The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-05-02
A GALLANT SOLDIER.
BRILLIANT RECORD OF
DAKOTA VOLUNTEER.
Smith Wins the Medal of Honor-IIis
Encounter with Two FiIipinos Who
Sought to Assassinate Him Brings
Its Reward.
(sioux Falls. S. d.. Letter)


Among the gallant United States SOL
diers now upholding the honor of their
country at Manila who have performed
deeds which will win for them the
coveted medal of honor is Thomas
Smith, private of Company E, South
Dakota volunteers. To him was also
accorded the honor of being personally
congratulated by Gen. Otis. In an en-
counter with two Filipinos, who
sought to assassinate him while on
picket duty, Smith, after being badly
wounded. shot and instantly killed one
OF his assailants and wounded the 9TH
er so severely that he died short time
later. Sergeant Kicker, Corporal
Wheeler and three prlvates. among
them Private Smith, were assigned to
outpost duty at Blockhouse No. 9.
north of Manila. At $50 in the even
ing Private Smith went on picket duty.
His beat was one of the most danger
Gus patrolled by American soldiers,
passing along a narrow road thickly
fringed with trees and bamboo thick
cts. Shortly after o'clock, the sun
having set, Private Smith discerned
two Filipinos approaching him, appar
emily 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 "Bueno
noches, amego" good evening, friend).
The second repeated the greeting and
accompanied it with a military salute.
Smith replied in English, and should
ering his Springfield rifle turned to re-
sumo his beat. Just as they passed he
carelessly turned his head to look after
them. This fortunate circumstance
saved his life, for Immediately after
passing him the second Filipino drew
machete, sprang at the sentry and
aimed terrific blow at his head. The
stroke would practically have severed
Private Smiths head from his body
had he not caught sight of the descend
ing knife in time to dodge slightly,
causing the blade to miss its mark. AS
it was, the blow was sufficient to cut
his left cheek open to the bone from
the temple to the jaw. With the blood
pouring forth in a stream he whirled
to face the natives. who instantly took
to their heels in their effort to escape.
Smith raised his rife and shot one of
the fleeing natives through the heart
before 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 rife 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 expir-
ing, for the body was discovered some
distance from the point where he dis
appeared in the underbrush as Smith
fired at him. Comrades, attracted by
the firing. rushed to the aid of the
brave soldier, and procuring a horse
placed him upon the animal and con-
veyed him three miles to the company's
quarters, where his wound was dressed
by the surgeons. Smith bled SO pro-
fusely that in going the three miles
to the company quarters his clothing
became thoroughly saturated, his shoes