The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-05
PROMOTED FOR BRAVERY
Frank Frantz, of Wellington,
Now Captain With Teddy's
Troops.

New York. Sept. 5.-Bronzed and
bearded, a former Wellington, Kan,
boy, who won great fame as a member
of Colonel RooseveIt's Rough Riders"
came to town last week to see the
sights. He was plain Frank c. Frantz
when he enlisted his services at the be-
ginning of the war in Prescott, A t.
where he has lived since leaving Wei
Iington, not many months ago. When
he came to New York last week he
wore the epaulets of a captain, which
he had won for bravery on the field be
fore Santiago, when e''ROugh Riders"
accompanied by two troops of negro
cavalry, led the charge up San Juan
hill.
When the battle had been won and
the men were exchanging experiences
in the trenches of the SpaniardS, Frantz.
then lieutenant, stood Furnishing
carbine he had taken from a wounded
companion, as the charge sped on, fling
ing away his sword. Turning,as he saw
a corporal give the salute to some Su-
prior officer, Lieutenant Frantz stood
face to face with Colonel Wood.
Should 1 be compelled to make such
a charge again" said the colonel, ad
dressing Lieutenant FrantZ, I would
not ask for a better man at my side
tim you, Lieutenant F'rantz."
The young officer blushingly acknowl-
something that sounded like: I was
only doing my duty, SIR
That night Colonel Wood made known
to Colonel Roosevelt that fact of the
personal bravery of Lieutenant FrantZ,
and on the morning of the following
Sunday the papers published the pro-
motion of Lieutenant Frantz to a cap
taincy. The promotion came direct
from President Mckinley in a dispatch
along with the order promoting several
other young officers. among whom was
Dave Goodrich, captain of the '9S Har-
ward crew, who stepped from a second
to a first Iieutenancy, and was suggest
ed to the president by Colonel ROose-
Welt.
In speaking of the matter to a friend
who CHANGED across him in this city
Frantz said: THE compliment from
Colonel Wood on the field came like
thunderbOlt to me I had no idea he
had had any opportunity to watch for
the action of any one particular officer
during the charge and when he spoke
to me I was completely taken off my
feet for a second. I recovered. however,
and the blood, rushing through my
veins at such commentator from my
superior officer, made be feel good, in
deed. 1t gave me an incentive which
would have carried me through a much
worse charge than we had just finished
toward the Spanish StrOnghOldS.
4 was not surprised when I. received
word of my promotion because had
been made to believe it was coming. 1t
Frantz was digging in one of the sill
yer mines several miles out from Pres
colt, A. T, when the call for troops was
made. He did not wait minute TO
discuss with himself the question of
going to the front but threw down his
pick and hustled off to town. He en-
listed as a private with ex-Sher1H ana
Mayor William O'Neill, of Prescott, but
before the troops started from the state
he was commissioned a second lieuten-
ant by the governor. O'NefI was MADE
a captain and was killed in the same
charge in which Frantz won his cap
tainS commission.
"A drawer man never lived than Cap
tain O'Neill,' said Captain Frantz in
speaking of his friends death. He
broke up single handed one of the
worst gangs of train robbers Arizona
has ever been cursed with while he was
sheriff and his bravery has been
household word in Arizon for years. He
was absolutely fearless, but had a pre-
sentiment that he would never live
through the campaign in Cuba SO hr1n
was his belief that he would be Killed
he insured his life for $4,000 before leav-
ing the United States"
Frantz went through the campaign
unscathed by bullet He suffered on
four different occasions with the pre-
vailing Cuban fever, being down in bed
twice. But aside from losing 20 pounds
in flesh he came out without a scar He
is proud he went to war, was able to
distinguish himself and is now ready
to return to his life at the mines he
had been rendered a position on General
Woods staff at Santiago, but does not
think he will accept. He is tired of the
exposure of soldier life and says the
existence of a regular army ofhcer IS
varied one. He would have to sign the
regular army roll should he become
member of General Woods staff His
troop is IA troop, and will be muster
ed out this week at Camp Wikon AT
ter being mustered out Captain Frantz
will come to New York for several days
and then return to Prescott. He thinks
a great many fortunes await the intre-
Did American adventures and specula-
tors in Cuba and speaks highly of the
town of Sntiago as. a place for business
advantages. In his mind it will double
in size in a few years, become more
perfect as to sanitary possibilities and
be thoroughly Americanized- In this
event the town will be a much more
pleasant place to live in and will coax
numbers of Americans within its Dor
ders.
During the San Juan battle and the sub
seuuent occupation of Santiago by the
American troops. Captain Frantz saw and
heard many amusing things which con-
traSted with the serious side appeared all
the more ludicrous After the Spauiards
had fed from their trenches about one Of