Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-23

The siege of Santiago will ever be re-
mcmbercd for the sufrcrings which both
Americans and Spaniards were obliged to
undergo. ION the night of July 9"
writes n correspondent who was at the
front, IL was forced to retire to the shore
because Of Illness, and tho sights that met
any eyes as trudged along the road made
an impression that will never. can never,
be forgotten. On my way / passed hun
drods of men who had been wounded,
dragging themselves along, many of them
on their hands and knees, each step add
Ing to their agony and lesscning their
chances Of recovery. Enlisted men, some
of them bleeding from bullet wounds,
could be seen carrying their officers who
were more seriously hurt, and all along
the route were Others whose injuries were
too severe To permit them continuing their
journey without assistance. The little
stream which cruises the road near Siboney
WINS absolutely red with the blood of men
who had stopped to rest themselves and
dress their wounds. The sight was pitiful
almost beyond description"
The refugees from Santiago during the
siege were hungry lot Refined women
clad In wrappers and tea gowns, with
mantillas flung over their heads. walked
in the dusty road a few vehicles drawn
by decrepit horses and mules appeared
now and then. They were laden with
hastily prepared bundles. Hidden in these
forlorn cquipages were bags and boxes fill
cd with Spanish gold, diamonds and Jew.
elry, the valuahlcs which the Weather
residents gathered before their hasty flight.
III.
contents of the vault of the largest bank
ing house in Santiago. Sheets and squares
Of canvas concealed costly plate. At night
women dressed in silk gowns, with fingers
covered with glittcring jewels, slept on
shawls in the mud. Babies nestled in odd
corners, quietly sleeping or vainly scream
ing an infantilc protest against mans in
humanity to man.
Private Wcichert of the Ninth regulars
tells n thrilling story of hand TO hand
conflict. He saws:
There are three forts near Santiago
which the Americans had to encounter
One was a blOckhuuse standing upon the
summit Of hill guarding the pathway
leading up to it, In this stone structure,
impenetrablc by rife bullets, 30 Spaniar,ls
wcro stationed In the walls of stone were
holes just large enough to shoot through,
ana through these the Spanish soldiers
hred bullets with great rapidity into the
ranks Of the Americans as they forced
their way up the hill Our boys dropped
like tcnpins. color sergeant scaled the
wall and tore from its staff the Spanish
nag. simultaneously the Spaniartls fired
az the sergeant. and he dropped to the
ground below dead. Three of the Amcri.
cans dropped into the fort from above. IL
being uncovered. and We're riddlcd with
bullets Their bodies were hayoncttcd.
Just az this time Is American privates
appeared on the wall, bcing among them.
The sight of our outraged comrades was
CALLING Without word OF command
each Of the Is men sprang into the pit
and a desperate fight followed Ii lasted
some minutes, but the exact time will
never be known. WIS shot in the wrist
but Killed the -paniard and brought away
the pistol with which Ire shot ine Nearly
all VI the Americans were wounded. but
not one killed One Of them says be killed