Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-11-29
A GOOD YARN.
Private Lynn Of Company I the Subject Of
an Eastern Interview.

The following interesting yarn ap-
peared in q recent issue Of the Truth
OF Scranton, Penn. The soldier re-
ferred to is doubtless Edward j. Lynn
of Company l, and Hanna, who "as-
sisted him in raising a regiment
among his old acquaintances," is
probably Senator Hannah of Big
Timber, late private of Company /.
Lynn enlisted from Belt and was a
good soldier. 1t may be that Lynn
encountered a reporter who wanted
a good story and got it, or probably
the reporter wrote it without having
seen Lynn, at any rate the tale will
create much mirth among the former
members OF Company 1, especially
those passages which refer to Lynn's
having been foreman for Marcus DAILY,
the raising OF the regiment, the bay
onet charge and the sad story of the
death OF the Chinaman and the doctor.
Lynn was.wounded mot 8 times,
however, in the groin on March 25th
and his comrades trust that the story
is true insofar as 1t states that the
bullet has been located. though after
reading such a fairy tale 1t is hard to
believe even one statement true.
The fact that the story was printed
in a paper called the Truth. makes it
more ridiculous still.
Edward John Lane, of Company
l., First Montana volunteers, with
his father, N. j. Lane. a wealthy
farmer of Tafton, Pike county, Is In
the city, the guest OF his brother, H.
H. Lane. the West Lackawanna ave-
nue meat dealer.
"Mr. Lane is a soldier who saw
very active service in Manila, where
he went al a volunteer to fight his
country's battles and where he re-
ceived nine wounds In the terrible
fight of the 25th OF March.
"Mr. Lane left this region 10 years
ago to seek his fortune In the west.
At Butte City, Montana, he was fore
man OF Marcus Days copper mine
and had charge Of 100 men.
Four years ago he went into the
British Klondike region prospecting
for gold. He met with some success,
but when the belated news OF the
war with Spain reached that far of
country he at once determined to re.
turn and enlist In the defense of the
flag. He returned to Butte City and
there with Mr.. Hanna of Butte he
raised a regiment among his old &C
quaintances, the First Montana vol
unteers. No manin the regiment was
less than six feet In height.
Neither he nor Mr.. Hanna was
after any honor or glory. They en-
listed out OF pure patriotism, and
notwithstanding their experience In
directing men, refused to accept al
office in the regiment. Both were
content to battle as simple private
soldiers, and they did SO. They tent
ed together. While In the service In
Manila Mr.. Hanna was elected state
: senator In Montana.
"Mr. Lane in the bloody battle ot
the 25th OF March vas wounded nint
times. The Americans attacked the
trenches OF the Filipinos, who put vi
astubborn resistance. The fight wa.
3 hand to hand one. The Americana
!, ~bayoneted the Filipinos in the trench
es and the Filipinos resisted will
bayonets. At one time q Filipino
had a bayonent right up against MIR
Lanes breust to run him through
. but before he could do SO the soldlej
at Mr.. Lanes elbow sunk his bayone
to the gun in the Filipino's neck.
"In this fight bullets rained on on
troops from the FilipinO's tremend
Gus fire. Hundreds of our brave sol