The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-23

ia nave Tue ucNll III lHcih dS liNE -
the hard road They had pace OF hve
miles an hour. They even pressed upon
the horse of Major Smith ana stan
they made all kinds of humorous sug-
gcstions for him to clear the way; theE
sang and cheered and their tread had
sure enough sand in it, Hot. on
could have cooked an egg. Nhen rest
mo fine came. the men did not want TO
stop; they wanted to push on to Punta
Rrava. and it was going to be nlghtfaii
before we got there. But Adjutant Fat
ION had been active. He had gone on
ahead: he had ridden fast to Punta
Bravo: had selected the camp site, had
gotten wood and water, and he was
there when we marched into the old
field under the palms.
II probably never raincd harder IN
Cuba than that night. The "dog-tents
were so low that the men had to crawl
into them. two men i'll each tent. y
blanket was put on the ground and one
blanket was used fer covering. Inc
fonts lay along the side of the hill and
the water flowed down with a vengeance.
Nearly all the men were walked by the
drenching. In the deep hour, when the
rain came hardest. instead OF beng
dismayed. the men sent mp wild uproar-
ous shouts and whoops when each would
get Il peculiarly good ducking. 1t was
GOOD humored whoop. and the effect
was most amusing. while the rain came
down in sheets. 1t was the same good
humor. no matter what happened. Near
Iv every man slept wet that night. but
nobody seemed to be the worse for 1t.
A rather curious little incident happen
cd the afternoon before: Capt. Beavers,
DIR. Hunter and myself rode horseback
to Punta Bravo from the camp. Each
of us had some headache from the severe
heat, and stopped at Gaze where we
took coffee and brcad-only,- about
three cups each Not long after our re-
turn. Dr. Hunter became suddenly de-
lirous. Can't Beavers was thrown INTO
state from which he did not recover
for ~ hours and was similarly, though
not so severely affected. The theory at
once was advanced that we had been
dosed by Spaniard, but as we all re-
covered. the case rested. The men ate
the bacon and bread with great RELISH
everybody seemed to be hungry all the
time. Corporal Harrison. of Raleigh,
did the cooking for the officers mess.
lie was general utility man, took photo
graphs. and stood guard over the ginger
snaps. brought water and grew in pop
ularity specially as his fine dinners be-
came nearer and nearer done" There
wns another famous cook VINO was left
behind. He was Mr. Beaurcgard
('Bory1 Arcndell of the Quartermas-
81
Major E.>p. Smith and invited me once.
| pause here to register M thanks for
the meal. specially as 'Bory' and | be-
long to the renowned and exclusive So
cety Yclept the American Order of Sons
of Guns. of which "Bory' is chief Tilt
Hammer and of which ! am Recording
Scribe. Another distinguished member
is j. Wiley Shook who was not along
We were not far from the home camp
We had one mere day to march. Several
of the men fell by the wayside on the
last day: their arms were frightful IN
appearance. and they were taken into
tie wagons. Poor DIR. Hunter had all
he could do. and though nc had not re-
covered from his attack of the night be-
fore. he did not once finch, The noise
of our march had gone abroad. We were
expected. The people crowded along the
suburban villages to meet MS. The regl-
mental band met US ut Marianao about
two miles from camp. The music
fetched up everybody and the other
regiments prickcd up their ears mt our
coming. At dress-parade that afternoon
the men did not expect to appear; they
were in such pain: but Major Smith
wanted to show what they could do.
They obeyed the order and went through
the parade. though some of the other
COMPANIES who had not been marching
were absent. Just here | wish to OK
press my thanks to every officer Ill the
regiment from the beloved commander.
Col. Armfield down to the corporals as
well as to Rev DR.. pruden, whose ser
vices | enjoyed Sunday. 1t was piece
of rare good luck to have been their
guest.
That afternoon. WREN the sun was
low. the companies were drawn up in
their respective streets. 1he Gulf was
rose-color The sky was flooded and
fathomless with naMeless lights. The
Star-spangled Banner-athe notes seemed
to have even holy fragrance. Two men
stood across the field, their hats to their
hearts, their heads bowed. Cne hdu MS
sleeve slit and his arm bare. ! could not
but think of the Angelus.
The next morning ut Guard-mount.
three old-fashioned hymns of the band
seemed to give queer and halloWed
calm to the crystalline Sabbath morning.
Cabanas With its terrible story was not
far away: Spanish fort on the
crest of a hill had too its tale OF treach
cry and torture. Fragments of Il sen
suous civilization were still fresh to
the view: the banqueters were indeed
gone; the old hymns that we all knew
seemed to come as il Meme Meme to
the feast of BelshaZzer. These hymns
typitied to me the simple calm of the
Anglo-SaXon after the sinister tumuit
of the Spaniard. The sweet old notes
spread triumphantly over the hill, and
all listened with Il strange silence, and
the hearts of the men of this Tarheel
regiment rejoiced with a sad joy. and
felt too Il certain sweeping OF the home,
chords of the heart which, who knows,
may at that moment have had its echo
about frcsidcs that glowed less brightly
because of smile that was only unseen
and of IL voice that was only unheard.
MIR STEVENS CLOSE CALL