The evening times., 1898-08-20
THE DYNAMITE GUN.
A PeriIous Duty In the Battle of
July 8 .

July 3,
Trom the New York Tribune.)
Sergt. Basil Ricketts,. of the Rough
Riders. who has been spending few days
at the home of his cousin. Mrs. A. Spey-
ers, of No. Ais West Twenty-third Street
went to Washington last evening. He
hopes to get a commission In the regu-
lar army. Sergt. Ricketts, carries a Mau-
ser bullet in his hip. He was obliged to
return from Cuba on account of a severe
attack of malariaI fever and his condi-
ton has been such that an operation could
not be performed for the removal of the
bullet.
The wound was received in the battle
of July 3. when Sergt. Ricketts, was de-
tailed to so forward with Sergt. (now
captain) Hallett Alsop Borrowe, who had
charge of the dynamite gun.
In speaking of his experiences Sergt
Ricketts, said that when the gun was
moved to the front shots were falling
thick and fast. but no attention was paid
to them. The first shot from the dyna-
mite gun jammed 1t, and 1t had to be
taken to the rear. About two hours and
a half were consumed in getting the gun
into shape. and 1t was then brought up
again. its position being in the center of
a smooth, broad road. where there was a
perfect hail of shot and shell. The posi-
ton was one Of extreme peril, as there
was imminent danger that a stray shot
would explode the dynamite the men car
ried as ammunition for the gun. After
the gun had been discharged three times
an order was given to cease firing.
All the while the shots were falling
thicker and faster. and the men at the
gun expected that at any moment they
would find themselves blown to pieces
by an explosion of the dynamite The
men did not waver, however. and stood
by awaiting orders. A few minutes later
Lieut.. Miley came along. and Sergeant
Ricketts, pointed out the danger. and
asked II the lieutenant did not think it
would be advisable to bury the dyna-
mite. Lieut.. Miley told him to go ahead
and do SO, and Sergeant Ricketts, start
ed on the task. After he had ripped up
The turf and dug a few seconds, he felt
a sudden sting and fell in heap. He had
been struck by a Mauser bullet, but he
kept on with his work until he had stow
ed the dynamite away safely. Then he
was carried to the rear.
On another occasion Sergeant Ricketts,
was detailed to carry ammunition to 81
honey.
After arriving there he was ordered to
wait until the next morning before re-
turning. as 1t was feared he could not
make the journey safely. He was pro-
vided with an escort Of twenty-threc
Cubans. but by the time he arrived back
at Santiago all but three Of them had
deserted him.
Sergeant Ricketts, denounced the Gu
bans roundly. and said that they were a
worthless set. He said. however. that
Of all the suffering he had seen on the
battlefield. nothing was so pitiful as the
sight of the Cuban women and children
with their bodies bi0ated from starva-
tion. -f- l4si=
Among the men detailed to go forward
with the dynamite gun was a Cuban
named De Maurier. When the first shot
was fired he ran away. and has never
been seen since. Sergeant Ricketts, said
that 1t was q mistake to think that the
dynamite gun had proved failure. and
cited the fact that Cen Miles had Or