Middletown transcript., 1898-06-11

with a thrilling swish that was really
dramatic. The ladies screamed and |
were about to take to fight when the
plunging steeds refined up with jerk
at their very feet, the rough riders
saluted with their machettes and grace
fully bowling, turned Ike flash and
were off like the wind. Through the
trees they went, forming into two
squadrons as they rode. One bore off |
toward the south and the other toward |
the north. They were too far away to |
lear the commands, but turning sud-
denly, dashed toward each OF er rid
ing like Centsurs. The machettes
leaped out as the lines closed in, and
when they came together there was a
clash of steel that was positively thrill
ing. 1t was real, too, for the men
wore no masks, and one of them had
his nose split as neatly as surgeon
could have done it. The wounded
member was plastered up by skilled
hands, and the incident was dropped
with Mr.. Flint's remark: "He should
have remembered his instructions about
guarding, and he'd never have been
touched. He won't again.
Wheeling. circling, yelling, and rid
ing with positive abandon that can
be seen no where else, these men show
ed how particularly impossible it would
be for foot soldier to defend himself
from the machette in charge. One
who has never seen it, can form no idea
of its impetuous feroeity and irresistible
dash. The fatal machettee blow is de-
livered with downward sweep, at an
angle of about As deg. Itusually lands
on the side of the victims neck. He
may be superb fencer, but he knows
no guard against this Cuban blow.
"It is aremarkable fact," said MI.
Flint, who has seen many Spaniard
after machette cha,ge, "that almost
every man struck, gets the blow on the
side or around toward the back of the
neck. The blow almost sewers the
head from the body. Stranger to say
the mache;te is not made in Cuba, but
in Hartford, CT. Aside from this
weapon, Mr.. Chanler's force is armed
with 30-40 Winchesters, 45-caliber
Springfield carbines, and Spanish Maui
ser rifles. They are all crack shots.
The Sixth United States Cavalry is
encamped in pine woods about a mile
from Chanlers' camp. This regiment
includes among its troopers, those mar
velous cossack riders, who electrified
New York audiences some months ago
at Madison Square Garden, at the mil
itary tournament. A troop, in com
mand of Capt. H. P. Kingsbury, ably
seconded by Lieut.. w. G. Short, is
famous throughout the army for the
daring of its riders. F. troop Of the
Third Cavalry. encamped in an adjoin-
ing grove, Capt. G. A. Dodd, is an
other equally noted troop of eossack
riders, so the rivalry between them is
marked to degree.
Lieut.. Short kindly ordered out sew
eral of his men, tn show what could
be done in the way of cossack riding,
in rough ground, where underbrush
and palmetto sprouts made it more diff
ficult than in tan-baTked arena. Such
little trifles as picking up bits of paper
from the ground, from running horse,
leaping high obstacles, mounting and
dismounting at charge, vaulting en-
tirely over running horse, or vault
ing entirely from the ground, alighting
oil the horss's back and facing the rear
wheeling on fore feet, wheeling en- hind
feet, ETC., tc., were rapidly executed
by these men, aud they appeared to en-
joy il. The drill, when completed by
trooper, gives him entire and alb
sOlute command of his mount. The
horses are trained to do everything
and the entire troop will move side
wise, at trojan almost improbable
thing to imagine, yet it is true. Tue
entire troop will charge over fences,
bitches or hurdles, with the men
standing bolt upright in the saddles.
Every horse will lie down instantly at
the word of command, an6 thus a
force of cavalry in the woods, can be
concealed, until an enemy approaches
within few yards.
One of the most difficult feats, one
we'll worth illustrating, was performed
by one of the men, riding at gallop
over very rough ground. He handled
two horses, both spirited steeds and
rode bolt upright, standing fairly in
the saddles, one foot on each animal.
Another pretty picture was afforded by
a trooper holding the head of his pet,
which reclined comfortably on the
ground, while the photograph was
made. Some of the men in A troop
will vault entirely over three horses.
running abreast, from the ground.
Every man in the troop is an athlete,
and every one an expert with sabre,
revolver and carbine. Capt. Kingsbury
certainly has troop to be proud of.
500 Reward, 500