Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-20

One OF the many tragic Incidents Of the
terrific fighting around Ell Caney was the
death Of General Vera del Rey, who. at the
head Of barely 1900 men, had defended.
hrBt, the outposts. then the village, and
fnally, the series Of blockhouses between Ell
Caney and Santiago with great bravery and
wonderful pcrtinacity.
When 1t last the enemy surrendered It
was found that Of 1900 who had resisted the
nrs assault only 200 survived and were At
for action. One Of the dead was General
Vera DEF Rey. His body was discovered a
few hundred yards distant from the plaza
where most Of the casualties had occurred,
u having been hastily removed thither by a
few Of the dead hero's faithful soldiers.
During most Of the fighting around FL
CAney General del Rey had ridden a small
white horse which had made him a good
target fer the Americans. From the back
Of this horse he was finally picked Of by a
ekarpshooter.
A shor- time after the close OF hostilities
IN Santiago province a surgeon Of the
9sveuty-drst New York, DR.. H. Eugene
Stafford, was fortunate enough to receive
this same little whine horse In trade with a
Spanish soldier. The animal was at once
Nd into camp, where LIE was given the name
OF Baby" and soon became the friend
and pet OF ell the poor fellows who were
lying about sick and suffering. But in the
sU,keon tho horse seemed to recognize his
master and 70 him his devotion grew by de-
greet until 1t became almost human. Day
and night the horse kept his eyes on the
sui geon and wherever the latter hung his
hammock, In the hope Of getting a little rest
and sleep. there Baby would be also. He
followed the surgeon around as Q child
vould his father.
When this friendship was first formed the
surgeon had given up his tent to some Of
%hs boys who had been stricken with fever
or tAled with Spanish bullets. and ne took
his rest On the grass with his white sentl-
ael always near him When, finally, he
was given another tent Baby was very
much concerned and nearly demolished the
cent N trying to force an entrance.
Tho horse seemed to try to show in all
his actiens 10Y sorry he was to have begun
his army career on the wrong side of the
airing line, yet, though he bore many ugly
wounds from American bullets. he bore our
boys no malice. AS the wounded and sick
troopers grew worse and the surgeon him
seIf became too weak to mount BABY
the surgeon and the little white horse
made the rounds OF the camps together,
Baby" walking very carefully with the
surgeons arm over his neck. the surgeon
carrying what cheer he could to the boys
in the hospitals and almost beside himself
at the thought that his medicine chest was
nearly empty. Owing to the intense heat
the only covering tho surgeon could bear
wss q very thin gauze undershirt Of a yell
iowish color, but even so the sight Of the
yellow shirt and BABY" coming up the
hill put new life into the suffering soldier
boys.
a few lessons in going to the river for
water were enough for Baby" to know
Mat was wanted, and when the weakened
Ker were unable to make the trip on &C.
count Of the heat they would tie improvised
water carriers to "Baby's' back and off he
would go to the river. get a drink for him
self and ask. in his own way, Of course,
some one to I'LL his bags for him; that done
the horse would go galloping back to camp,
carrying life to some Of those burning fever
patients.
There was also . humorous side to
"Baby's'' nature. 1t is we'll known that to
a pack OF mules a white horse is a great
attraction. When the boys Of the Seventy
hst were In great need Of extra mules
Baby would disappear for a time and
presently come back to camp followed by
one, two or three mules. which were put
into immediate use and kept at work until
their rightful owner came forward and
claimed property. These firtations between
Baby" and the mules were carried on