Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-20

The exchange Of Publications of the peace
treaty between the United States and Spain
formally ends the hostile attitude Of the
belligerents, but the war in another form
will go on Indefinitely. Loss of precious
lives and millions OF treasure are not the
only ravages Of war. The shedding of ink
has begun and those who survived the
carnage as well as the home guard and the
curbstone strategists are now bombarded
through various publications with non
explosive shells of small caliber. The latest
gun is fired by Lieutenant Hutchinson Scott
in the New York Herald. Scott was first
lieutenant of the Hudson when that vessel
towed the torpedo boat Winslow out Of range
of the Spanish batteries at Cardenas. He
declares that the shot which Killed Ensign
Bagley and his companions on the Winslow,
and the one that injured its forward boiler
I and starboard engine came from the United
States steamship Wilmington. This state
ment was brought out by the publication in
the March number Of the Century Magazine
of an article by Lieutenant Bernadou, who
commanded the Winslow.
The most concise story of the destruction
Of Cervera's fleet is told in the steam log
of the Oregon, penned by the chief engineer.
L L NNlN5 Isl - az W ~ 49, 49, $50 'N'''
until $3.50. when We went to general
quarters, the enemy's fleet having come out
of the entrance. Put forced draught on all
, main boilers at about 9:45, and began chas-
ing. Continued running under forced
draught for rest of watch, driving the
enemy's ships ashore one by one. At end
Of watch only one ship remained, which we
were gradually overhauling. Nerd. to 4 p.
m. AS before, except shut down F. X. blow
ers, and slowed down about 1870, having
destroyed the Spanish fleet. Worked to
bells rest Of watch"
A Kansas soldier, in a letter home, tells
how General Otis came along one evening
and when the men had stopped firing for a
minute said: Well, boys, how are you
coming?' Only a few of the men knew him
and one of them said; AN right, pard,
how's yourself?' Another of the boys that
knew General Otis told him to shut up, that
the man was General Otis. The general
overheard him and said: That's all right;
pard is as good as general tonight"
Private Smith of Company +, South
Dakota volunteers, has the distinction of
having been personally congratulated by
General Otis for bravery while on outpost
duty near Manila. His beat was one of the
most dangerous patroled by American SOL
diers, passing along a narrow road thickly
fringed with trees and bamboo thickets.
Shortly after Z o'clock, the sun having
set, Private Smith discerned two Filipinos
approaching him, apparently on their way to
Manila. They were dressed in white and
walked in single file, one about six feet
behind the other. He challenged them and
they answered promptly, the first greeting
him with the words, "Buena noche, amigo
reated the greeting and accompanied it with
a military salute. Smith replied in English,
and, shouldering his Springfield rifle, turned
to resume his beat.
Just as they passed him he carelessly
turned his head to look after them. This
fortunate circumstance saved his life, for
Immediately after passing him the second
Filipino drew a machete, sprang at the
sentry and aimed a terrific blow at his head.
With the blood pouring forth in a stream
he whirled to face the natives, who in
stantly took to their heels in the effort to
escape. Smith raised his rifle and shot one
of the fleeing natives through the heart be-
fore he had gone twenty feet. By this time
he was so weak from pain and loss of blood
that he was forced to drop to his knees and
while in this position he reloaded his rifle
and fired a shot at the other Filipino, who
was just disappearing in the edge OF the
thicket at the side of the road.
This shot also took effect, for the dead
body of the native was found next morning
in the thicket, he having evidently crawled
as far as possible before expiring, for the
body was discovered some distance from the
point where he disappeared in the under
brush as Smith fired at him.
Comrades, attracted by the firing, rushed
to the aid of the brave soldier, and, procur-
ing a horse, placed him upon the animal
and conveyed him three miles to the COM
pany's quarters, where his wound was
| dressed by the surgeons. He was congratu-
lated on his plucky fight by practically the
whole army, even General Otis calling upon
him while in the hospital and shaking hands
| with him and commencing him for his
bravery.