The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-25
OF MARYLAND
Came Very Near Shooting Down
Roosevelt.
He DREW A BEAD ON HIM
Recognized Him ust in Time to Avoid
b Catastrophe-Rut It sickened
Him OF Soldier Life and He
Refused to Re-Enlist.

Among the United States regulars
whose terms of enlistment expired dur
ing the Santiago campaign and who
quit the service upon returning to this
country was a man of the 9Th infan-
try. known to the members OF the reg
iment as johnson of Maryland. He
wus a tall. lanky Southerner, and the
pride of the 9th, because of his marks
'm~anship. which was so true that john
son was head and shoulders over all
the others in handling a Cr~ag-Jorgen-
sen. He appeared to be the most cor-
tented man In Uncle Sans service.
and often spoke OF re-enlisting Until
an event occurred just after the close
of the first days fighting at San Juan
which caused him to change his mind.
and he vowed never to handle a gun
again. He would never speak Of IL
to his comrades. but they all knew
why he quit, and although they ar
gued and tried to persuade him to ie-
main, Johnson only shook his head and
sad: mo. boys. | can't stay with you
longer. I'd like to. but don't ask me
again. j can't do II. ] must get out"
one of h members OF Johnson's
company tells the story of h caus-
ed the 9th to lose it's crack shot:
w had been engaged in the hottest
kind of work for some hours. n aft
er taking the first line OF Spanish
trenches we were fixing them up for
our W use. The Spaniards had been
driven back. but Their sharp shooters
were still at II. picking of U men
here n there. The Mauser bullets
were whizzing around W. pretty lively.
and ] noticed hat johnson was getting
more and more impatient every nm
ute and acting as II he Mas just ach-
ing to get at those Spanish s~harpsnoot-
ers. and finally he urn to me n
In his drawing q n said:
Say, it's tough we can't get n
chance at them
HE soon got his chance. however.
for just as dusk began our captain
ordered a dozen of us to advance a
short distance ahead n well beyond
the trench our forces had captured.
When we arrived on the spot we We're
halted on the edge of a dense wood.
Just ahead OF us was an open space
of clear ground, and on the other side
of that a low. thick brush. which ex-
tended as far as ] could see. Our lit
tie party Of crack shots was n Of
several picked from the various regi-
ments. and al neal as I can recall
there were men OF the Sd. 9Th M 9Th
cavalry just to the right of US. and
some of the 9Th. 9th and 10th infantry
on our left. Behind us. but well TO
the rear. were some Of the list New
York. the rough riders and. ! believe.
the 9Th Massachusetts,. There was an
occasional shot exchanged. but other
wise things were getting quiet.
Just before night came On We re-
cieved our final orders. which were 10
pay particular attention to the brush
just ahead OF US on the other sid Of
the clearing. and to shoot at the first
head we saw. We had settled down
to our tiresome occupation of watch
ing and waiting. but always prepared
for anything. and johnson and l were
talking in low tones of the days fight
ing we had just passed through when
we both heard h sound of a dry twig
breaking. We were alert i'm an in
slant. n all the men In our line were
looking straight ahead with pieces half
raised. ready for use. AS | looked at
Johnson | could see him smile. appar-
emily with the hope Of a a to
shoot. The sound repeated itself. this
time a little nearer. but still quite in
distinct. An instant later we lgain
heard 1t. and Il sounded directly ahead
Of ohnson and me. and beyond a
doubt was a cautious tread. but too
heavy for a man. While We waited in
almost breathless silence for something
To happen we again heard the cautious
tread. now quite plan. Ii was the
tread Of a horse and was just ahead of
us. Suddenly as the tread became
palmer a dark object appeared Just
above h top Of the brush. Dozens
whispered:
1--we got him.
He crawled a few PAGES forward
and we saw him raise his gun, his
fingers nervously working OF the trig-
ger. At hat Instant the brush part
ed and a horse and rider stepped out.
We saw johnson stretch out his piece
and w expected to see a flash. put
just then the rider turned in his sad
die and by the dim light from the dull
red glow thai still tinged the sky We
saw a pair Of eyeglasses fash. We
all knew at once who II was. but not
one Of US spoke. We were probably
too Mortified. and before ! could say
a word Johnson turned to me and with
a look on his face ! shall never forget
exclaimed. in a hoarse voice:
My God. Ben. Roosevelt. And ]
nearly plucked him.
with this he threw his gun rom
him and just sat there and stared al
the place in the brush where ColoreI
Roosevelt and his horse had entered
The latter. when he heard the voices
Of ou men. came straight up to us.
and appeared surprised to find us 50
far beyond the trench. When he heard
OF the orders o shooting at the
first head we cav he smiled and said:
That is the first I've heard OF ihe
orders. They were probably issued
while I was away on a little recon
noitering on my own hook
He spoke cheeringly TO the mer
about and passed on. little thinking
how near he was to Heath a few min
utes before. The more We though: OF
IL after he passed the more in the
dumps we got. for every one OF US
loved the colonel OF the rough riders
particularly for his kindness to HI
men. and ! tell you II was a gloomy
crowd that sat there watching Johr.
son. who. with his head supported by
his hands. was either praying or think
ing hard.
we were relieved shortly afterward
and as w marched hack I'm silence
johnson walked with bowed head and
zone of us spoke to him. for we I'm.
agined he felt as 10 he would like q
be alone. From that day johnson
showed a restlessness that was new I,