The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-24
TOLD TO A MARINE.
Wigwagging That Relieved an Angry
Officers Feelings at Camp McCalla.

Officers Feelings at Camp McCalla.
From the New York Sun.
The Spaniards had skunk away from
the Plaza del Este. They had tested the
American marine and they We're salts
fed. The buzzard picked bones in the
simmerng valley of Cusco, where
Fighting Bill'' Elliott and his 200 men
trapped the lurking suerrllas, were a
warning to which the Spanish troops
al Caimenara paid heed. Camp Nc
Gala was as peaceful as a state gather
ing of MALTA. The war ships in the
outer harbor of Guantanamo lay still on
the warm. blue waters, with no fierce
booming of heavy guns to frighten out
to sea the timid hammer headed sharks
so thickly crowding the bay. Boats
filled with jackies were pulling about
between the ships and the shore with
rarely an enxious eye being turned at
the wooded bluffs on either side of the
camp where so short a time before were
hidden the, sharp-shooting Spaniards.
On the beach the marines were busy
with the police work of the camp and
the officers off duty lolled beneath the
shade of the mess tent at the base of
the hill, glad of the respite from ac-
tual fighting. Peaceful as everything
seemed, however, there was no relaXa-
ton of vigilance. The outposts were on
pond and the danger of a surprise was
eliminated
Among the officers under the mess
tent the talk was about the three days
of steady fighting they went through
after landing. They knew they had
done good work, and they were telling
one another incidents, some heroic and
some amusing. and wondering what the
folks at home We're thinking about it
oil DNnt
the landing a tall young lieutenant Of
marines. He looked as natty as on pa
rade in the Brooklyn navy yard, and
the contrast he offered, coming as he
he did from one of the warships in the
harbor with the camp soiled and fight
torn uniforms of the officers in the land
battalion was very striking. His broth
er officers greeted him warmly, for,
aside from any personal reason, a new
face was welcome, as it meant news of
some sort from the other world, from
the fleet off Santiago, or perhaps from
home.
The newcomer seated himself on a
box of bareback and Joined in the con-
Versation concerning the repulse of the
Spaniards in their attack upon the
camp.
Boys" he said hesitatingly. II heard
something on one of the Golfers to-day
that I did not like. I don't believe It,
but as it concerns you all, l think you
ought to know it."
"Oh, we're not thin skinned any
more said one of the officers on shore
It'll have to be pretty tough to worry
us after our little experience of the last
few days.
We'll, this will worry you, if any,
thing will" replied the visitor
What was it?" asked several.
Why, I heard went on the visitor
that if it hadn't been for the Cubans
you fellows would have been wiped out
They say you flunked the Sunday night
the Spaniards jumped you and that the
Cubans had to rally you. The report is
all over the fleet
There was just a moment of silence
while several of the men who had faced
death all through the fighting without
f1lnching looked at one another a little
dueerly and then grew angry. The &C
cusation was so unjust, so unexpected,
coming from their own branch of the
service, too, that they hardly knew
what to say or do. Then a big fellow
with full black beard grew red in the
face and stood up.
who told you that?" he asked as his
eyes flashed in an ugly way.
His brother officer told him, naming
a lieutenant on one of the ships in the
harbOr.
Go back to him. said the angry
man, land tell him for me that he's a
liar. Tell him I'm sorry I can't get
over there to say it myself"
So indignant was the speaker that the
other officers forgot for the moment the
reflection upon them contained in this
galley gossip, and they laughed
mo, don't tell him. went on the an
cry officer. tn do it myself I'll let
him know what I think of him. even if
I can't get at HIM"
With that he abruptly left the shell
tering mess tent and strobe out into
the blazing sun along the trail leading
up the bluff to where the camp proper
was and where the flag, planted on the
ruins of a Spanish blockhouse the day
they first set foot on Cuban soil still
waved defiance to the impotent Spanish
general in Caimenara The others
watched him as he stormed along
through the chaparral. kicking the var
lgated land crabs from his pathway,
They saw him Climb laboriously up the
steep winding ascent and slip in front
of the signal tent where stood a signal
boy leaning against a guy rope In his
hand the boy held the red signal flag
with the white square in the center.
Grabbing it from the private, the officer
made three or four passes in the air.
He's calling IS snip" said one
of the officers in the mess tent as he
read the signal.
Whats he going to do?" inquired
one of the others, as we all stood up to
watch him.
The man with the flag kept calling
and calling, and finally there came an
answering signal from the ship he
wanted, Then the officers below read
this message from the hill:
Present Mr.. IS compliments to
Mr.. =. and say to him that he's a
damned liar"
WhereupOn the wfgwagger, having
let off steam, came down the hill some
what modified. When he reached the
tent again ne was greeted with good
natured jcers.
And You can tell him." he said to
the visiting marine. that I'll back it
up the first time I get chance"
This opportunity never came. En-
plantations followed the next day, the
OFFENDING officer declaring that he had
put repeated reports heard by him. and
a lasting peace was arranged How
ever, had the Spaniards been able to