The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-05
Special Dispatch to The Call.
BY SOL. N. SHERIDAN.

CAMP DEWEY, Philippine Islands,
Aug. 5.-One of the saddest yet most
impressive functions in the world I
have just witnessed. Poor Rhinehold
Richter captain of Company 1, First
California, died Of his wound received
in the battle Of Sunday night at a lit
tie past l o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The surgeons had been hopeful to the
last. He had regained consciousness
after being taken to the hospital, and
had expressed anxiety to get back to
his company. He wanted, he said, to
get up his company report for the
month. He did not know, even then,
that the dark waters were closing over
him. His friends were more anxious
than himself.
On the day before yesterday it be-
came apparent that the end was near.
He had intervals of delirium and
Father McKinnon gave him the last
consultations of the church. This was
one more touching incident In connec-
ton with the death Of the brave SOL
der. Captain Richter was born and
bred in the Roman Catholic faith. AS
he grew to manhood he had, like so
many men, neglected his religious du-
ties. Father McKinnon, himself good
man, saw the good that was born In
Richter and set himself to win the wan
dering one back to the faith. 1t was
net task attended with great diff
Guilty. On Saturday night the two had
their last discourse upon religious top
les. On Sunday night Rhinehold Rich
ter was stricken down in battle. 1t is
one of those strange condolences, to
give 1t no other name, which make men
al fD;% in
the attention they give solely to affairs
of the world.
The bullet that caused Captain
Richter's death entered his skull. When
picked up, within five minutes of
being wounded, he was in a mort
bund condition. His wound was dressed
on the field and he was hurried back
to the brigade hospital. After the sur
geons trephined and elevated the de-
pressed bone he regained conscious
ness for a few hours, but the injury
to the brain was too great and with
the symptoms of Inflammation uncon-
seriousness ensued and death followed
three days and a half later.
The end came peacefully. Colonel
Smith announced to the regiment that
the funeral would be held at 10 a. m.
to-day and under the great mango
tree in front of the headquarters tent
Father McKinnon had erected an al
tariff altar to the God who
created a temple of such beauty. Here
with the officers of his regiment
grouped about the bier and the brown
clad men of the ranks standing, file
after file, reposed in a coffin of Span
ish cedar all that was mortal of the
comrade dead.
The ceremony and the funeral ora
ton delivered by Father McKinnon
was most impressive. Those who were
nearest to him, those who had known
the dead man best, wept as strong
men weep, with great sobs that seemed
about to wrench their frames apart
and in the eyes of all those present the
tears were standing when the utter
loneliness of the widow and orphans,
who would never see the loved one
again, was gently touched upon.
After the military mass six COM
rades took the coffin upon their should
ers and the whole regiment moved to
the plot of ground beside the muddy
Pasanaque River. where the Govern
ment has secured ground for a ceme-
terry. It Is q bit of waste land, not
even a/tree upon it, but the whole
place is fragrant with spearmint and
there are possibilities that it may be
made q place of beauty hereafter. The
rain, which has ben falling almost
without cessation for days past held off
during the ceremony under the mango
tree 1t came upon us as we marched
to the cemetery and ceased again as
the first clods fell upon the coffin. The
camp has been a camp of sorrow all
day. 1t will be a camp of sorrow for
many days, for the memory of the
comrade dead will not die, although he
is gone. He was a brave man. and he
gave his life for his country. No