The Dickinson press., 1898-10-08

Wounded and Dying ss saa Juan HnL
RaA Fever, but Recovered.
Bronzed by the sun of q southern
CLINE and In his ears still ringing the
whiz Of Mauser bullets which he heard
at the battles Of San Juan hill and Sam
tiago. there arrived In New York re-
Gently Charles Escudero. IS years old,
who marched by the side Of his father,
q regular army soldier. during the cam
paign in Cuba. This lad carried by his
side during the battles a oanteen, which
he replenished from time to time with
cold spring water, drafts Of which he
gave to those who were active in battle
or lying helpless and wounded ON the
field.
This child started at 8 O'Clock the
other night over the Pennsylvania rail-
road to join his mother and little broth
ers and sisters in Columbus, o., to tell
them stories Of the Genes he had wit
messed. he was sent home by the Chill
dren's Aid society, for he arrived here
almost penniless and without q friend
to greet him.. He wore dirty campaign
hat on which he had linked his initials,
&c. E." and the figure 80" to tell
that he was of the Ninth United States
infantry. Over a blue flannel shirt,
much the worse for wear, the lad wore
a seersucker coat, wrinkled and worn.
His trousers, Of the anne material, were
spotted and grimy, and it needed no
words to tell that these garments had
been worn night and day while fight
ing men about him depended upon him
for aid and comfort.
The boys father, William A. Escu-
dero, Joined the army 20 years ago, and
is now a member Of Company F, Ninth
infantry. The company was stationed
at Madison barracks, Sacket's Har-
Dor, N. Y, when orders were received
to start for Tampa. It happened that
Charlie had left his home in Columbus
a few weeks before to visit his father,
and when the orders came he was visit
ing his grandmother, Mrs. Louise Escu-
dero, in Sacket's Harbor.
Charles is q bright little chap and
became a great favorite with his fathers
companions. So when the orders came
for the company to go to the front the
men and even the boys father asked
Charles to accompany them. Since then
he has seen the hardships Of war, and
the other day there were still upon him
the effects Of malarial fever that has
claimed sc many victims. He was
stricken with the fever, and at one time
his life was despaired of, but the sturdy
lad overcame disease, and on his fathers
suggestion came north on the transport
Louisiana, which arrived the other
night.
The lad left the transport and inquir-
ed his way to the army building, where
in a manly fashion he told his story to
Major William Ewall, in charge Of
transportation. Major Ewall wrote this
letter to Samuel Carpenter, general
eastern passenger agent of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad:
|. "This will introduce to. you Charles
Escudero, q young soldier who has re-
turned from Santiago, Cuba, on one Of
the transports, where he was engaged in
carrying water for the soldiers during
the fight. He is very anxious. to get to
his home at Columbus, o., and being
without means I recommend him to you
for your consideration"
Mr.. Carpenter was ready to give
Charles reduced rates, but as the lad
had no money save a few pennies Mr..
Carpenter wrote a letter to Ernest H.
Opitz OF the Children's Aid society, and
Charles presented 1t. Mr.. Opitz scanned
the boy closely and questioned him
infinitely. MI. Opitz noticed that the
lads shoes were torn and mutely told
the story Of his long marches.
"All right, my lad, we'll send you
home" Mr.. Opitz said. "When? Why,
tonight, If you are in ahurry. You are.
eh? Well, we'll give you new clothes
and something to eat and put you on
the train for Columbus."
"All right, !" Charles replied. 'I'm
nervous and want to get home. Idon't
want to waste any time. I've been
through enough.
II don't want to talk" the boy said
when I accosted him. "I'm too tired
and nervous. All I want is to get
home"
"Tell me how you came to go away. -
"Why, the fellers, the boys Of my
fathers company, asked me to and
did; that's all. They said I'd be their
mascot. We staid in Tampa for two
months. I worked as helper to the
cooks. Then we took the Santiago IL
Cuba from Port Tampa. We landed in
the sand at Siboney. We staid there
one day and then moved up six miles
the next day, and then we got into the
fight. That was the battle Of San Juan
i hill. Only nna man in nnr comnans