The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-27
SOME ROUGH RIDER STORIES.
Brave Little BrnEgart who
Wouldn't BE Frightened.

AT San Antonio Maj. Hersey says a
great many undesrabes presented them
selves as would-be Rough Riders" We
used to scare those fellows said he.
laughing THE first question that would
be asked was: Can you ride? If they
said they could, and were willing to try
we would mount them on buckjumping
horses as a nerve test l remember that
one or two didn't have the grit to try
when they saw those horses.
"One day a little fellow named Rose
came striding into camp and with brag-
gadoco air, said he wanted to enlist.
" Can you ride?' | asked
Yes; ride anything got hair on it
Sergeant, bring that mean horse from
Troop B..
THAT mean horse didn't phase the
little braggart, however. He watched the
sergeant ride down through the avenue of
tents, the horse buckjumping al the way.
When he dismounted Rose grabbed the
brid1e, then, turning to me, he said
Thought you'd skeer somebody, did yer|
and leaped into the saddle. Well the horse
bucked at a lively rate, and the more he
bucked the more the little braggart tried
to make him buck. He hung on without
any trouble and tired the animal out.
That boy made a good soldier. He was
fond of tieing a red handkerchief about
his neck and wearing his siX-shooter con-
spicuously, but he had plenty of courage,
He was not over five feet four inches tall
and he thought he was two men,
Il remember after the regiment had
landed at Montauk Col. Roosevelt went
back to the wharf for something, and was
accused by the surgeon in charge of Vio-
latng the quarantine regulations, winch
were very strict at that time. They had
some words and there was quite little
scene Several newspaper men were wit
uesses to the affair, and as he turned away
the colonel said to them: Gentlemen,
hope you viii say nothing about this.
They all promised. Our little braggart'
who was standing near, waited until the
colonel got out of hearing. Then he pulled
mis- gun and leveling it at the group OF
| CORES ondents said: The first d-n che
of you that writes a word about II / II
shoot him so full of holes he'll never be
any more account
.sAfter we were mustered out and were
en- route to New York Rose could not re-
sst the temptation to poke his revolver
through The window and fire. one OF the
| officers demonstrated with him.
What you got to do with it, he asked
| I'm mustered out, amt II
d" Yes responded the officer, but you're
| still a gentleman
| - NOW, LIldl > ulllClCAit AO@ - NS'----9
| sense
| RooseveIt's Introduction to HeG1-
ment.
Probably there is no more picturesque
| character before the American people TO"
| dav than Teddy" Roosevelt. In the last
| eigth months he has served his country
| nrst as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
| resigning to take a lieutenant colonelcy in
| the 'Rough Riders" and now is Governor
| Of New York.
| Much has been written of Roosevelt. His
| nictures have been published in all the
| leading magazines and newspapers of the
| country many times over, and in countless
poses. His fondness for having himself
| photographed was unaccountable to the
| other field officers of the regiment, when
| The characteristics of the man were taken
| INTO consideration Yet it is said of him
| that he posed as many as six times a day
| for amateur and professional photogra-
phers, and that he evidently enjoyed do
! ing so.
Describing Roosevelt Introduction to
| the regiment Maj. Hersey said: The
most important thing that remained to be
done when he joined US was 10 thoroughly
drill and discipline the men-a difficult task
| in a regiment composed of so many varied
types of humanity.
Riding side by side would be the son of
a millionaire and a cowboy; the one col
| lege bred and humored, the other fine
! shot brave 10 the point of recklessness,
| both unaccustomed to discipline. To unite
| the various types into a homogeneous reg
| iment was absolutely necessary to realize
| the best results Therefore, it had been
drill! drill drill Discipline was strict
! and things were moving along very nicely
| when Roosevelt arrived.
THAT afternoon he rode at the head of
| the regiment beside Col. Wood, as We
marched to the parade ground. l shall
| never forget the day. 1T was hot, and the
! dust was inches deep-regular red Texas
! dust. as fine as flour Coming back the
troops We're halted in front of beer gar
! den. a cool, inviting place. Beer called
| Roosevelt Then he got down and bar
| gained with the German proprietor and
| set en- up all around. This was his intro
| duction to the regiment, and the men i'm
! nediately concluded that the lieutenant
colonel from Washington was all right.
He soon knew a great many of the boys
| bv name, and his personal magnetism won
| an hearts Brave, impulsive, enthusiast
| tic and warm hearted-from the very first
| dav he Joined us he was the idol of the
regiment The men would have followed
him anywhere, even into hell itself
A Typical Soldier.
In contrast to Roosevelt was Col. Leon
| ard Wood, in command of the regiment.
| Through Roosevelts influence he had OBJ
| tanned his appointment. When the war
| broke out Col Wood was a captain sur
| econ. He is now a major general of the
| volunteer army, and as military governor
Of Santiago has exhibited rare tact and
| Judgment. Speaking of him Mai Hersey
! said col Wood is conservative and a
man of sound judgment He would always
Law his pans carefully. just as though
he were playing chess, and he was rarely
mistaken in his conclusions. The men
revered him, because he was every inch
soldier. They would have followed Roose-
valt bv reason of his patriotic spirit the
/ dash and the magnetic brlliancy of the
man: they would have followed Wood
! with The implicit trust that betokens con-
| 6dence in leader. His work at Santiago
! since his appointment military govern
! or has been simply wonderful I have
! seen Cubans come 10 his headquarters
| with grievances, and in excitable manner
| tell their troubles. gesticulating the while