The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-12-13

The four men had volunteered to ac-
company the surgeon several miles
bac! along the railroad over the scene
of yesterdays fighting in quest of GER
tain members Of the command who
had been numbered among the miss
ing" in the recent casualties. The
character of the expedition appealed to
his sense Of admiration, fer under the
circumstances neither brassard nor
hospital flag was any safeguard
against attack from the insurgents.
who were known to infest the locality
to be visited.
Suddenly the impulse seized him to
ioin this little excursion. 1t would at
least serve to divert his thoughts from
the unpleasant theme that at present
dominated his brain. Hastily folding
his copy, he placed it in an inner pock-
ct Of his blouse and crossed over to
the party AS he drew near the final
arrangements for the start had been
consummated. The men were already
taking their places in the singular con-
veyance.
"Is your squad complete, sir?" cour-
teously inquired the correspondent of
the medical officer in charge
At the question the latter turned and
regarded the speaker with manifest
surprise Then he answered, pleasant
ly enough:
"Well, yes, considering there is room
for but four men at the brakes. Hard
" the most interesting subject for
cable dispatch, however" he added
jocularly.
@But I'm not hunting news this
morning." replied Addington seriously.
"Fact is, I'd like to accompany your
party if you don't object. You might
include me as sort Of supernumerary
"a relief crew, as it were"
"Oh, you're quite welcome to so with
us if you so DESIRE" was the cordial
response, "but I must first get you a
permit And, taking the name Of his
latest volunteer, the officer FASTENED
away to headquarters. Returning in
few moments with the necessary pass,
the surgeon, followed by Addington,
stepped aboard the car, and moment
later the party were trundling along
over the narrow rails, bound away on
their hazardous mission.
For the first mile the route lay
through comparatively open stretch
Of country, commanded by the pickets
stationed on TIE outskirts Of the Amer
lean camp. But beyond this the track
entered q dense brake, the depths Of
which were impenetrable to the eye,
save at intervals, where the exuberant
growth had been beaten down by the
irresistible advance Of the conquering
army. It was here that much Of the
hardest fighting had transpired, and
here consequently the work Of the am
bulance party began. Slowly they
worked their way onward, pausing at
frequent intervals to beat about
through the surrounding thicket in
their search for the missing. be they
living or dead. In this manner dis
lance of some three miles had been
covered without developing anything
Of an encouraging nature, when Of a
sudden the sound Of rifle shots WIS
heard emanating from q distant point
directly along the road. Faint as the
reports fell upon their hearing the men
were quick to analyZe them, plainly
distinguishing the occasional Spring
field from the more promiscuous Maui
ser.
"Our fellows to q certainty" OBJ
served one
EYES, and putting up fight against
all kinds Of Odds" declared another.
Come" said the surgeon briefly.
eve must so to them"
Down the track rumbled the hand
car. the men straining every nerve at
the brakes. Another mile and the
scene Of the conflict was at hand. In
deed, the car had actually swept
through a struggling line Of Filipinos
crouching in the thatchlike jungle Of
tree fern and bamboo Less than half
q thousand yards beyond, at the sum-
Init Of q slight hummock, q heap Of
stones and earth appeared, and be-
hind this the besieged party was in
trenchcd, held at bay by overwhelming
numbers Of the enemy. AS the hand
car burst into view it was greeted ST.
multaneously with a feeble cheer from
the beleaguered occupants Of the rife
pit ahead and yolley OF shots from
the insurgents behind. In the same
instant one Of the men relaxed his
grasp on the brake and sank des-
perately wounded to the bottom Of the
car.
Without moments hesitation
Addington sprang to the stricken mans
place and, laying hold on the handle
bar, strove with the others to main
tain the speed they had developed.
AS the car approached the base Of the
fortified hummock two men arose from
the rifle pit and, bearing wounded
comrade between them, fastened to
meet their deliverers. They were the
sole survivors Of IN original party Of
ten who had become separated from
their command during the battle on
the previous day. At sight Of this fee
BILE remnant Of the gallant little gar
rison the Filipinos set up fierce, eX
ultant shout and. breaking from their
cover, dashed forward to prevent their
escape. But the handcar had already
been brought to a stop, and it was evil
dent that the wounded and exhausted
Americans would be rescued by their