The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-29
FIRST BAPTISM OF FIRE
Private Babcock Tells a Butte
Audience About It.
A TRIBUTE TO THE BOYS
Montana Troops Did Much Severe Fight
ing for Which the Press Did
Not Give Them the
Proper Credit.

Delos D. Bahcock. company G, LIST
Montana, who recently returned from
Manila, addressed a good sized aud
lence at the Auditorium His talk was
intended to be reminiscent Of the ex-
periences of soldier life, as he had ex-
perienced it. On the platform with the
speaker were Charles Byers, company
G; Karl Peterson, company G.; Leu
tenant Kennedy, company X; Lieutep-
ant Richards, company E; Gus Nicke,.
company f; Adjutant B. E. Calkins
and Robert Parson of the hospita
corps. Mr.. Babcock received a wounl
in the right ankle, at the battle or
Caloocan Rev. E. o. Tilburn, pastor
of the Church of Christ, made a few
Introductory remarks, paying a glow
ing tribute to the brave boys who went
to the front.
Mr.. Babcock was received with ap.
plause as he hobbled on his crutches
to the speakers stand. He said that
he was not an orator, and would not
attempt to do more than relate ii e
plain facts in connection with his en-
periences in the far away Phil PIP mes
. de did however, impress his hearers
with his more than ordinary oratoIici
abilities. He spoke with a clear voice
and with a firmness denoting a deter
mination of purpose.
He began by reviewing the cause
which led up to the current war. and
referred touchingly to the scenes a
home which preceded the depaI ture o.
the sons, the brothers and the others
near and dear. He brfiy referred to
the scenes at Camp Smith, the point OF
concentration in this state Leavir z
q StD
where the citizens rendered the boys
reception, and gave them a supp
which, Mr.. Babcock said, none of the
soldiers would ever forget 1t was n
good supper. Then told about their
stay in San Francisco. On the goth OF
July the regiment set sail for Manila
The whistles from the craft blew ana
there We're good-byes. 1t was a touch
ing scene.
After the vessel had gotten out irt7
the rolling deep the boys began to won
der and think that after all it was not
very pleasant position to be in. He
here told about the awkwardness OF
some of the officers, and of their hum.
orous greenness. He also explainel
how easy it is to get seasick. He tuld
of the beauties of Honolulu. After
leaving Honolulu, and on the % days
voyage to Manila, the boys spent II q
time in various ways, principally in
Specializing on the probable state q
affairs on the islands. Arriving at
Cavite it looked as if they would have
to return without having had a smell
of powder for conditions then war
ranted such an assumption. But be.
fore long the war clouds began to
hover over the islands, and sure enough
there was fighting to be done. The ma.
tVes began to enCroach upon the lines
of the volunteers. This fact show
ed the treacherv of the FiliDinOs r.
every instance when native attacke !
an outpost, that native and his COM
panions went down. He related many
incidents which occurred before h
first battle took place, of the insJlt
heaped upon the soldiers by the F. l.
pinos. Some of the incidents were lu-
dicrous as they We're exciting; fer in
tsance, when a shot was heard one day
the whole town sprang to arms, and
looked for the advancing enemy. II
turned out that a policeman had shol
dog. This incident went to show to
what tension the peoples nerves had
been drawn.
Finally the natives did break out in
new spot and the war was on. The
goth Kansas was in the front, and the
Montana boys near by.
1T was a trying moment" said he
'If any man thinks it is not let h m
go down to the recruiting office o.
Main street and enlist; go out to war
and see for himself just how volunteer
feels at his first baptism of fire. But !
say that while my teeth Chartered nj
first and ! guess others did, too, we
were all cool and collected five min
utes after the command to charge was
given. We felt as if we had been n
the service all our lives"
Referring to- certain battles which the