The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02
GEN. MiCARTHrR UNDER FIRE
4 Personal View Of Him Mt Manila-won-
derfnl Escapes, Though Long n Target.

n ferSOnnl view OF him nj MAMMA "On-
derful Escapes, Though Long n Target.
On the morning Of Aug -. previous to tho
assault on Manila. the Aston Battery was sta
toned behind an old ruined convent, which
was subsequently used as an emergency hos
pital. At S:O5 O'Clock Gen. Macarthur arrived
at this convent. having traversed a narrow
mud road for a distance OF half n mile or
more. while the road was swept by the
fire from the Spanish infantry. In per-
sonally transmitting his orders 10 the bat
terry commander. Gen. Macarthur stood by the
roadside in earnest conve %rsation. apparently
oblIviOus to the fact that the bullets were fly
Ing all around him.. chipping the leaves from
the trees and breaking the bamboo stalks
which lined both sides Of the road. The Gen
erals face was calm and as tranquil in ex-
preston as though he was passing the time Of
day instead OF ordering a battery into action.
Cant. March. do you understand those or
ders % said the General.
81 do. SIR
Wei, go ahead: but you must not lose your
guns" was the parting order OF Gen. Mac
Arthur. as he turned and mounted his little
brown and white Tony and rode to the firing
line n hundred yards ahead.
When the advance was made on the right OF
the line the troops were compelled to pass
burning Spanish blockhouse -. and the eI-
ploding ammunition was filling the air with
wlistlinG shells. which resemblei greatly the
ping-swiz OF a Mau-er. As the troops APP
preached the zone covered ny the Il ght Il
these. whistling shells their first impression
was that q force Of the enemy must have been
concealed beyond the blockhousc. ana it ia an
actual fact that one. company OF infantry
dropped into the ditch beside the road and
flredtwo volIeys into the burning blockhouse.
a number Of stragGl,rs at each side OF the road
were hugging the bushes as closely "a pos
sibIc, be llevlng. no doubt. that they were be-
Ing Hrpi lnln ny Pho SntnIEh infantry II
was at this stage that tIen. Macarthur
came NJ the road, sitting perfectly upright on
mindful o. the shells which filled the ali. on all
sides. TUNING to the men hudd,ei hy me
you at the front. - and that was more than sutii-
cient to start the men nast the burning ruins.
Through the mud the LITTLE pony founder red on.
reaching the church at FL Pace,
When the Aston Battery reached the cross
were ,nred from their 3-inch guns, and then
Gen: Macarthur rode out and sat on his horse
Il, the open roadway in front OF the guns.
thrown across the road. and on the left side OF
. a. road %n a ,b b!oSsT 81 sse was s5Taa ARM Win ia5
the woods on the rigilt the sharpshooters IN the
trees were pouring ,%spitefui little chunks Of
wcGt ricoch"ting through the Jungle to the
left and rear. The American infantry had
safely ensconsed behind the church and stone
wall. against which the MauSers were tattooing
with a llSaEreeabie panE. During aIlthls time
Gen, Mac rthur sat like a statue in the Gem
ire Of the crossroads directing the movements
OF the troops toward the right and left flank.
Finally he moved toward the road leading
westward in the direction OF the bay. and, as
, he did so. two more 3-inch shells flew down
the road toward the fringe OF flame which
marked the position Of the Spanish breast
works. Again, riding in front OF the guns. in
a voice as cain as though ordering a change
OF movements at an exhibition. the General said
Cease firing. Captain | am going TO storm
these WORKS.
Turning an measuring the distance with
his eye from his position to the line OF trenches
ahead. he drew his horse to the lett OF the road
and in a clear. firm tone sa d: What officer
will lead u charge down this road Z"
1t was 20 these words. SPOKEN with out a
trim n. when the bullets fairly few by in
clouds. that a response was given by the Aston
Battery in a pistol charge. When the General
was exposed in the centre, Of the crossroads
the men. forgetting discipline and their own
danger. were shouting at the General; Look
similar sollcitouS expressions, all Of which
Spanish bullets which sung arc md him ike a
| SO hravrly EXPOSE | To them.
There can he no doubt OF this miraculous
escap" from seemingly certain death. as a
hundred pairs Of eyes saw him then and a
number OF times a'terwari seatet on the back
Of that brown and white pony. facing al
most certain death. with an expression as calm
and collected as though it was only a sham
battle with lots OF noise and no danger.
AN Aaron RArTFRY MAN