Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-13
NOT AFRAID Of DEATH.
Stephen Crane as a Correspondent, Who
Was Tn Cnba During the Late War.
TO BE CONTINUED.

Stephen Crane as a Correspondent, Who
Was In Cuba During the Late War.
Near the close of the war, group
of correspondents in Porto Rico made
out list of the events which, in their
opinion, were of the greatest news val
ue during the campaign, and list of
the correspondents, with the events
each had witnessed credited to his
name. Judged from this basis, Mr..
Crane easily led all the rest. Of his
power to make the public see what he
sees it would be impertinent to speak.
His story of Nolan, the regular, bleed
ing to death on the San Juan hill is, so
far as have read, the most valuable
contribution to literature that the war
has produced. 1t is only necessary to
imagine how other writer's would have
handled it, to appreciate that it could
not have been better done. His story
of the marine at Guantanamo, who
stood on the crest of the hill TO "wig-
wag" to the warships, and 80 exposed
himself to the fire of the entire Span
.ish force, is also particularly interest
ing, as it illustrates that in bis devo-
ton to duty, and also in his readiness
at the exciting moments of life, Crane
is quite as much soldier as the man
whose courage he described. He tells
how the marine stood erect, staring
through the dust with half-closed eyes,
and with his lips moving as he count
ed the answers of the warships, while
innumerable bullets splashed the sand
around him. But it never occurs TO-
Crane that to sit at the mans feet, as
he did, close enough to watch bis lips
move and to be able to make mental
notes for q later tribute to the marines
scorn of fear was equally deserving OF
praise.
Crane was the coolest man, whether
army officer or civilian, that saw un-
der fire at any time during the war.
He was most annoyingly cool, with the
assurance of fatslist. When the San
Juan hills were taken, he came up
them with James Hare, of Golfers.
He was walking leisurely, and though
the bullets passed continuously, ne
never once ducked his head. He wore
long rain-coat, and as he stood peer
ing over the edge of the hill, with bis
hands in his pockets and smoking his
pipe. he was as unconcerned as though
he were gazing at cinematograph.
The fire from the enemy was so
heavy that only one troop along the
line of the hills was returning it, and
all the rest of our men were lying
down. General Wood, who was then
colonel of the Rough Rides, and were
Lying on our elbows at Cranes feet,
and Wood ordered him also to lie
down. Crane pretended not to hear,
and moved further away, still peering
over the hill with the same interested
expression. Wood told him for the
second time that if he did not lie down
he would be killed; but Crane paid no
Fattention. So, in order to make him
take shelter, told him that he was
trying to impress US with bis courage,
and that if he thought he was making
me feel badly by walking about, he
might rs well sit down. AS soon as L
told him he was trying to impress us
with his courage, he dropped on his
knees, as 1 had hoped he would, and
we breathed again.-Richard Harding
Davis, in Harper's Magazine.