Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-11-30

A tedious search In all the hooks and
crannies Of the buildings, in the wells
Of the vicinity and even in the deep
water Of the river failed to bring to
light the important links which would
set the machinery moving.
With great cunning the insurgents
had chosen the most convenient and
most unlikely place for concealment-
the coalrOOm, where there remained a
pile Of coal resting upon clay floor.
Underneath the center Of the pile were
the coveted parts, but in the haste Of
leaving, under the pressure of the
American shells, the diggers had left
a showing OF fresh clay, which attract
ed the eyes Of Artificer Guy Hays Of
Company |. Hays kicked the coal one
side and found soft soil to his feet.
Getting a shovel. he began to dig, and
others fell to work with him. Soon
they struck something hard, and In a
few hours the waterworks OF Manila
were gushing abundant supplies for
the thirsty inhabitants and garrison.
Those exciting hours Of Feb. s and
6 were followed by long wait Of the
Colorados In the main works around
Manila. But on March 16 the regiment
moved out upon the Maraquina road
to guard what 1t so gallantly won six
weeks before, the extensive water
works plant on Maraquina river. The
pumping station, reservoir and pipe
line connecting offer a front of four
miles, exposed at every point to Filipi-
no attack. This line the Colorados
| covered, and Colonel Mccoy at once
set about finding what was on his
front in way Of fighting natives. He
went out on the 10th with 125 men
under Major Anderson, marching upon
the town Of Old Maraquina. The in
surgents were fortified there and gave
good battle, doing some especially
fine shooting.
Private McCauley, of Company f,
describes the advance as follows: THE
line Of skirmishers," he says. made its
way through the fences, and as we
passed an open spot in the timber
fringing the river, there came from the
canefield on the other side volleys Of
Mauser bullets. For the first time In
our experience the insurgents shot low
and had our range to perfection. If
our company had been in close forma-
ton, there would have been a tale of
death to tell. No sooner, however, had
the bullets begun to sing than the
I Colorado bugle sounded Lie down"
and Commence firing" So fiat on our
| bellies we threw ourselves and raked
! that canefield.
| Major Anderson's conduct before and
after receiving severe wound is one
of the proud traditions the regiment
brings home. The men took shelter
from a perfect hail Of Mausers under
rice ridge. Major Anderson gave the
firing orders, but insisted that the
men expose themselves no further than
necessary for effect. He, however,
stood at full height to watch the move
ments of the enemy. Suddenly bull
let pierced his ankle. Hopping about
on the sound foot. he exclaimed, Good
shot for those fellowsw and then con-
! tinued the commands he had begun
when struck. "Ready-aim-fire- load !;
y-aim-fre-cease firing, boys,
and give your guns a chance to COOL"
he said, without show of pain or ex-
citement. Then he sat down. His
men and comrade officers urged him to
go to the rear, but he refused to leave
the firing line until Colonel Mccoy
reached the spot and ordered him to
retire.
1t took an hour of hard fighting to
capture old Maraquina, defended by
600 natives. Everything went well on
the lines under the new guard, and
when the army was marched out
against Malolos the Colorados were or
dered TO stay and hold the fort in spite
of the appeal of Colonel Mccoy to join
the fighting bands. THAT point (the
water statiom must be held ut all haZ-
ards" telegraphed the commander
adding by the way Of salve to
wounded ambition, 'It Is sometimes
unfortunate to be In command Of a
thoroughly reliable regiment" Never
theless the Rocky mountain braves can
inscribe upon their flags the battle be-
fore Malolos, March 25. The Ne
braskas had the front of the advance
and started from their old stamping
ground on Maraquina road. Colonel
Mccoy went to the front with the line
and watched the work until the bat
tie was well on. Going back to his
telegraph station. he soon got a mes
sage, saying, "Send two companies at
once to connect with Major Diggle's
right"
The companies selected were A and
, M, the guard on the Maraquina road
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
I Moses. 1t was case Of corralling the
natives, and the men deployed In skir-
mishing order. Company A, under Cap
tain Stewart, bringing up In front Of a
series of rocks which formed native
fortress. After sweeping the position
with bullets. the company charged
forward. a last rally and rush was
made within 100 yards Of the last
trench Of the enemy. Captain Stewart
LaI .nl- To- st.,.