The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-06
history will tell the sorrowing widow the

history will tell the sorrowing widow the
. story of her soldier husbands herosm.
The articles in the parcel were taken
from Captain Caprons body after his death
and sent here to United States Consul Sny-
der by one of the dispatch boats When
they reached the consul they were wrapped
in such fragments of paper and cloth as
could be picked up about the field hcspi-
tai, and tied with wire. With the care
and tenderness of a brother Mr.. Snyder put
The m in a secure package carefully folding
the hat about the epaulets and pocketbook,
and sent them forward under the seal of
the American consulate.
Captain Capron died as he had lived-a
fearless noble American soldier Even when
a Spanish bullet had pierced his body and
the death pallor was creeping over his fea-
lures he smiled at his comrades about him,
telling them calmly to leave him where he
those who passed through ii will ever know
the hardships the pain and the final fury
ana triumph of that morning march before
the fight. All was new to the Americans
But few hours before they had left the
quiet of the great transports hurriedly and
had been crowded into the small boats and
landed through the foaming surf. One
nights sleep on the heated beach and then
with daybreak came the order to march
Spanish outposts which the Cubans had re-
ported TO be in the thickets few miles back
from the coast There was no delay no
questioning, no faltering. Every man was
ready. On they marched up the mountain
1t was perious and slow. They had only
trail to follow and that at times led over
rocks that bruised their feet and legs, and
through thickets which left bloodstains and
swollen places upon their faces and hands.
The sun poured down upon them. Canteens
were soon drained and blankets and outer
clothing were cast off. Lips parched with
thirst asked cheerfuly for just one swallow
from comrades canteen. With each step
forward the heat grew more intense. All
along the trail there were cool shadowy
spots where the great palms grew thickest,
but the men did not stop there. On they
went through the burning heat. Now and
again sturdy fellow staggered for mo-
nn1d aplyd RI hn nKr-
posture. Hurriedly he was carried to a
shaded place and left to recover while the
column was moving briskly onward.
Then like a sudden dash of rain from
tropical sky came the storm of Spanish
bullets. Flashes in the green thicket. like
the glow of firefiies at night. was all our
men could see. To the right. to the left and
in front of them the Mauser rifles cracked
and the thicket was agow with death
with his brave little band from Troop L
dashed forward into the very hiding places
of the Spaniards. 1t was an awful hour.
Burning with thirst and sun heat, pressing
on through a storm of kissing bullets
bruised by rocks and torn by cactus ,thorns
they fought like madmen.
Only once during the battle there the
slightest sign of wavering or even hesitation
and that was the moment when Captain
CaprOn sank to the ground mOrtally wound
ed With a revolver in his right hand, firing
and loading. he had been pressing in ad-
vance of his men, talking to them cor; c1n-
There had been a brief lull in the firing
from the thicket and Captain Capron was
calling to his men to push forward. He
was standing erect and was in the act Of
leveling his revolver to fire when fierce
volley crashed from the thicket and the
b pistol dropped from his hand He sank
upon the ground with his left hand pressed
to his side. but with his hand still pointing
to the spot where the Spanish rifles were
flashing. Several comrades knelt over him.
but he motioned them away
Don't mind me, boys he said, 'go on
into the thicket.'
Stricken with death the brave man heard
his little band rushing on to the fight and
with eyes from which life was fast fading
he saw the enemy retreating down the hill
side to Santiago. When the fight was over
Captain Capron was carried tenderly by
his comrades to the little hospital by the
seashore, but before the sun went down the
calm of a soldiers death upon his
features With his dead comrades he is
buried on the battlefield.
The little parcel which left here to-day
will indeed carry a sad message to the SOL
dier's widow on the plains of Oklahoma. 1t
is all that is left to her of her dead hero.
But the little grave here on the Cuban hills
is not sacred to her alone. 1t is halowed
ground to all who love the word America"