Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-29
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The Nurc1 expedition. which recently
landed ON the southeast coast of cuba, car
rled ln addition to- food, munitions Of war
and Cuban volunteers a company of trained
sharpshooters and swordsmcn. organikrd. aud
equipped by william Nstor Chaulrr. These
American volunteers were originally ten
dcrcd the government. but for some reason
were not accepted CHAMBER aud his men
determined to 20 to cuba independently. and
succeeded in Joining the command OF Co.
mez, the patriarch OF the Cuban cause,
Captain CHAMBER will be a valuable addi-
ton to the patriot army operating in the
central province. He Is an experienced
campoigner, having led expeditions into
central Africa. has fought with savage tribes
In the dark continent and hunted tigers In
the jungles Of India, All these he has done
Tor adventure. He is rich and has equipped
ms men In order that he and they may
90 a llltIe campaigning in Cuba and see some
excitement. The detachment OF men under
Mr' Chanler's Command are all Of herculcan
oulId' ana every man is an athlete. Not
only that, but every one OF them has seen
service IN some army or another, in various
parts OF the world, and not one OF them
knows what physical fear means. Their
,unptulnnenta is reduced to a minimum and
is the exact counterpart of that used by
the Cubans on the island. A hammock of
strong canvas, slung between two trees.
forms the bed. over this, supported bv n
larlat' a yard above the hammock. Is spread
a 'poncho,' or storm blanket of stout can
vas waterproof. This forms their only tent.
ne pOhchos are a protection against both
ram ana sun, and the hammocks, suspended
ABOVE the ground, keep them from malarial
influences OF the wet soil. Another lariat
stretched between two trees near by. and
ABOUT two feet from the ground, supports
al the carbines and rifles of the command.
Another poncho, spread very close to tbo
ground ana Kept wet, covers the cases of
provisions and keeps them fresh and swee,
for an indefinite time.
before leaving Tampa the command goy.
an exhibition of skill in handling the ma
chete' AT the command of Forward" the
NURSES ieaped out at n gallop and fairly
charged TO a point within half a score of
yarus from Mr.. Chanler's position. when
'ne lihe matted as suddenly as if it had en-
couhtercd n stone wall. With a grace that
can come only from long practice, the com
lnander vaulted into the saddle, and with y
quiet command, which was Instantly oheved
the column swung off at a gallon. forming
twos as they went. Through the trees tbey
went, forming into two squadrons as thew
rode. one bore off toward the south and
the other toward the north. They were too
TAR away to hear the command, but turned
suddenly and dashed at each other. riding
IKE cehtaurs. The machetes leaped out as
.ne INES closed in, and when they came
'osether tnere was a clash of steel that
was positively fierce. 1t was real, too. for
the men wore no masks or other protection
and one of them had the end of his nose
spit as neatly as a surgeon could have done.
Inc wounded member was plastered up by
skilled hands, and the incident was dronned
with the remark: He should have
remembered his Instructions about guard
ing and he wouldn't have been touched, He
won't be again" Wheeling, circling. veil
ing and riding with a positive abandon that
can be seen nowhere else, these men showed
now practically impossible it would be for
a root soldier to defend himself from a ma
chete charge. No one who has never seen
IL can FORM an idea of its impetuous dash
and irresistible fierceness. The fatal ma
chete blow is delivered downward at an
angle OF about forty-five degrees, and usu-
ally lands on the side and back of the vic
inns neck. He may be a superb fencer
with napier or saber, but he knows no guard
that will avail against this blow. 1T is
d remarkable fact said Mr.. Flint, second
III command, who has seen many a Span
lard after the machete had done it's work,
that almost every one struck at all is
struck on the side and back of the neck
The blow almost sewers the head from the
body. l had little regard for the machete
as a soldiers weapon until / saw it used
by these men. Army officers who have
seen 1t have, to a considerable number.
armed themselves privately with the MUIR
derous corn kife of the Cubans. Strange
10 say the machete is not made in Cuba
or Spain, but in Hartford, Conn. Aside
nom these weapons, this force is armed
with siX-shooters and either forty cali
Der carbines, Winchester 1910 rifles or the
Mauser rifle. They are all crack shots and
hN ave UGIh