Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-06

tHe Tray VI 1910.
One of the first acts of Secretary Alger
on arriving at Camp Wikoff, after a
courteous call at the headquarters Of
General Wheeler, was to visit the quar-
ters of the Thirteenth infantry. The
command was paraded, or at least so
much of it as could stand up, and after
the ceremony General Alger said, "Colo-
mel Smith, summon that young lieuten-
ant of yours who rushed San Juan hill
so gallantly with handful of men and
got the flag on the blockhouse "Lieu-
tenant Anderson, you mean. Mr.. Secre-
tary, and he is fat on his cot with the
fever.
"Take me there then, at once.
came TO this camp almost purposely to
thank him.
The secretary, who has been there
himself, Colonel Smith and your ubiqui-
tous correspondent went down the row
of officers tents and in one of them the
gray haired leader of hundred fights
sat down upon an upturned cracker
box, subdued and saddened, before the
pale and immobile face and outstretch-
ed form of the little hero of San Juan
hill. He took the wan and womanish
hand in his, held it for moment, and
when the boy realized that he had a Wis
itor, said: "Don't talk, my boy you re
too weak. I have. heard all about it and
there is furlough for you in your colo
nel's tent. Go to your home on the
lakeside and when you get well come
and see me in Washington. I'll present
you to the president +"
The flag hero rallied after Alger's
visit, and the colonel permitted me to
interview him before he left camp. He
told the story of the fight and said: "My
men were brave. The losses Of the day
spurred them on. The colonel had
warned me that the boy was modest and
would need urging to tell his story. I
asked him how he came to be first on
the hill. "Well," said he, "when we
were near the crest called to the men
near me to Advance rspidlyl After
going a few PAGES / had 12 or IA with
me, and we rushed the fort ahead Of the
rest. That was all F"
saw before me soldier just out Of
his teens, wearing the straps Of Sec
ond lieutenant ''Tell me your his
tory" said /.
Gas for that enlisted in 1894 and
served as private, corporal and sergeant
in the Fourth cavalry. In 1897, after
passing two examinations, I was COM
missioned and assigned to tie Thir-
teenth infantry"
Sand your nameH"
"Thomas M. Anderson.
"Why, there's veteran general Dy
that name"
"Yes; he's my father, and is now at
Manila. In saying this last the boy
frightened as he had not done during
any of these interviews, and could see
that he placed more stress upon the fact
that he had proved himself worthy
son of a heroic father than upon any
daring feature of his own exploit.
In the camp of the Thirteenth
traced another heroic son. Up to few
wears ago there was a veteran officer in
that regiment named Pardee. He met
with misfortune and left the service.
When the war broke out, his 17-year-
old boy Austin, whom many of the Off
GERS remembered as child in the post
quarters on the plains, begged to be al.
lowed to go. His mother protested, and
to every argument the lad said, "But,
mother, it's my duty, since father can't
60" At last he enlisted in the Seventy
first, and with it brought up in the
trail in front Of San Juan hill. He was
not in Rafferty's company or this story
would belong to that gallant band.
Young Pardees instinct told him that
his battalion, stationary when the
Thirteenth marched past, would remain
so all day. He saluted the captain Of
his fathers old company and said:
"Let me march with YOU. sir. please. I