Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-15
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zone year ago this week our regiment
landed at Santiago. and though fresh beer
was scarce except the Chicago variety, We
had a plentiful supply for two days" ex-
planned returned veteran to Star reporter,
land of our own butchering. The meat did
not cost Uncle Sam penny either, except for
the killing which was rather expensive as
a killing as well as unusual. We landed at
Santiago in the afternoon, and after getting
a bite to eat we pitched our tents in kind
of temporary way, for We were satisfied
that sur stay in any one place would be
but a brief one, until we had met and meas
ured with the Spaniards. In the four weeks
preceding our landing in Santiago, when at
Tampa, we had actually fed upon Spanish
stories. in which their bravery, skill,
strength cunning and cruelty had been
more or less exaggerated, in most of the
cases more than less. and we We're as may
be imagined the tip toe of expectancy
anu prepared for almost anything After
resting for hour we were told that we
could camp for the balance of the evening
and night though we would be wanted
early the next morning. On getting this or
der We were ordered to pitch our camps
some distance away, in front of a wood or
thicket for it was more of q jungle Ian
anything else, which we proceeded to do
without delay. Then began the talk about
the Spanish AGAIN. Every man ndO mdQe
up his mind what he would do under almost
all circumstances, or at least he thought
he had. That the men were somewhat
nervous and considerably excited 1 admit,
and that some of them had taken thought
about how to look out for themselves as
well the flag of their regiment and COM
pany / also admit Our chaplain had taught
us that God protected those who protected
themselves. and our experience had shown
that that was good doctrine in Cuba, as
well in Tampa Washington. The men
too much worked down and tired physically
to sleep much 1t turned out, however,
that they did not get much chance to sleep,
for their butchering took up much of their
time. About 10 o'clock the bugie sounded
lights out. and the boys began to spread
themselves out in their nice little beGS of
mud and clay. with bundles of grass for
pillows, and to dream of home and loved
ones. and incidentally of the Spanish SOL
diers were to measure swords with on
the morrow But sleep did not come. In
its stead the rumor spread through the
camp that the woods were filed with the
most Spanish kind of Spanish soldiers and
that they were preparing to advance upon
and deVOur Such rumOrS are inconsiSt
ent with sleep. it matters not what old
warriors and old terriers say to the con-
trary. and have much influence upon a
mans conduct and thoughts. OF course
every one sought for details, but none
came. further than that certain noises were
heard in the woods at different points. that
the noises were real, and that all the ear
marks in connection with them were to the
effect that they were the result of the
movement of Spanish soldiery. and that I'M
der the circumstances a midnight attack
could be anticipated with some degree of
certainty. Time Wore on and investiga-
tons were made as to the sounds Finally
they were located One issued from
jungle in the rear of our camp and the
others from a camp about a quarter of
mile distant. The men were not allowed to
investigate on their own account, all the
Investigations being made by the officers
E'iO4tIy- for of
companies to get ready instantly. and for
the others to stand ready for immediate
service if necessary. .An advance was made,
ana the noise continuing, one of Dur officers,
who could talk Spanish, sang out in elegant
Spanish. Surrender There was no re-
Spouse to the command. and orders We're
given to fire, the rifles to be held at the
height of the waist vOlley was the re-
suit. and there being no further noises from
the Spanish. the boys went back to camp
The next mornings daylight showed that
the enemy consisted of a cow and a heifer
These We're our breakfast"
x x r
THE big gray horses which have been so
much admired in the fire department are
soon to go out of the service observed a
fireman to Star reporter land their places
will be taken by bay horses of a lighter
build. Already the change has been mazae
m several of the companies Experience
has proven that while the big gray horse is
fine locker and has speed as well when
he is warmed up little, he is not practical
as fire horse, for the reason that he is
too heavy. 1t is only with the greatest care
that they can be used at all. They have
immense draft power and can pull almost
any load that they are called upon to pull,
but the trouble is that they do not know
how to handle themselves in working rap
idly, and if a fire horse has not speed as
well as strength he is not in it for any
of Il
to a call for their service promptly enough.
and do all that is demanded of them in
king their runs, but they are very liable
to accident at starting. Their feet are as
large in proportion as their bodies, indeed
TOO large. and in a number of instances in
their desire to get there as rapidly as pos
sibie, for they are very willing at all times
they pound their hoofs hard on the con-
crete tnat they have broken them in some
instances to such an extent that they were
permanently injured. A split or cracked
hoof will turn out all right in time but it
takes three four months of the most
careful treatment, during which the horses
have TO be turned out on farm FIRE.
quent accidents of this kind have settled
the fate Of the big gray horses far as
IRE department work Is concerned The
department has bought its last big gray
horse, and as those now in the service fall
out their places will be taken by smaller
horses, bays The bays We have already
secured make the runs even more rapidly
than the big grays, and besides they have
all the draft power that is needed on con-
crete streets The advantage they have is
that their feet are smaller and they seem
to Anow how to use them with more care
Black horses were first used for fire horses,
but 1t was found that they could not stand
the heat from fires, for the horses on the
hose carriages have often to go right up TO
nreS, especially when the fire is in an alley
or the summer heat. 1t was for that reason
mat the big grays. partly Percheron bred
were tried Now the latter have TO go and
are TO be supplanted by bays of a smaller
build and breeding
Another thing in connection with fire
horses may be of interest to some and that
Is In regard to their names The names
Tom, jim. Frank, Pat, Dick, Jerry and the