The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-22
Members of Company B Of the
State Guard Engage in
Mimic War.
GRAND BALL IN THE EVENING
Gallant Soldiers Dance the Night
Away After Day on the
Field of Glory.
CAMP Cry GUARD,


Los GATos, Cal, Aug. 81.
About 1000 people visited the field of
sham battle here this morning. Spectators
perched on the tops of houses and sur
rounding hills, Just as they did at the battle
of Bunker Hill, one day long years ago.
There was, however. no General Putnam
to leave his plow anu come to the rescue
of his countrymen, but in the battle Of
Los Gatos Captain Filmer did his best to
emulate the patriot of old.
The battle, though sham, was earnest,
and many a churchman's heart Ieaped
with excitement as he paused at the first
discharge of guns. The boys went into
action with dash and vim that promise
well for more serious engagements. The
wounded and dead did not strew the
ground as thick as autumn leaves in a
hardwood country. Both the dead and
the wounded were quickly resuscitated
with a swig of water from canteen and
palm-Ieaf fan in the hands of Surgeon Nc
Culloch.
The battle took place in stubble-feld
at the side of the San Jose road. on the
outskirts of Los Gatos. 1t afforded natural
advantages for sham battle. There was
g broad, open, level stretch of ground, and
at the south end OF the feld rose knoll of
considerable size. Beyond was a little
valley, and then the field rose toward the
mountains in gentle slope, covered with
grapevines.
The company was divided into two
platoons, the reds and the blues. One
platoon lay on their shirtfronts in the
level field, while the other was prone in
the same position on the farther slope Of
the hill. Their hats and eyebrows could
be seen just over the summit, and their
long rifles, which belched fame ana
smoke, were pointed over the brow of the
hill at the enemy.
A shriH whistle by Captain Filmer was
the signal for the battle to begin. The
object of the engagement was to dIslodge
the section that was supposed to be pick
ing of the men in the field. The larger
body of troops was that in the open. Their
work was admirable. They ran forward
in sections, dropped TO their knees and
discharged their pieces at the hats peeping
over the top of the hill. Another squad
would be ordered forward, and while it
was running to a position about fifteen
wards in front the section that had just
fred would reload and, in turn, run for
ward and fire again. There were three of
such sections. Sometimes they advanced
together and, at command, fired stimuli
taneously.
Captain Filmer, First Lieutenant Stur-
devant and Second Lieutenant Raumm
were much in evidence on the field, their
swords glittering in the sun. Corporal
Sullivan and the entire company fought
nobly.
"ChargeP' cried Captain Filmer.
Swinging their guns in the air and
yelling like lot OF Comanches, the troops
made dash for the top of the hill. They
were met with volley after volley from the
guns of the little force entrenched there,
and in the face of such a fire they were
compelled to turn and retreat. Some of
the bows made 1t more realistic by Jump
ing over fence which stood in their path
of retreat.
Three separate times did the main body
of troops charge the hill. but were COM
PEELED to fall back by the severe fire of
musketry.
The fourth and last assault was ire
voices raised in gallant shouts the troops
ran rapidly up the hill and carried the
position. The enemy retreated on the
double quick, every man for himself down
the other slope, across the valley and took
refuge in the clumps of grapevines, and
from this cover kept UP a scattering fire.
The position and the victory were not
won without loss however. The first
noble soldier to bite the dust and permit
his Springfield to fall to earth was Van
Sieberst.
He did not stop at falling. He rolled
over until he reached the bottom of the
hill, where he lay for about thirty seconds
before the surgeon arrived with his palm
leaf fan and canteen of warm water. He
was revived with great difficulty and pro-
crastination, the reason being that the
wounded man insisted on arguing that
tepid water was not the proper drink tc
bring man to life with. He was finally
borne off the field supported by rife and
the sho ulders of two of his weeping com
rades.
Another gallant soldier who fell at the
TOP Of the hill and rolled until his progress
was stopped by pebble was G1ardsmar
Osthoff He and another man complete
the list of MANNED and wounded. Botf
res olutely showed not a sign of life til
the surgeon arrived with that canteen il
which they expected to find = anything
but water.
At the top of the hill the platoon thai
won it waved their hats and cheered
There were a few answering shots from the
grapevines on the hill. Then all was still
and the sham battle of Los Gatos, August
q, 1896. A. D., had passed into history.
Tonight the grand ball rendered by the
citizens of Los Gatos and managed by the
Board of Trade, took place at Masonic
Hall. The hall was attraetiveiy decorated
in red, white and blue. at one end were
these words in letters of the National
colors: "Welcome Company B." Cut
flowers, ported plants, palms and ferns
ornamented the platform and ends of the
hall. There were nineteen numbers on
the dancing programme. The grand
march was led by Captain and Mrs. Fill
mer. All the members of Company B