The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-05

the blockhOuses in the face of the fiercest
Of charges by the rough riders and their
with white and negro troops. They were
hungry and seeing the Spaniards fleeing
across the incline toward Santiago as fast
as their legs could carry them, fell to
gathering up and eating the many good
things they had left behind. Beside bread
there was cold potatoes and rum and an
occasional al hard boiled egg or piece OF
the once the presence of war or even
quasi danger and scrambled over each
other in their efforts to appeaSe a sting
a dry piece of bareback he saw a black
member OF the T h cavalry approach the
body of a dead Spaniard whose cold lips
held a half smoked cigarette STOPPING
over the negro carefully removed the
and placing it in his own lighted it, saying
as he did you doan want dat butts
any longer, Mistuh Spanyud, an I'm dy
without so much as giving the dead man
a second look notwithstanding he had
fine gold watch in his pocket. Had the
the watch first, then attended to the cigar
cite. There was no money in the cigar
cite and the watch could be sold at
neat advance.
Captain Frantz was one of the first to
enter Santiago after the terms of capitu-
lation had been fixed upon and with sew
eral officers of the rough riders went on
tour of inspection in true rough rider fash
ion. They did not turn over a cigar sign
''washee" joints, but they had a spell of
rOllicling good time and gave the Span
iards a real American treat without ex-
pense either from monetary or nervous
standpoint; While on their. tour of in
SpectiOn Captain Frantz and his band
visited La Venus cafe, the only strictly
bon-ton restaurant in the DagO city. There
they found several Spanish and American
officers at dinner. When the rough riders
entered the cafe introductions went round
ana everyone Iell 10 eatlng. a Spanish
colonel who sat near Captain FrantZ talk
ed freely with him regarding the battle
just ended. When the meal was over and
all rose to go, Captain Frantz extended
h5 9an% vas 80 e fh9 10 dY met n him
am pleased PLEASED to to- have met you also
We shall meet again but on the present
footing. l want to say l have met your
must say that 1 prefer to meet them So
cially."
throughout the cafe, and. after parting
j toast to the good health and long life Of
While in Santiago Captain Frantz was
invited by General Joe Wheeler to go
aboard a small boat and visit the ,fortifica-
tions and the wrecks of the erstwhile pow
enabled to visit MORO castle. and the very
room where Lieutenant HobsOn and his
the sinking of the Merrimac The old
castles Yaunted proves was all in the
FTantz' view of it, There were nothing
but old style guns mounted, that would
heavy timbered unarmored ship. much less
gone through any of Americas heavily
Ell Paso battery was the only one fitted
out with modern guns, and it only had
of the Merrimac nor the Reina Mercedes
blocked the harbor. On the day Lieuten-
ant HObsOn and his men were exchanged.
Captain Frantz was the officer in charge
of the trenches. He admires Hobson
very much.
While on the visit to the wrecks of the
Spanish warships, Captain Frantz says
General Wheeler removed his clothing,
and, mounting the railing of the boat
leaped into the water for a bath There
were many sharks lodging about. at
tracted by the bodies Of the Spanish sail
ors. but that made no difference to the lit
q w n a OT
ten minutes and then calling for rope;
much refreshed by his plunge.
Captain Frantz speaks very highly of
Colonel Roosevelt and his treatment of his
men. He always has a pleasant word for
everyone: and salutes private just like
he would an officer. The boys all love
him and would go any limit to please him.
he said.
Captain Frantz was questioned about
Jim Redmond. the suspected Kansas City
murderer, who is said to have enlisted in
Troop I of the rough riders. He does not
recall having seen Redmond.