Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-10-22
On a Leaf Is an Inscription, the
Only Means of Identify
ing Him.
to Indicate the Regi-
ment to Which He Be-
lOnged.
THE STORY OF THE GREAT BATTLE

possession memento which would doubt
less be regarded as priceless by the friends
of some dead and unknown American
hero who fell at Santiago. He is endeav-
oring to locate the friends or relatives of
the deceased soldier, and has solicited the
aid of the Post i'll his search.
Mr.. Collins story is that, while re-
Gently en- route from New York to Chi
cago, he made the acquaintance on the
train of Private Alphus Van Lacys, of
Troop K, First United States Volunteer
Cavalry, the Rough Riders, who was on
his way to Colorado Springs to rest and
allow his leg to recover from an ugly
wound made by Spanish brass-covered
bullet at the battle of San Juan Hill.
The two men engaged in conversation to
while away the long hours of the journey
and, as was quite natural, the war and
the recent experiences of the Rough
Riders were the chief topics of converse
ton.
Before parting the soldier placed in Mr.
Collins care a pocket manuel of Catholic
devotion, with the request to find, if pos
sible, some one who wonld treasure the
little volume The tale related by Trooper
Van Lacys of how he came into the pos
session of the little book is an interesting
one and discloses one of the saddest feat
ures of war; AS told in the soldiers own
words, the story is as follows:
",rwo days after the battle of San Juan
Hill l, in company with Private Ladley,
left camp on foraging expedition. We
tramped laboriously through the tall, wet
grass, when suddenly we came upon the
dead body of an American soldier, lying
face downward upon the damp ground.
He had evidently been killed by large
projectile, for the lower part of his face
and neck were entirely torn away, His
hat, belt and other equipments were gone,
so that there was nothing to indicate the
regiment to which he had belonged. AS
sisted by my comrade, made grave for
the poor fellow, and as we bent down to
lift the lifeless hero and place him in the
lonely resting place which we had so has
tily and improvisedly constructed for him,
noticed little black book with golden
cross stamped upon it protruding from his
blue shirt pocket just over his heart.
GAS we gently raised the body the vol
ume fell to the ground. There was moth
ing else found upon the body which
might lead to an Identification. Tenderly
we deposited our sacred burden in its
humble and solitary grave, and after Of
fering a silent prayer to heaven we COW
cred the poor fellow as best we could
with earth and turned sadly away. Be
fore going, however, we marked the spot
by driving pole made of branch of a
mango tree into the ground at his head.
AS we walked away bent and picked up
the book, and, without opening it, placed
it in my pocket, intending to retain it as
a reminder of the sad event"
The volume, as stated is a small man.
ual of Catholic devotion, evidently pre-
sented to the dead soldier upon enlistment
by some dear friend-a sister, mother or
sweetheart-and treasured highly by him,
for he carried it next to his heart, and
kept it with him when he had absolutely
nothing else. On the title page are the
words "The Vest Pocket Manual of Cath
Ollie Devotion: McCauley & Kilner, Pub
fishers, Baltimore" On the fly leaf, al
most illegible, and, therefore, perhaps,
incorrect, is the inscription "Mamie f.
MCGEE, or McGar, Washington, d. c.,
1915 M St" In the book were found
several little cards of devotional nature.
One is printed in German and another
contains the words written across the
top, evidently in woman's handwriting,
"Say this prayer to our God to bless and
save you from all danger during the war.
On the reverse side of the card a line is
drawn about the words addressed "To Our
Lady of Victory"
The Rough Rider informed Mr.. Collins
that he was glad to be relieved of his
treasured burden, as each time he looked
upon it there was brought back to him
the terrible picture of the soldier with his
face SO horribly mangled, and as the body
had lain for several days exposed to the
sun and rains it presented most sicken-
ing sight Mr.. Collins holds the little
volume as a sacred trust for the friends
or relatives of the dead hero, and will
gladly surrender it to those who are en-
titled to it, upon satisfactory proof being
furnished.
The name Mamie E. MCGEE or Mamie
E. McGar does not appear in the city
directory, and no one is known by that
name at 1915 M. street, the address
given, and the neighbors know of no
one having lived there formerly. The
case is sad but interesting one, and any
one who can throw any light upon the
owner of the volume will confer great
favor upon Mr. Collins. and any commu-
nication upon the subject should be adj
dressed to the Post. Washington Post.