The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-06
THE PANIC AT CkNEY.
The Inhabitants Thought the Town
Would be Looted by Our Troops.

Would be Looted by our Troops.
The scenes ana actions in Caney after
the battle are in a measure explained
bv the impression that, following the
taking Of the town, the invading Iorce
would loot, commit murder ana raplne.
Immediately after occupation OF the Nil
upon which the fort Is situated ny our
forces, the frenzied Inhabitants began
rushing up the hill TO mako peace WIN
the yictors. 1 went down into the town
Win a sergeant and eight men. with in
structions from Captain Allen, OF the
cavalry, 10 turn out all tho Spanish SOL
diers / could find and break up their
arms and send the soldiers up 10 the
front.
General orders had been issued for
bidding any one except this small guard
TO enter the town as there was thought
10 be a great amount Of fever, ana also
because IL was sim occupied by tie de-
feated Spaniards under arms. AS We went
down the tran across the river We met u
procession such as / never expect TO see
again. Hysterical women, patalyzed
with the fright of the whole long day;
children of an sizes screaming with ter
Tor and clutching their mothers skirts
for protection from men who had killed
knew. without cause. Some little ones
with eyes wide open in mute wonder
ment Of IL all: men Of all classes, sol
diers who walked dehanuy with 40 eX-
cuse. while others declared they were
forced into the Spanish ranks.
one poor frightened woman Of about
fifty years was earring another, evident
Is her mOther-a woman who must have
been eighty or more. She was in her
night-clothos, having just been taken
helpless from her bed. The younger
woman was carrying or really dragging
her. by holding her on her back. having
the arms over her shoulders. The older
woman was much the taller. and her
bare feet dragged upon the jagged rocks
in the path while she mOaned and cried
incoherently These people were not OF
the poorer class, but evidently well-to-
do 1 stopped a couple OF the Spanish
soldiers and had the women carried 10
their houses. and assured them that no
harm would come OF them.
one young woman rushed franucally
up 10 me. as ! came into the town, and
thrust A jewel-boX into my hands, and as
she did SO lifted the lid and showed me
that the contents was really valuable,
begging all the while that I spare her
life. When I closed the box and handed
IL back to her. saying that did not want
&c, she looked at me IN an inQuiring way
20 see if she could make Il out. She did
not understand that sort Of soldering, and
she fully expected 10 purchase her safety.
il all would have been immensely funny
had 81 not been so extremely pitiuL
one won an came Up very mysteIlodsly
and. after looking about her most care
fully. produced a Misunderstanding
1. r...aF 60 ~ l.n frH N- Of he
skirts. telling me that 81 belonged 10 a
spanish soldier who had concealed him
self in her house TO which she led US.
1 started up a side street, over some
trenches filed with Spanish dead. when
n beautiful young woman came rushing
down, moaning. and now and then NUT
terlng a fronzied prayer as she clasped
a little crucinx. Her long black hair
was falling loosely about her shoulders.
and she presented a piuful picture OF
despalr. I tried TO comfort her. thinking
that Ike the rest she was merely hys-
terical. but little by little I made out
her story. and II was sad indeed. Her
husband. a Spanish Soldier had been
killed while defending her honor from
drunken officer. and she begged me TO
70 with her and so ! followed. I found
"a pretty room but In great disorder
showing n terrible struggle. the table
overturned and the clothes pulled or the
bed: on tho nOor clutching a corner OF
a blanket. was the dead body OF
Spanish soldier. who from the dirt and
Crime. had been in the trenches during
tho day. At his head was single cam
die burning. placed there by his devoted
wife. and on his breast lay cruciaX.
The momoont We entered the room the
woman dropped at the side OF tha body
moaning and praying. IL was pluful-
James l.. ]. Archibald in Leslie's Week
"