The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-07-28
JUSTICE TO WESTERN HEROES.
Rough Rider Huser Thinks They
ShCuld Have it.

ohGulu HuNt Abs
The New York journal prints the
following letter from Tampa, Fla, un.
der date of July 12:
Knowing, as 1 do, that the Journal
is always ready to take stand for
truth and justice when it knows the
truth, wish the privilege of refuting
a few misstatements which have ap-
peared in the New York papers lately
in reference to the Rough Riders.
l am member of that organization
from Arizona, and 1, with all the rest
of the men, have felt outraged at the
course taken by these papers, espec-
tally the World, which in its last Sun
days issue went on at length abeut
their "New York heroes" totally ig-
noring the rest of the regiment.
This is essentially Western regi-
ment, about $50 coming from the Wes-
tern states and Territories and about
hundred and fifty from the East. Of
this 150, about 50 are from New York,
and l wish to say right here that New
York need not be ashamed of them, as
they are all brave me, but when all the
heroic acts of the whole regiment are
credited to them, then we kick. The
World goes on to say that B0rrowe was
the only one out Of the two thousand
who would volunteer to go with the
dynamite gun. This is not true. The
fact is that there was not q man in the
Rough Riders who did not volunteer 10
go-and there was a great scramble for
the honor of going with it. Not only
that, but about eighteen did go, and
there was not a man who did not envy
them the honor.
The World fails to recite the fact that
Capt. O'Neal was the man who jumped
overheard in the breakers off San Die
go de Cuba to rescue two drowning
soldiers. Nor does it mention the he
roic charge made by the Rough Riders
led by Capt. O'Neil and Capt. McClin-
took, with the Arizona boys, and that
they were the first in the blOckhouse;
that the flag which was hoisted over the
first captured work in Cuba was the
flag Of the Arizona column, presented
to them by the ladies' of Phoenix.
The bravest act on the field was done
by boy from New Mexico. He was
scouting about 200 yards in advance Of
the column when he saw the Spaniards.
Instead Of retreating to his troop, he
opened fire and killed the first Span
lard, and then, with hundreds of shots
being fred at him, he deliberately took
the empty she'll from his gun andiput
it into his pocket to keep as memen-
to.
Then he commenced to fire. He was
wounded four times within minute
with machine gun, but kept on fight
ing. When his troop advanced to
where he was his Captain had to take
away his gun by force and send him to
the rear. He walked three and one
half miles back to camp without a
murmur. He is now about ready to go
in the field again This is only one in
cident of what men from New Mexico
and Arizona did ia that battle. I
could go on enumcrating such acts for
hours, but my only idea is to show that
the Rough Riders are not New York
regiment, and while the individual
men from New York are good and
brave men, there are others.
Since last Sundays article in the
World I do not think the news agent
of that sheet need bother about com
ing to our camp, as he will sell no more
papers. We all like fair deal. Apol-
ogizing for taking so much Of your
valuable space, remain
Yours respectfully,
w. 0. HUsER,
Ro0sevelt's Rough Riders.