The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-07-09
HOW GALLANT CAPT.
CAPRON WAS KILLED.
Revolver in Hand the Intrepid
Soldier was Leading His
Men Against the Enemy
When He Fell.

campaign hat, pair OF captains epau-
lets and pocket book, went out from
here in the United States mail today
1t was one of the FIRST sad mementoes
Of the battlefield near Sevilla.
The package was addressed 10 Mrs
A. X. Capron, Fort sill, Ok, u. 5 A.,
and when IL reaches the little garrison
home on the plains fortnight hence,
it will tell 10 broken hearted woman
the cruel story.of a soldiers death,
The articles were those worn by the
brave Captain. Allyn X. Capron, who
commanded troop t. OF the Rough
Riders, in their heroic assault upon the
Spanish outposts. No message accom-
panied the pa eel. The soiled gray hat
and the blood stained epaulets will tell
the story OF death and the pages OF
American history will tell the sorrow
ing widow the story Of her soldier
husbands heroism.
The articles in the parcel were taken
from Captain Capron's body after his
death and sent here TO United States
Consul Snyder by one OF the dispatch
boats. When they reached the consul
they were wrapped in such fragments
of paper and cloth as could be picked
up about the field hospital and tied
with a wire. With the care a7d ten
derness Of brother, Mr.. Snyder put
them in a secure package carefully
folding the hat about the epaulets and
pocket book, and sent them forward
under the seal OF the American con
sulate.
Capt Capron died as he lived-a fear
Al.
when a Spanish bullet had pierced his
body, and the death palor was creep
ing over his features, he smiled AZ his
comrades about him, telling them calm
ly to leave him whrae he lay and <,
on with the fighting.
None but those who passed through
twill ever know the hardships, the
pain and the final fury and triumph o
that mornings march before the fight
All was new 10 the Americans. But
few hours before they had left the
quiet Of the great transports, hurriedly
had been crowded into the small boats
and landed through the foaming surf
One nights sleep on the heated beach,
and then. with day break, came tht
order to march into the mountains and
DIR We back the Spanish outposts, which
the Cubans had repor ed TO be in The
thickets a few miles back from the
coast.
There was no delay, no questioning
no faltering. Every man was ready
On they marched up the mountain. II
was perilous and slow. They had only
a trail to follow, ana that at times led
over rocks that bruised their feet and
legs, and through thickets which left
bloodstains and swollen places upon
their faces and hands.
The sun poured down upon them
Capteens were soon drained and blan
Kets arc outer clothing were cast Oft
Lips parched with thirst asked cheer
fully for just one swallow from a com
rade's canteen With each step forward
the heat grew more intense. All along
the irail there were cool, shhdowy
spots where the great palms grew
thickest, but the men did not stop
there.
On they went through the burning
heat Now and again a sturdy Z lloy
staggered for moment and sank
down under the terrible exposure
Hurriedly he was carried TO shaded
place and left TO recover, while tht
column was moved brislSly onward.
Then, like a sudden dash OF raiI
from a tropical sky, came the storm oi
Spanish bullets. Flashes in the gree
thicket, like the glow OF iirehies
night, were all our men could see +,
the right, 20 the left aud In front Of
them, Mauser rifles cracked and tn,
thieket was aglow with death flashes
IL was then that Captain Capron, with
his brave little band from Troop l.,
dashed forward into the very hiding
places Of the Spaniards. IL was a.
awful hour. Burning with thirst and
sun heat, pressing on through swarm
of kissing bullets, bruised by rocks
and torn by cactus thorns, they fought
like mad men.
Oaly once during the battle was
there the slightest sign OF wAvering or
even hefita ion, and that was the mo
ment when Captain Capron sank 10 the
grS-rL mortally wounded. With re-
vofver il his right hand, firing and
loading, he had been pressing in ad-
vance % his men, talking TO them con.
stsntiy and urging them to move rap
idly,
There had been brief lull I'm the
firing srOm the thicket, and Captain
CaprOn was calling TO his men 20 push
forward. lie was standing erect and
was in the act Of leveling his revolver
10 fire wnen fierce vol!ey cru shed
from the thiclset and the pistol dropped
from his hand. He sank TO the ground
with his left hand pi essed 20 his side
and with his right hand still pointing
10 the spot where the Spanish rifles
were flashing.
Several comrades lSnelt over him.
but he mOtioned them away.
Don't mind me. boys" he said, "gt
on into the thicket.n
Stricken with death, the brave man
heard his little baud rushing on t0 the
fight, aud with eyes from which III,
was fast fading he saw the enemy re
treating down the hillside 70 Santiago
When the fight was over Captain
Capron was carried tenderly 10y hi,
com AIDES TO the little hospital by IN,
seashore, but before the sun went dowr
the calm OF a soldiers death was upoI
his features. With his dead comrades
he - buried on the battle deld.
The little parcel which left here TO
day will indeed carry a sad message tC
the sollier's widow on the plains o
Oklahoma. II is all that is left 10 hel
Of her dead hero. But The little grav,
here on the Cuban hills is not sacred
to her alone II hpllowed ground ts
all who love the word sAmeriea
For Renf,
A 4 roomed cottage, furnished, cas-
side, good neighborhood. Apply 2i'
south Division, Kansas City barn.