Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-30

coolly knelt behind rock, loading and
firing. and when told by one of has
COMPANIONS that he was wounded.
laughed and said: ''Oh, that's all
right. That's been there for some
time.
The Twin Battles In the ChaperraL
In the meantime, away off to the
left could be heard the crack OF the
rifles OF Col. Woods men and the regu-
lar, deep toned volley firing OF the
Spanish.
Over there the American losses were
the greatest. Col. Woods men, with
an advance guard well out in front and
two Cuban guides before them, but
apparently with no fankers, went
squarely into the trap set for them by
the Spaniards, and only
The UnfaIterIng Courage of the Men,
in the face of fire that would even
make veteran quail, prevented what
might easily have been disaster. AS
it was, Troop L, the advance guard
under the unfortunate Capt. Capron,
was almost surrounded, and but for
the reinforcements hurriedly sent for.
ward every man would probably have
been killed or wounded.
The Spanish Fire Accurate and Heavy.
There must have been nearly 1,5Oc
Spaniards in front and to the sides OF
u.s. said Lieut. Col. Roosevelt to-day,
when discussing the fight. They
held the ridges with rife pits and ma.
chine guns, and had a body of men in
ambush in the thick jungle at the sides
90 Sal, n.
vancing. Our advance guard struck
the men in ambush and drove them
out. But they lost Capt. Capron, Lieut..
Thomas and about Is men killed or
wounded. The Spanish firing was &C.
curate, SO accurate indeed that it Sur
prised me, and their firing was fear
fully heavy"
81 want to say word for our own
men," continued Lseut.-Col. Roosevelt.
Every officer and man did his duty uE
to the handle. Not man finched."
Further Details of the Fight.
From another officer who took
prominent part III the fighting, more
details were obtained.
when the firing began" said he,
''Lieut.-Col. Roosevelt took the right
wing with Troops G and K, under Cap
tains Llewyln and Jenkins, and moved
to the support of Capt. Capron, who
Was Getting It Hard.
At the same time Col. Wood and Maj.
Brodie took the left wing and ad-
vanced in open order on the Spanish
right wing. Maj. Brodie was wounded
before the troops had advanced 100
yards. Col. Wood then took the right
wing and shifted Col. Roosevelt to the
left.
"Teddy' Yelled and Sprang Forward In
Front of His Men.
I'm the meantime the fire of the
Spaniards had increased in volume,
but notwithstanding this, an order for
a general charge was given, and with
a yell the men sprang forward. Col.
Roosevelt, in front of his men, snatched
rife and ammunition from
wounded soldier, and cheering and
yelling with his men, led the advance.
For moment the bullets were singing
like swarm of bees all around them
and every instant some poor felloY
went down.
Heavy LOsses-Reserves Ordered Up
Charged the BIockhouse.
On the right wing Capt. McClintocx
had his leg broken by a bullet from
machine gun, while four of his men
went down. At the same time, Capt.
Luna of Troop T lost nine of his men.
Then the reserves, Troops K and e,
were ordered up. Col. Wood, with the
right wing, charged straight at the
blockhouse, 800 yards away, and Col
Roosevelt, on the left, charged at the
same time. Up the men went, yelling
like fends, and never stopping to re-
turn the fire of the Spaniards, but
keeping on with grim determination
to capture that blockhouse.
The Spaniards Broke and Ran.
That charge was the end. When
within 300 yards of the coveted point
the Spaniards broke and ran, and for
the first time we had the pleasure.
which the Spaniards had been expe-
riencing all through the engagement,
of shooting with the enemy in sight"