People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-09-08
Frank Frantz Promoted for Bravery

St0tler.
New York, Sept. 4.-Bronzed and
bearded, a former Wellington, Kan,
boy, who won great fame as member
of Colonel Roosevelt's Rough Riders,
came to town last week TO see the
sights. He was plain Frank Frantz
when he enlisted his services at the
beginning of the war, at Prescott, A.
T., where he has lived since leaving
Wellington, not many months ago.
When he came to New York last week
be wore the epaulette Of a captain
which he had won for bravery on the
field before Santiago when the 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 bur-
nishing carbine he had taken from
a wounded companion, as the charge
sped on, flinging away his sword,
Turning, as he saw corporal give the
salute to some superior officer, Lieu.
tenant Frantz stood face to face with
Colonel Wood.
"Should l be compelled to make
such charge again." said the colonel,
addressing Lieutenant Frantz, 81
would not ask for better man at my
side than you, Lieutenant Franlz."
The young officer blushingly &C.
krowledged the compliment and
stammered something that sounded
like 81 was only doing my duty, sir"
That night Colonel Wood made
known to Colonel Roosevelt the fact
of the personal bravery of Lieutenant
Frantz, and on the morning of the
following Sunday the papers published
the promotion Of Lieutenant Frantz
to a captaincy. The promotion came
direct from President Mckinley in a
dispatch along with the order pro.
noting several other young officers.
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 9
thunderbolt to me. had no idea hi
had had any opportunity to watch fol-
the action Of any one particular Officer
during the charge, and when he spoke
to me l was completely taken off my
feet for a second. recovered, how,
ever, and the blood, rushing through
my veins at such communication from
J mysuperiOr officer, made me feel good
indeed. Itgave me an incentive which
would have carried me through
much worse charge than we had jus
finished through the Spanish strong
, holds.
81 was not surprised when l receiv
, ed word of my promotion, because
had been made to belieye 1t was Gem
ling, 1t was decidedly welcome, ney
erthsiess."
. Frahls was digging 10 one Of tn
, silver hines several miles out froI
o Prescott, A. T., when the call fC
troops was made. He did not walt
minute to discuss with himself ii
question Of gsing to the front, bl
y threw down his pick and hustled Q
to town. He enlisted as a priva
le with ex.Sheriff and Mayor Villa
e. O'Neill of Prescott, but before u
m troops started from the state he W
commissioned a second lieutenant
the governor. O'Nsill was made
captain and was killed in the sar
charge ip which Frantz wen his ca
tain's commission.
Frantz went through the campai
unscathed by bullet. lie suffered
four different occasions with the p
valling Cuban fever, being down
bed twice. But aside from LOST
twenty pounds In flesh he came
without scar. He is proud he w
to war, was able to distinguish hi
self and is DOW ready to return to
life at the mines. he has been
dered a position on General Woo
staff at Santiago, but does not tn
he will accept. He is tired of
exposure Of soldier life and says
existence Of regular army Office
varied one. He would have to 6
the regular army roll should he
come a member Of General Wo'
staff. His troop is "a" troop,
will be mustered out this week
Camp Wikoff. After being music
+ tout Captain Frantz will come to !