The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-08
STONES OF uNMorIceo HEROES

A Coiored Trooper Who IVAN No Cow
ard"-wounded Lieutenant's Act.
Perhaps in this neglected spot is aid
Some heart once pregnant with celes-
tial fire."
War stories of those M mentioned
I'm the reports" are now coming I'm as
returned soldiers recall the incidents OF
battle. and very man of these are full
Of the most touching pathos. Such a
tale of a Santiago hero was recently
told to me by a regular army officer. In
the two days real fighting before San
tiago men of the different regiments
became mixed and for a time were lost
to their commands. This condition gave
rise to the report that a certain few
men had shown the white feather"
One of the officers or General Law
toms division observed a colored trooper
of the 10th cavalry among his men, who
explained that he had lost his COM
mand and asked that he De allowed to
remain where he was.
He stayed and did fine service that
day. n non Of his white comrades
was able to Guido him in notable deeds
OF bravery. He twice risked losing his
life assisting the wounded to places OF
safety. but each time escaped unin-
jured.
That night he asked the officer he had
iiitt ttit IN ny 'og W efNf hi'ft u
note to his own commander explaining
his absence. and certifying to his good
conduct during the fighting that day.
h was willingly given him and with
the precious paper clasped tightly In his
hand. under cover of darkness, he
started In search of his command.
The next morning at dawn Lieutenant
L, starting on a search for wounded
men in his division. happened to STUN
BILE over a PROSTATE body. He imme-
diately recognized the brave cavalry
man of the day before, who was fast
losing consciousness
After struggling a moment for
strength to speak. the PROSTATE man
held up his precious little slip of paper
and said: Give IL to Captain A OF
l. troop, II you can find him, and tell
him Williams wan no coward"
With a look of satifaction in his eyes
his and dropped to his side and he was
dead.
That hero rests now in a shallow
trench with 10 or IL other unknown pri-
Yates.
A young lieutenant who had declined
an offered promotion was at the head OF
his men during that heroic charge up
San Juan hill In the face Of a wjther-
ing fire. He was wild with excitement,
never thinking of his own danger, but
with aching heart for his men dropping
around him. He finally gained the top
of the hill with about 20 men n was
one Of the first of four officers to reach
the top. He was the very first man on
the right Of the blockhouse and there
he dropped-shot through the arm and
the right side.
When he I've consciousness he
dragged himself to the rear and was
there placed in a wagon. after the fiow
Of blood had been stopped and his right
arm strapped to his side The wagon
was full of sorely wounded men and
had proceeded scarcely two miles over
the wretched trail to Siboney when the
brake gave way. requiring the teamster
TO get down and walk beside the
The lieutenant took the line and with
his left hand drove the four-mule team
Is miles over the toughest trail in Cuba.
Then, half unconscious from exhaus-
ton, he was placed boa a transport
bound for Key West.
On reaching the Convent hospital
there he at once applied to he returned
TO duty. but was refused. He was Of
fered a sick leave. but declined. N
after giving his gentle nurses a lively
and boarded a warship. which he knew
would leave for Cuba the next day.
He reached his regiment in time to
witness the bo~mbardment of Santiago.
and he has never left his men one day
since. These s~ppreciative men hold him
in a deep regard n admiration hat
o almost TO worship.
He has received no promotion for his
conduct. He has not even been honor
ably mentioned-for his commander
does not believe in rewarding young
men for doing their duty-though he
has gratefully accepted an appointment
to higher rank. The brave lieutenant
has made but little complaint and .ac-
cep;s the consciousness Of duty well
performed As his reward