The San Francisco call., 1898-05-29

the hammocks, suspended above the
 ground, keep them from malarial in-
 fuences of the wet soil. Another lariat
 stretched between two trees near by
 and about two feet from the ground
 supports all the carbines and rifles of
 the command. Another poncho, spread
 very close to the ground and kept wet. covers the cases of provisions and keeps
 them fresh and sweet for an indefinite
 time.
 The same tree upon which the owner
 fixes his belongings also serves as a
 tether-pin for his horse, which, at
 tached to the end of a long lariat.
 browses off the leaves of the ground palmetto or the sweet bunch grass that prevails here.
 Over at one corner of the grove, and invariably on that side farthest from the direction of the coast, is the camp kitchen. Its smoke always blows away from the camp-a little trick the Cuban campaigners areseXpert at perfecting- and there, gathered about the fire, when l visited the camp, were half dozen bronzed, brawny men preparing food for the evening meal.
 Mr. Chanler and his officers were en- tertaining some ladies who had come to see the camp, and for their delecta- tion and my own amusement agreed to assemble his troop and show us some rough riding. No bugle is used in this command. A sharp command ut tered in not much more than a natural tone was instantly taken up by a trooper seated against a tree half a dozen yards away. He passed 1t along and in less than a minute men had sprung from hammocks, horses were united, saddles thrown on and cinched and the 1.-the, active men were mounted and formed.
 At the command of "Forward' the horses leaped out a a gallop and fairly charged to a point within half a score of yards from MT Chanler's position, when the line halted as suddenly as if it had encountered a stone wall. With a grace that can come only from long practice the commander vaulted into the saddle and with quiet command, which was instantly obeyed, the column swung off at a gallop, forming twos as they went.
 as sudden as it was unexpected, the line charged fairly at the ladies, who were seated among the trees at head quarters. The broad, heavy blades of the machetes flashed from their sheaths and circled the air with a thrill ing swish that was really dramatic The ladies screamed, and were about to take to flight when the plunging steeds refined up with jerk at their very feet. the rough riders saluted with their machetes, and gracefully lowing turned like flash and were off like the wind.
 Through the trees they went. forming into two squadrons as they rode. One bore off toward the south and the other toward the north. They were too far away to hear the command, but turned suddenly and dashed at each other, riding like centaurs. The machetes leaped out as the lines closed in, and f1,o,, clash of steel that was positively fierce.
 It was real, too, for the men wore no masks or other protection, and one of them had the end of his nose split as neatly as a surgeon could have done 1t.
 The wounded member was plastered up by skilled hands, and the incident was dropped with MT. Flint's remark: He should have remembered his in- structicns about guarding and he wouldn't have been touched. He won't be again."
 Wheeling circling, yelling and riding with positive abandon that can be seen nowhere else, the men showed how practically impossible it would be for a foot soldier to defend himself from machete charge. No one who has never seen it can form any idea of it's impetuous dash and irresistible fierceneSS.
 The fatal machete blow is delivered at an angle of about 45 de- grees and usually lands on the side and back of the victims neck. He may be superb fencer with rapier or saber, but he knows no guard that will avail against this blow.
 'It is a remarkable fact" said MT. Flint, who has seen many a Spaniard after the machete has done its work that almost every one struck at all is struck on the side and back of the neck. The blow almost sewers the head from the body"
 I had little regard for the machete as a soldiers weapon until I saw it used by these men. Army officers who have seen it have, to a considerable armed themselves privately with the murderous cornknife of the Cubans Strange to say, the machete is not made in Cuba or Spain, but in Hartford, Conn. Aside from these weapons, this force is armed with six shooters and either 45 caliber carbines, 3o-40 rifles or the Mauser rifle. They are all crack shots and ex- perts with the pistol.