The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-25
THOUGHT HE WAS SHOT DEAD.
Rough Rider Tells How 1t Feels to Be
Killed.

hlllEls
New York Sun: How 1t feels to be shot
dead is the subject of some rather curious
observations on the part OF a trooper OF
RoosevGlt's regiment. which was intended
to be made up of rough riders, but from
force Of circumstances has been trans
formed into an organization OF rough
walkers since 1t has been in Cuba. This
particular trooper has been in tho thick
OF the lighting all the time. and he relates
his most peculiar experience in q letter
recently received by friend in this city
"rostoI doesn't know anything about
being shot dead" he writes. Sin that de.
scrlption he gives he's away or. There's
altogether too much Of 1t. He never went
through 1t, SO how should he know? The
real thing is very short and simple; any.
body could do It, This Is how came to
know all about It, 1t was the second day
at San Juan and my troop was stretched
out Mt full length on It's very much at
tenuated stomach shooting over the top
OF the hill. The Spanish were also, doing
all the shooting that seemed to US heces.
OF us who got out whole would be mighty
lucky, for the Spanish aim may be bad
but there is whole lot OF people In this
vicinity who wish II were darn sight
worse, the undersigned among the NUM-
aThe chap on my left was close up to
me and firing fast, getting up on one
kles each time he let on and then drop.
ping back for n few seconds. BGliess
were dropping all around, and so we're
men. and had spotted one Spaniard who
seemed TO be responsible for lot Of It.
Well, was Just getting a good bead on
him when II happened. There was sud
den shock that didn't seem TO strike any
place in particular on ms, head, but all
over 1t. My teeth ground together and
my eyes tried to get out OF their socket!
and escape, and no wonder, for my head
was full OF flames. Then everything went
black and felt myself falling.
:" That's the end Of me- thought to
myself before i lRpqed into total blank
ness, and as 1 remember 1t, didn't care
"Hfter that / rolled down the hill. It
might have been any length Of time for
all ] knew when consciousness began 70
return. wondered what world ] was n
and reckoned that ought to have pair
OF wings Of one kind or another on my
shoulders, II was something OF surprise
to me to find that they were not there;
but my dismal suspicion that maybe had
gone wrong was followed by surmibe
that was stu in the land OF the living.
But had felt that bullet go through my
head and i couldn't figure what right
ind 10 be alive at nil. Besides. Il was
no fun, for ] had Il headache that YOU
couldn't have crowded into beer barrel
AS soon as found / could move ] ieit
around for the bullet hole, but eouldni
find IT, While was still searching ana
getting pretty mad about u mot being
able to lind an escaped collar button Y
nothing to not being able to find 9 mora!
wound In your hend) u couple OF fellows
came along, picked me I'M and poured some
water over me. -,
'''I,ook out said, 7tll get INTO my
BRAIN and explained about the, WOMB
They explored and they couldnt nna
any hole either and that made me mao
der than ever, for bullet that goo, ceah
through a man without leaving amy opsh'
Ing to show for 1t is robbinE him o. w
glory OF dying for his country. All i1s
dino my head was feeling like the inslls
Of n mince pie, but finally crawled paeH
to the firing line and there they toId nv ~
what happened. The chap on my Ieit; , n
rising to fire, had got a Mauser oTLirSS
through his heart, and In falling nv
swung his gun with great force over ~
my direction. The butt caught me W.
behind the ear. knocking me compiet.Ghgs
out I've got lump there now IKE ''s
end Of n squash. L,a ,bs
''But IT'S a great thing to have hGd s ~,
experience OF being shot dead WlS s,,yS.
compelling your family TO so into mOo'"'
Ing"