The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-18
BRAVE ROUGH RIDERS
DEEDS OF HEROIsM IN THE JUNGLE
BACK OF SANTIAGO.
Incidents of the First Bloody Fight
Related by Capt. Thomas, of Troop
I-Death of CaprOn and Fish.

NEW YORK, July IL. = capt Jonn II.
Thomas, jr., of Chicago. who had charge OF
Troop l., of the Rough Riders, after Cap
tain Capron was killed, was the first of the
wounded soldiers who arrived on the Oil
vette last night to reach this city. Captain
Thomas was met on board the Olivette by
his father, Judge John r. Thomas, OF the
United States Court, Indian Territory, and
Miss Thomas. Judge Thomas had secured
a leave of absence for his son from the sec
rotary of war. and was thus enabled 10
bring his son to this city.
Captain Thomas, as soon he reached
his hotel, received a number of newspaper
men and told an interesting story of the
fighting of the Rough Riders. II am sorry, y
said he. that 1 did not have a chance 10
see more of the fighting, but what l saw
was of the warmest kind. On the oath of
June 1 was with Troop at La Quasina,
under Captain Capron. We formed the adj
vance guard and went out on narrow
trail toward Siboney. On the way we met
some of the Twenty-second Infantry men,
who told us that we were close to the en-
envy, as they had heard them at work dur
ing the night. Captain Capron, with six
men. had gone ahead of US, and had
come across the body of a dead Cuban.
Isbell, of Indian Territory. saw a Spaniard
in the brush ahead of him and fired. This
was the first shot from our troop. and the
Spaniard fell dead. Isbell himself was shot
seven times that day. but managed to walk
back to our field hospital, which was fully
four miles In the rear. 1t has been said
that we were ambushed, but that is not so.
Poor Captain Capron received his death
tn he fol nd ho VIZ &
lying on the ground, dying, he said: Let
lived an hour and fifteen minutes after the
bullet struck him. / was then next in COM
mand of the troop, and l noticed that some
of our men lay too closely together they
were deploying. I went down the line, or
deriug them to their proper distances, and
as passed along poor Hamilton Fish was
lying, MORALLY wounded. few feet from
me- When he heard my voice Fish raised
himself on his elbow and said, I am wound
ed; am wounded This was the last
saw of him in life. He was very brave,
and was very popular among the men of the
troop.
''Sergt. Joe Kline, of Troop l., was wound
ed early that day, and was ordered to the
rear with several wounded men, On his
way to the rear Kline discovered a Spanish
sharpshooter in tree and shot at him. The
Spaniard fell dead, and Kline picked up a
silver-mounted revolver which fell from the
dead mans clothing. These sharpshooters
seemed to take intense delight in shooting
at wounded men as they were being brought
to the rear in filters, and several of our
poor wounded brothers were killed outright
by these marksmen. The Spaniards are
charged en- them they quit their trenches.
"Sergt Dillwin Bell of our troop. who
IS a son of NJ. E. Bell. OF chicago cage was
on the firing line. He was ordered to the
rear, but quickly came back again. He
was ordered away second time, but few
minutes later he was 10 the front again.
firing away. For a third time he was sent
back. and once more he insisted on going
to the front again. He fought till the end
of the day, although painfully wounded in
the back There were many similar cases
among our fellows and none of them who
could handle gun relinQuished his position
until he tainted or had 10 be carried TO the
rear. Young Walter Sharp. OF Chicago.
was reported killed, but he is very much
alive to-day. He was only missing for a
II cannot speak too highly of Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt. He is every inch fighter
and successfully led "a charge OF dismouutcd
1t was wonderful charge, and showed
Roosevelt's grit. l was not there, but l
have been told of it repeatedly by those
who saw the colonel on the hill
Col Leonard Wood. who is now a briga-
der general walked up and down the firing
line in the first fight in the most fearless
manner, all the while giving commands
to his men. He was absolutely fearless.
and, though very much exposed. escaped
without injury
Captain Thomas was struck in the right
leg with Mauser bullet. and was unable
TO take an active part in the fighting after
the first day He will leave for Washing
ton with his father in couple of days, but
no will not be able to use his right leg for
some weeks.