Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-12-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
~ ECRUITING business did not

|
is his game"
"The fighting Ninth, the bloody
Tenth, wouldn't that jar you |? Why
say, Jack, the 'scrappy Twelfth is
the only outfit around here. You
never heard of them others, did you;
Of course not"
And then cavalryman would open
up on the merits of the bronco Dustin
Sixth, and others would join in until
the poor applicant often wished the
war was over or had never started, OF
that he had had sense enough not to
think of enlisting.
1t was during these troublous times
that squad of recruit-catchers one
day noticed a rather peculiar looking
individual vending his way towards
camp.
Clocks like oue," said Mango Pete
after critical survey of the approach.
ing form.
'Trouble in the family, though, "
commented another.
elbows that?"
"Pants at half mast. You never
was anything but land.lubber.
No one deigned to smile, even.
"Ah-ha," said Pete, jumping to his
feet, 81 know who he is now. was
lookin' fur him."
"Who is he?" chorused the others
incredulously.
"He, why he's the Maine Gu ~"
And the Maine Guy he was from
that day, although it was never known
absolutely what part of the country he
was from.
AS soon as he approached within
speaking distance it was seen that he
was no youngster out for holiday.
He appeared to be about thirty years
old. His clothes were ill.ftting and
his face unshaven. but the glance OF
his eye showed that he knew his bust.
ness and wanted no interference
Consequently, he was not hard
pressed to join more than half dozen
regiments, and he went off WITH
Mango Pete, who had been the first
spokesman.
To the officer who enlisted him he
gave the name of 81 Bender, and his
home at Jacksonville, Fla. How
ever, it was easy to perceive from the
manner of his speech that he was no
Southerner. He answered all ques.
tons promptly, said he never had
been in the army, had no family, etc.,
and was then sent to the awkward
squad for drill.
The first day in the awkward squad
he had the drill sergeant swearing
mad most of the time. But the next
day he had improved to such an ex-
tent that he never made even one mis-.
take, and no order given seemed to
feaze him for an instant. When
asked the cause OF his remarkable i'm.
provement he said he did not want to
stay in the awkward squad forever
and had dreamed out all the tactics
Of the regular army during the night.
The Maine Guy was a good-natured
fellow, and never objected to his nick.
name. In fact, he rather seemed to
like it, and, to certain extent, tried
to talk with down.east nasal twang
in his voice. In this he was only
partially successful.
When the regiment had dieem-
barked at Siboney it was noticed that
Bender was soon on tel ms Of in
timacy with several Cubans. He
would jabber at them in an unknown
tongue and they would jabber back,
and, while others could not under
stand what was being said, they re.
allied that the Maine Guy knew
Spanish. When asked about it he
said he had been in Mexico q couple |
OF years and picked up a smattering
OF tho language there.
As soon as his huency with Spanish |
became known Bender was the most |
sought man in the regiment. He was
wanted to bargain with the natives on
behalf of one or another, and some
times even the officers, who were sup
posed to know everything and little
more. would condescend to ask Ben
der to interpret for them.
Sometimes, after conversing with |
the Cubans, Bender would sit down |
in front of his peep tent and tell won
vi oIoA lCo thdU uO udU ucuIus VI |
the terrible vengeance of the natives.
How each one in the so-called Cuban |
army kept necklace on which was
strung a tooth from every Spaniard
killed by the wearer. The owner of
the largest string held the awe and
admiration of his comrades and even
ranked with the officers in their eyes.
Then there was the story of the
red machete, a wonderful weapon car
ried by Spanish officer. Its owner
was immune to bullets and could be
taken only by capture. But though
many times the officer and machete had
been seen and many plots had been
laid to trap him he had eluded them
all. Whenever he was seen at the
head of a column of Spaniards the
Cubans fled precipitately, for he was
q terrible fighter and was never known
to have been beaten.
But it was not long that the troops
remained in camp at Siboney. Soon
the march on Santiago was begun and
within a week the American army was
at La Seville, a suburb of the famous
old town. Skirmishes had been fire.
quent on the march and now the men
were anxious to see fighting, real hot,
brutal and bloody war. Some of them
knew what it meant, most of them
did not, but all were anxious for it.
Mango Pete and the Maine Guy
had pitched tent at Seville as soon as
the march was done and fifteen min.
utes later were off with bag and can
teens to find good water and some ripe
mangoes.
well, Pete, this looks some as
though we would have . walk.over