New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-29
LAST FIGHT ~ PORTO RICO.
LIEUTENANT HAMS TELLS HOW HE WAS
SHOT THROUGH THE BODY AND
HOW IT FELT

Lieutenant Hams commanding an artillery
platoon under captain Potts. In Porto Rico. was
wounded August - the day tho war ended.
he Is at ST Luke's Hospital. in this cit,
Taking with his brother. Captain T. Hams. who
WAS at his bedside YESTERDAY he said: The cable
regarding mis- affair was confusing. II spoke Of
Lieutenant Hams being struck by a stray Mauscr
bullet Not serious This misleading. rs il
might j. adj one 70 suppose my batter vas not .n
action ana that my wound was an accident.
wh"rc". several other men were wounded and TWO
killed
Il was sent out in advance along the san Juan
road TO lind position from which could emf
ade the Spanish position. from which heavy fire
had been received. the Spanish voll"ys coming with
remarkable regularity and precision. on he nom
ing OF August i Captain Potts ordered TO pro-
coed mp tho San Juan road with five guns for the
purpose Of Smelling The Spanish trenches at Aso-
manta. Four guns. which included my platoon
were moved into position In field near IN" san
Juan road AZ a range Of two thousand yards. the
NTH gun being sent ahead one hundred yards TO
Our right on the road
Just before We csme into action ne enemy
opened on ny with infantry volrys and two S-inch
howiizers. This hastenei w. into action We
picked up the range Immediately. ana did splendd
praotic" IN" w" hpwitzers were soon Silenccd
ana the Sprniafis were seen running from their IN
shortly after We did 50 the enemy took heart and
began 20 return. General Wilson sent N" with n
to Try and cnniade the enemy. proceeded up
the ROAD on horseback about two hundred yards.
bend OF the road which formed cover from the
Spanish fire. passed beyond them. and the gun
was uriimbcrcd in the next turn OF the road IN u
somewhat sheltered position. Ny men las down by
IN" roadsi" TO escape tn" Spanish NolleI- which
were coming mp the road ~ our front ana iigni.
Some Of my ;o!d M the 'LsmS were adVanc-
ing within TWO hundred yards in force and that Ne
must lose the gun.
rhe hrns 80 This time vas very heavy the
MauSers COMING iu storm with each Nolley J
told the sergeant would have try at tn m for
luck anyhow and az ! could Spaniards
nearer than five hundred or six hundred Yards
had him run the gun the road little We
had no sooner done this than the fire suddenly In
creased n"rccly that the gun could not he
served We hauled the gun back 70 the next turn
in the road where Joined 10y the second
sun. still unable to do any great execution owing
10 the sheiisred position Of "a" enemy. The IRE
oOutiIucd with nerceues. bat from our new posi-
;ion brought house into View. had the gun
instantly trained upon IT, "a saw several span
iards there outside y II and fel; certain n was
not empty.
The very first shot landed fairly upon it, side.
and. penetrating. burst inside. sending things fly
ing. The enemy broke cover. and | turned 10 the
sergeant. saying That WAS a good one now give
them - As turned something struck me
through the body. knew / was badly hit. hut
rci no pain !, Ike being struck over the
shoulder with a club passed my hand 10 my side
and brought II away 'uli OF blood
The sergeant and 20 Side
They've sOt me this time. said. and he PIT his
arm around and led M away, and LET me lie
down"
Tho war was ended that day