the camptireS of Slater's Horse.
The troop numbered twenty men all
told, drawn from every one Of the An
glo-SaXOn races of the planet There
were Americans, Englishmen. Cana-
dians. Australians. and South Afri-
cans. and they had come from the ends
of the earth to take part in such row
as promised to follow when Cuba Lib
ra set up her flag against that of Spain.
Their leader was Nirginan. there
was not Il Cuban or a Spaniard in the
company, and the name Of Slatrr's
Troop was Il name of terror to the
government forces from Pinar del Rio
to Sagua In Grande.
10 see them thus encamppd no one
would have supposed that they were
engaged in one of the most daring raids
that had been adventured since the
war opened in %. The oticers-thcre
were but two-Sat demOcraticaly on
the ground among their men; there was
a tiDkling of banjoS. and "A mingled
sound of confused talking and of jovial,
free.handed profanity. The shadows
of the men loomed big on the back,
ground Of tropical vegetation. where
the red fire light flashed litfully from
time TO time, and now the form of a
tethered horse, and now the figure of Il
sentry leaning against smooth coated
palm.
1t was no small affair that these men
were engaged in-nothing less. in fact.
than raid on the "trocha" itself 1t
Is not the policy of the Cuban leaders
to risk pitched battle. so to arouse
Inc enthusiasm of the men, and at the
same time keep the enemy on the alert,
such expeditions are undertaken from
time to time.
They have encamped some fifty miles
from the Spanish lines and the attack
was liked for the next night. A dash
across the country, stealthy advance
on the fertilization. another dash, sa-
bre ana revolver. and triumphal re-
treat-thls was the program that Sln-
ter's Horse proposed 10 itself.
Next morning they rode up and down
the rolling hills in the early dawn for
two hours, and then rested for the
heat Of the day in Il cool and very Sc
cluded grove, where they would be
screened from any wandering gueril-
las. Late at night they Saddled again
and rode cautiously forward till they
were not more than forty rods from
the trocha itself. They could see the
watchiires on the further side of the
great redoubt. shining between the
strands of the barbed wire fence
stretched along the brink.
between them and the trocha lay
dangerous obstacle, an ingenious de-
fense, composed of number of wires
drawn six inches apart and Il foot above
the ground. This formed IA network
over which it was impossible to ride.
and as its width was uncertain, was
dangerous to leap. Slater knew of ...,,S
lmpediment, however. and had made !
his plans accordingly. Half "A dozen !
then dism0unted in silence. and taking
each a pair of nipperS from his saddle |
The rest of the troop sat silently ON
horseback hardening to the sounds and
voices from the Spanish camp. and TO
the occasional clicking noise right
ahead where their comrades were cut
ting the hostile wires.
In the course of half an hour thn
men came back, ana in whispers re-
ported the way clear. The wires had
been cut and dragged aside. so as TO
leave road Of sufficient width for the
passage of the troop, even in the hur
rted retreat which must follow. The
whole party than diSmounted and led
the horses stealthily forward. till ol-
most ~ the very brink af the trochn
The Spaniards on the other side were
clearly visible, while they themselves
were hidden in deep shadows. and thc
rest scrambled into the ditch and up
the other side.
so quietly was all this done that the
whole performance passed unobseryed
till Slater sprang upon the parapet and
began slaShing At the wires with his
Then there was shont
ana shot from the nearest Spaniard
followed by miscellaneous rattle of
riueS along the lines. The troonS
Swarmed out, and saw a string of mon
hacking turiouSly at the wires with
one hand and plying revolver with
the other, In the dim hrc.ligh, their
numbers could not he ascertaincd.
At this amazing spectacle the soldierS
hred vollcy that is. discharged their
rifles in the general direction of rho
foe, When the smoke blew off This
operation seemed TO have produced no
effect on the invaders. who had now
cut and torn the strands apart and
were actually within the inclosure
NhnN hnrn nnMn In thn limo an thn S.... |