The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-26

Written for The st. Paul Globe.
Extracts from the diary of Sergeant ).
ri Smethurst, Company c, Thirteenth
Minnesota Volunteer infantry:
Feb 4-"Verily all hell hath broken
forth AS l write this | can recall but
once in my life aug. 10, 1889 when L
was more exhausted. | deem it adviSa-
Bile, however, to make this entry, even
though il is the most arduouS literary
TASK | ever attempted. 1t must be con-
fessed that there are easier things to do
than TO concentrate ones thoughts and
tranScribe them with more or less or
an appearance of calmneSS while in the
immediate vicinity of one part of line
IF battle extending ten miles, so near
that the stray bullets from MauSer and
Remington are playing a Veritable tat
too on the buildings around us. The
infantry fire is so fierce that it is one
continuous roar. punctuated by the dull
boom of heavy artillery and the tiutter-
ing shrek OF shells.
1t came to us little fish. If not to the
high officers in command. About $40.
as we sat reading. writing and playing
cards. the call to arms sounded. and
there was Immediately the hurried
throwing on of clothing and equipment
that can only be produced by such
call, and must be seen to be realized and
appreciated. In less than five minutes
the company was formed. ready to
we learn much of the cause A telephone
message conveyed to Us the meager in
formation that there was firing out be-
ytIu the NeDraSk: lIieS on our extreme
right After standing in ranks for fif-
teen or twenty minues we We're dismiss
ed and we chalked up another false
alarm. Many at once sought their cots,
while others sat around discussing the
affairs. Before the alarm | had been
deeply interested in a piece of light fic-
ton. and | Went back to my book, in
tending to complete ii before retiring.
ALARM IN EARNEST.
But what is that unusual sound which
les oh he
preoccupatfon? bunch of fire crack
ers., the firing of which had been lately
prohibited? No: 1t sounds somewhat
different; 1t must be distant musketry.
That's just what 1t is!
And with a not unpleasant mixture Of
exuItatlon and alarm. once more is en-
acted the er-to-beforgotten scene of
seeming confusion Of prepare ton the
rush to place in line. the roll call by the
lanterns light.
BY this time the muffled reports were
momentarily growing louder as the at
tack was carried down the line from tho
extreme right clear to the beach in our
front IT was not long before up the
street and past our quarters came at
double time two battalions of Kansas
ana one OF Montana troops Standing
sWSh the form of man in the entire
ranks owing to the darkness and dust
put we knew they were there by the rat
ting OF the equipment and the trembling
OF the earth as with rapid but ever ca
dence they rushed to the thin line of
comrades battling so bravely half
mile beyond. They We're greeted and
sped on their way with cheers and en-
Couraglng sentiments of various descrip-
tons, the favOrite and most prominent
being Give them HI, boys!
Up to The present time all we have
cone has been to throw out pickets and
guards to prevent an outbreak by the ma
tives around US who are supposed to be
waiting for this very emergency
Since commencing this aDrrV tba fir
Ing has ceased entirely 1t is now after
2 a. m. heavy guard has been estab-
lshed and the rest of us will try to
snatch forty winks with our clothes on.
BAYS AT THE MOON.
Feb. Sid I get my forty winks?"
/ did not get four. That measly cur
which I have mentioned heretofore in this
vivid story of my life in the Philippines,
started his solo to the moon and in me
he had very, very earnest auditor, II