The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21
A WASHINGTON Boy.
Bruce Allen Tells How He Suffered
After Being Shot.


Bruce Allen, of Troop D. Sixth Cav
airy, is a Washington boy. He was
wounded at Santiago, and is now at the
home of his wife's mother. Mrs. Dennis,
in Baltimore. OF his experience the Her
aid gives this account:
-Four months ago Allen left Washing
ton, and, bringing his young wife TO her
mother, in Baltimore. went away TO the
call of his country. When he enlisted in
Troop d, Sixth Cavalry, at Fort Miles.
Va. he was i fine example of sturdy
manhood and in excellent health. When
his wife went 10 the station to meet him
last Thursday a week ago she found a
pale-faced man being helped from the
train. The flesh had wasted from his
limbs. and his back was bowed over as
though he was superannuated. This was
what her hearts gift to her country had
brought back to her-this was her glories
Of war
True. it was better than a grave in the
trenches at Santiago, but grief and
anxiety wear the soul She and her
mother took him home and he is now
being nursed and cared for by hands
more tender than those of the hospital
surgeons at Santiago
Allen Is also suffering from two
wounds. but they are gradually healing.
and his present condition is due more
directly to the strain his system under
went on the way TO New York
When he Joined his troop they first
moved TO Chickamauga, thence to Tam
pa ana from there shipped to Cuba with
the Rough Riders. On the first day of
July. while the regiments were dra wing
IN around Santiago his troop were ali
lying face down in the underbr,Ish
sharp ire from the Spanish advance lines
concealed in the thickets ahead was
keeping the American skirmish line well
down, and occasionally a shell would
come tearing overhead One exploded d.
rectly In the rear of where Allen was W.
ing. and missile from il took off his
heel. He was the first man in the troon
to be wounded
Later IN the day, while the line was
trying to move on a better position a
bullet from the gun Of a Spanish sharp
shooter IN tree hit him in the rear of
the left hip, and. slanting downward.
passed out just above the knee This
ended his fighting. and he was carried
to the rear and placed in an improvised
hosptaI tent. His wounds were dressed
put ne was not operated upon.
During the days that followed while
the storm!ng of Santiago was going ON.
ne lay on the hard board cot. suffering
with pain and heat and thirst. He saws
he cannot tell how he lived through that
time. and when the city fell and ne found
he could secure a furlough to leave the
island it was the greatest joy he ever
experienced in his life. Contrary to his
hopefui expectations, the journey home
was a move from bad to worse He was
taken down to the harbor and put aboard
the Seneca, which was to go to New
York. Many of the sick and wounded
were already on. and it fell TO his lot
to go down in the hold.
ALLEN says the horrors of that trip
cannot be pictured
Here follows the same painful story
with which the public is so familiar:
ALLEN further relates that after three
days out he found he could not longer
stay in the hold of the vessel and live, so
on appeal he was removed to the first
deck. He says the general filth of the
lower deck was made worse by a couple
of goats that were left loose to browse
around and make life agonizing by their
b1eats and stencil.
Five days brought them to New York
and there Allen was taken to the Belle
vue Hospital and comfortably cotted in
the military ward, and his wounds for
the first time cleaniy and thoroughly
dressed.
HE remained in the hospital two weeks.
until he was strong enough to be moved
when his aunt, Mrs. William Davis. of
Brooklyn. brought him to Baltimore.
Allen says the hardships were much
worse than ordinarily imagined, and that
there is much discomfort among the SOL
diers.
ALLEN is printer by trade and has
hvot in
connected with the editorial department
of The Times. and formerly a member
of the staff of the Baltimore Morning
Herald"