Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-08
BRAVE BOYS A8s THY.
A Chicago Reporters Story Of the
Goth Kansas.

MANILA, APEu S~S
story Of the goth Kansas and how that
regiment charged an intrenchment
filed with Filipinos, got across the
Quinga river and drove the insurgents
back to the next stronghold. 1t is
not the first nor the second time the
Kansas boys have got what they went
for, and they went in like veterans
We lay in the dry bed Of q creek that
made the firing line 'front.' o'clock on
but no big advance was made until 10
o'clock. when the armored train came
down the track with its one six'pound
gun-a gun that had done duty on
the transport Sheridan, firing salutes
at the sun IS the flag came down at
retrsst-two Hotchkiss guns and q
Calling. The Utah battery was over
on the right with Gen. Hale who was
given time to make flank movement.
The Kansas boys were peeping
through the trees where there was an
opening, and grimly they sat there
too. keeping ears open for an order
Col. Funston, the son Of the "former
congressman" from Allen county,
Kansas, stood near his horse cracking
his riding boot with his whip.
Then the six.inch gun opened the
fight on the American side. The Fill.
ipinos had been firing toward us for
fifteen minutes and Lieut.. Bridges,
in command Of that train, sent the
first shot. Incidentally the dust flew
from the trench down the track and a
cheer went up before the report of
the piece had died from the ears of
the men in the ravine. Again and
again that long, black piece rang up
the echoes. Then the rapid-fre came
into range and began its belching.
But when the Calling began to purr
the Kansas boys were ready for their
charge across the open. Gen. Hale
got his Utah battery in position on
the extreme right and began throw
ing shells into the enemy's camp
Now, there should not have been
trouble for those Filipinos, even then
because their intrenchments were
very strong, but the shells evidently
brought fear to the hearts Of the dark
skinned fighters.
Then it was that Col. Funston sald'
"Come on, boys" and they wanted n
second invitation. Out into the open
they went, with the Calling throwing
bullets over their heads and the six
pounder and the Hotchkiss hurting
= A
heavy pieces far into the trenches II
is a long way across that corndeld
and the corn was not past the seconc
blowing, The tracks left there are
evidence that there was no hesitancy
in the attack. Col. Funston led then
on fully half a mile, when they CANT
right in the face Of a fire directed
point-blank at them from the trenches
One man dropped out and came back
He had wounded hand and it was use
less for the time being. On the brown
regiment went, past clump OF BAN
boos. where the Mausers were bitin!
and whistling, until at last it reached
the bitches along the railroad tracl
and dropped into them.
"who goes across with meP" calle'
Col. Funston, and there was a choru
Of "Here!"
. ats a swim"
, ave can SWIM" came the answer
"But | don't want the regimen
r Just now. III take you all later"
So the colonel picked out Lieut.
Ball of Company f, Corporal No
Nulty Of Company E, First sergear
Enslow Of Company K, and Private
t Weaver, Case and Cooper Of Compan
!. X, with Capt. Boltwood of compan
i F. Now it was a case Of follow you
n leader and never did a daring spir
: lead his followers into more dal
y gerous place. The river, with Il
i" broken bridge, was between tho'
/. men and the Filipino trenches, an
l. out of the portfolios came the shot
IS A volley went up from the edge Of tt
l. ditch that blew dust from those por
:, :, and woe to the dark head that a
|. peared above. The colonel ran o.
$. onto the bridge and across the til
IS berless structure. Behind him we
Y, y his picked men. The missing sp'
/. was on the enemy's side, but the DO
hoped along and came to the Ell