The Redwood gazette., 1899-06-07

Cavalry, which l 1allou W iIcnO'on
as a part of the expedition, came up
on the enemy entrenched in dense
Jungle. The right of the l4th and
the left of the North Dakota S took
hand in it. For ten minutes the fight
ing was terrific. Then the order
was given to advance firing. The
men began yelling and advancing
with their Krag gJorgensen guns
barking at every step. Talk about
horrible sounds A fight in a Jungle
at night is something to be remem-
bered, and l guess the niggers will
remember it as long as anyone else.
Anyway they broke and ran
and | would too, if | had been in
front of that line of soldiers, because
there is no such thing as living a
moment in front of our repeating
guns and steel bullets, Some times
we find natives who have persuaded
themselves that they are well pro
tected, when in reality they might
Just as we'll have taken shelter be-
hind sheet of paper. In this par
ticular engagement native was
found sitting behind a hard wood
tree ten inches in diameter He
was posed ready to take a shot when
bullet struck the tree squarely,
passed through and pierced him
through the heart.
Recall" was sounded and we fell
back to an old road which had been
cut below the surface about two
feet. In this country road beds are
always cut down instead of being
graded up. The idea is | suppose
to make grade on either side to
keep the water out The next morn
ing after breakfast of hardtack,
canned salmon and water; we made
another start for Santa Cruz. The
firing line stretched out about two
miles in length and whenever an
opening was crossed it presented a
fine sight. For over an hour the
line cautiously moved forward
through one of the most fertile sec
tions of country that | ever beheld.
The fields were planted with sugar
cane and sugar mills dotted the
plain all over. Some of them were
operated by horse and others by
steam power | have little idea
concerning their capacity, but one
thing which struck me as being
clever was that all cog wheels,
rollers, gearing and balance wheels
were made out of mahogany. Santa
Cruz was reached within an hour
and half after leaving camp and
we found Santa Cruz river, a
small mountain stream, between us
and the town. The banks were
steep, the current swift, and the
mausers were popping away. There
was moment s hesitation among
both officers and men, and only a
moment A Washington scout was
seen to dart across the bridge with
a yell. Everybody jumped into
the river and the fight was on.
Once up the opposite bank we
found ourselves in back Yards and
side alleys The natives could not
stand our deadly yells and began
running from their hiding places.
Their runs were short, however. for
as | have said before, nothing can
live before a regiment rapid fire.
Out in the main streets one was
struck by the beauty of the place.
Wide streets, we'll paved sidewalks
and the houses were very modern
with corrugated iron roofs and iron
fencing in front But what sick
ening sight! Everywhere could be
seen dead and dying natives. The
streets were a surging mass of sol
diers-in other words it was a
human avalanche Once through
the town there was spread before
us great level plain over which
was fleeing citizens and soldiers.
Whether they did not know enough
to stop and surrender themselves OF
| whether they were too stubborn tc
do so, will never be known, for in
less time than it could be related
they fell before the pitiless rain O.
steel like grain before the reaper
Battalion commanders shouted them
selves hoarse and the bugler near
est them repeated the call cease fir
ing but in the shout and din ne