The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04
CRANE AS A SCOUT.
Saw the Sullen Islanders Change I'm q
Jiffy to AmericanOs.

of expressing cynical suspicion regarding
all the viva Americanos'' business that he
hears and sees in this city of Ponce. One
cannot define a type at once when the type
has just been captured, and knows that it
must be very, very good. although the same
may be foreign to it's ordinary manners. 1t
is correct enough that the american soldier
should be suspicious; there is more or less
in the handshaking idea.
Johnson, one of the Journals correspond
ents here, and myself had recently an OPP
portunity to see the Porto Rican when he
was right in the middle and couldn't tell
which way to dodge. The incident was in
structive.
Two companies of the Sixteenth Pennsyl-
vania Infantry at that time formed the adj
vance of the army. along the main military
road. They were encamped just beyond the
town of Juana Diaz, which is nine miles
from Ponce. We heard that General Ernst,
the brigade commander was going to rein
force these pickets with five more compa-
MES and then extend the American advance
five more miles into the hills When we
reached Juana Diaz we could see the men
singing their kits, preparatory to march
ing, and in the little hotel facing the plaza
and the old church the general and his staff
were just finishing their luncheon. We
thought it was only question of minutes
so we passed them and went on along the
road which the troops were to take We
were under the impression that an advance
party had gone on ahead. However, it was
not long before a peasants answers con-
WINGED US that Johnson. mounted on a BIZ
cycle, was the sure-enough vanguard of the
American army. His immediate support be-
strobe long, low, rakish plug, with max
lmum speed of seven knots We had no de-
sire TO win fame by any tWo-handed at
TACK on the Spanish army, So on receiving
the peasants lnIormatioD, we slowed down
TO a pace that was little more than a con-
cession TO one mans opinion of the other
The road, beautifully hard wound
through two thick lines of trees. We circed
spurs OF the mountains. the grass upon
them being yeliowish green in the after
noon sunlight. We crossed tumbling
brooks. With the palm trees out it was a
scene such as can be found in summer time
In southern New York. There was no man
IN the fields. We learned afterward that we
were about two miles and a half ahead Of the
american scouts, the difficulties attending
the work or the Ranking parties causing
the march 20 be extremely slow. Rounding
a corner We came suddenly upon a country
store. Chickens and pigs secuted in the
road and in the yard Of the house across
the road. On the steps of the store, on a
fence, on boxes and barrels; and leaning
IN civilian garb: As We appeared they
turned tneir heads, and as we rode slowly
UP every eye swung to our pace. They pre-
served an absolute stony silence. Now,
here were men between the lines. The
Americans were on ore side and the Span
iards We're on the other. They knew moth
ing or any American advance. They were,
as far as they knew. on strictly independent
ground, and could drop on either side of
the fence. Americanism was here elective
We drew up and looked at Them They
looked at u.s. Not word was said
The native in the zone already ours is al
ways quick to greet the American with
salute or with hat in hand. He cries out
- Bu ssi at every opportunity, meaning.
lam Il am glad you have come" When he is a
canos" When he is one he is forever nod
ding and smiling with absolute frankness
cans by all means He is busy at it day
and night.
But here was a contrast. This reception
was new to our experience These men
We're as tongue-tied and sullen as a lot of
burglars met in the daytime. Not one of
them could endure straight glance, and if
we turned suddenly we were likely to catch
two of them whispering.
Time passed slowly. with no change in the
situation. We remained in the road and
grouped in front of the store was the crowd
with their strange, foreign eyes moving in
shifty chances. The situation got to be in
sulpportable: It was no fun to stand there
with an obligation of stoicism upon us and
withstand this business of moving on
stage before an audience of thirty hostile
plan. We would concentrate our glance on
one man and talk about him in English,
ominously.
Look ct that brute on the barrel there.
He certainly is glad to see us. Look at
him, will your"
"Ah. the whole crowd of 'em are Spanish
that's easy Never mind. Let em wait
Well know how it is later. Just size up
the storekeeper. He'll be grinning and
But look at him, now. Never mind. Well
Look at that Willie in the gray coat.
See him stare back at us. Never mind.
Wen fix him"
A half hour passed as slowly as time in
the sick room Hardly man in the crowd
moved out of his place during the time. We
called to the storekeeper for some cigar
cites, and he came and handed them to us
with a manner that was suhtly offensive
on the porch of the house and surveyed us
impassively. man talking with another
glanced at us. and spat in way that left
a feeling in our minds that perhaps it was
not altogether unlikely that he was refer
ring insultingly to US
We could not tell whether these people
were all pro-Spanish Porto Ricans or
whether part of them We're really pro-
American but afraid yet to give themselves
away to the others or whether they were
all simply timid people who wanted to play
both ends against the middle until they were
absolutely sure who were to be supreme.
At any rate, they were sulky shifty, bad
lot with the odds strongly in favor of
Spanish leanings. They had nothing but
distrust in their eyes, and nothing but dis
Tp the cool, shady country road toward
Juana DlaZ appeared inquire. 1t was
quarter of mile away, but no one could
mistake the slouched service hat, the blue
shirt the wide cartridge belt, the blue trou-
sers the brown leggings, the rife held
lightly i'm the hollow of the left arm. 1t
was the first American scout
He stood for almost two minutes, looking
in our direction. Then he moved on toward
us When he had come ten PAGES four more
men, identical in appearance. showed be-
hind him. The crowd around the front of
the store could not see them. Their first in
formation was when young American SER
seant gaIIoped up on native pony. Then
two of them mounted their horses quietly
and started off in the direction of the Span
ish lines The young sergeant cried to us:
Well say. l guess won't have that
Those indians riding OF to give US away
He galloped hastily down the road and we
piled after him. but the two Porto Ricans
came back docilely enough.
the store. They did not stop paying little
heed 70 any one With their passing the
Porto Ricans began TO brace up and smile.
Then appeared the support of the scouts
and fiankers. forty men blocked in solid
wall of blue-black up the road. The Porto
Ricans looked cheerful. After the support
had gone on there was considerable pause.
Then six companies or Pennsylvania in
fantrv marched past with rafting OF can
teens and shuffiing Of feet The Porto
Ricans looked happy. BY the time the gem
eral clatfered forward with his STAFF they
were happy. excessively polite. overwhelm-
ing every one with attentions and ahyly con-
teasing xheir everlasting devotion 70 the