The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-08-20
THE battle OF GUAYAMA
DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.
story of the Puerto Rico Campaign
The Natives as Cautious i'm Bat
tie rs They Were Enthusiastic in
Northumberland Reiterated.

Guayama, Puerto Rico, Aug 8.-(Cor-
respondence of the Chicago Inter Ocean,
Aug. l5.)-Ever since Guayama was oc-
cupied, three days ago, the natives have
been demonstrative in praising the Amer
leans, and in showing how delighted they
were at the retreat of the Spaniards. To-
day there came change, which was not
at all surprising to those who know the
character of the Puerto Ricans.
1t was just / o'clock this afternoon
when horseman came galloping into
town shouting "Send the dynamite guns
at once. The Fourth Ohio is being ami
hilated."
In less than five minutes the alarm had
spread throughout the town and the
streets were filled with soldiers hurrying
to their quarters.
The natives disappeared as if by magic,
not a single one of them remaining in
sight. Shutters were hurriedly put up
on all the shops that were open, the hack
men rushed their horses to their stables
and everywhere the natives showed by
their actions that they anticipated the re-
capture of the town by the Spaniards.
The fears of some of the women led
them to seek protection in the cathedral,
where they spent the time in prayer The
whole incident showed how little reliance
can be placed in the sincerity of pro-
American protestations of the natives.
Ran Into an Ambuscade.
The Spanish attack grew out of the
fact that Colonel Colt, Major Dean and
Lieutenant Wardman. the latter of Gen
eral Brooke's staff, had, with Companies
A and c of the Fourth Ohio. started ear
ly i'll the morning to reconnoiter to the
northward, with the object of ascertain
ing the truth of the reports that the
Spaniards had mined the bridges on the
road to Cayey, whittier General Brooke's
command is bound.
Knowing the smallness of the reconnoi-
tering party, the report that they had
been attacked by the Spaniards caused
much excitement at the Guayama head
quarters.
A strong force was at once hurried to
the front. There were no horses to haul
the dynamite guns, and the men bucllled
/ " anu uidSStu iutlu over Tie Nils IOl
five miles to the scene of action.
On the way several struggling privates
of Company c were met. They reported
that that company and Company A had
been practically amihilated by Spanish
artillery. They declared that they were
too tired to fight any more.
1t was also reported that Captain Bid
Il 10 Of n I,I :.
the engagement, but it was subsequently
learned that he had been overcome by
the heat
At o'clock the reinforcements reached
turn of the road and the whole scene o
the engagement lay before them They
stood directly on the spot where the frs
ambuscade had been made. The roat
t here took sudden turn to the right
/ while 300 yards further on it made
e quick turn to the left. Thus the march
ing troops were exposed at both turn
to fire from the hills on either side.
I spaninrds Behind EnrthNorks.
e The Spaniards were about 600 yard
] away. They were entrenched on on
side behind blockhouse and on the othe
5 behind earthworks located on the top O
+, hill
a Nothing but a shallow ditch on the lef
4 side of the road had saved the American
troops, for that the fire had been blister
+ ing hot there was shown by the trees
Il the leaves and boughs of which had bee
n torn away by the Spanish shot.
5 For the greater part of two hours tn
Y Americans lay in the ditch, the Spaniard
= meanwhile directing a hot fire agains
}, them but not attempting to charge then
Il A stampede was started in Company
e by the collapse of Captain Biddle, VIII
I was Frustrated by the heat. When h
fell it was generally believed that he ha
been shot.
:. The effect on the men might have bee
serious had it not been for Lieutenar
4 Wardman, who assumed command of tn
company and fought CALAMITY throug
e the engagement As soon as the rein
d forcements arrived he pressed on wit
Is his men to the top of the hill.
5 Some time before this the enemy ha
z. stopped their cross fire, but as soon .
It the Americans climbed the hill the Spal
n iards opened hot fire from the blocl
Y house. The Americans rushed throug
Il the hail of bullets toward the blockhous
=: and the Spaniards started to retreat.
yellow Jack in Mexico.