The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06


and made of when challenged. so that for q
few moments the detachment was aroused,
but nothing more serious occurred. As mat
ter OF fact the neghborhood was swarminR
with bandits, as was known on adjacent
ranches. and even to tho Waterman OF Mr..
Kapcler's ranch. but Of this we were
not notified. The next morning, being tho
anniversary OF Bunker Hill. at little after
o'clock four men OF tho reinforcing squad
reached us. The steamer had come to anchor
q IN lie or more from the proper place. and these
men had come to hunt us up. This occasion
raised our force to nineteen enlisted men. be-
sides Lieut.. Goodell and myself. About 1880 a
Spanish employee OF the estate rode out to tho
southwark toward tho river. which Is only
some 800 or 800 yards away. Here he was fred
upon. and came galloping In to announce that
a body Of Tullsanos was at Talabe. Meantime
q few bullets struck the buildings or whistled
by. making a familiar sound had not ex-
pected to hear again In this world excepting in
my dreams. corporal and ten men were
sent to the river to deal with the Tuli-
sunes there. They had hardly disappeared
along the path to the river between the rank
fields OF sugarcane which surround the
hacienda. when we spied some twenty-five or
thirty men creeping cautiously down the road
leading to 1t. They were only a couple OF hun
dred yards away when they were first seem and
had already reached the more easterly buildings
OF the establishment. having doubtless been
concealed up to that time in the sugarcane.
Leaving four men at camp Lieut.. Goodell took
four men to meet this band. and |
went. too. or course. the Lieutenant
had his pistol. and I had little
popgun. n five shooter. made by nameless
maker. which l had borrowed at San Carlos
~. ~ HaI ~ l,,,, th,tn
to advance upon the hacienda, had waited till
the bulk OF the soldiers had gone out to the
river. apparently in the hope that the hacienda
itself would then be left unprotected. They
were also divided into two lines. one about a
hundred yards behind the other, so that they
really displayed some glimmering OF tactics.
OF course we opened fire on them with the
four rifles. To my utter astonishment there
was no response. For an instant thought We
must be mistaken and have made the frightful
error OF attacking ranch laborers. but such an
idea was untenabe even for a second. These
men were advancing In open order under such
cover as the natural and artificial inequalities
OF tho ground afforded. and every attitude dts
played hostile intent. But not only did they
not fire; we could see no rifles In their hands.
In short We presently came to realize that we
were actually being attacked by bolo men.
Let's go in on them" counselled. and we
moved up dozen PAGES at a time. firing. Of
course. at each pause and taking pains 20 spare
ammunition. with which We were mono too we'll
provided.
Our advance seemed TO check the Tulisanes
who still came on. but more slowly. A couple
fell. Presently. advancing on the right OF the
road. we came nearly opposite a ditch on the
left-hand side. This ditch was at the very
edge OF heavy growth OF cane and about 100
feet from u.s. Every instant or two a head
would bob out OF this ditch long enough
to get glimpse Of us and disappear
again. 1t really seemed wicked to fire
at those men. but there was no help for
It. We knew they meant to kill US If
they could. We could not know how many
were lurking in the cane behind them. waiting
TO rush upon us II we showed any symp-
toms OF weakness. and they made no sign Of
surrender Had We known all we know now
we should have had less conjunction than we
felt Our only safety seemed to lie in shooting
straight Consequently when a head bobbed
up a couple Of the men marked the spot and
waited for 1t to reappear. The other two at
tended to the more distant line, or support Of
the attacking party.
After this state OF things had lasted for few
minutes. during which three robbers were
into the cane. a really hne action was per-
formed. One OF tho Tuisanes In the ditch we
were facing had the nerve to spring from his
cover and rush upon us. He came straight at
me. Isuppose he thought my importance pro-
portionate to my evident age. and OF course he
saw had no rife. He ran like a Splinter, hold
ing long bolo horizontally on a level with his
hip. When l became quito aware OF his goal
l fred my popgun at him. but he did not
pause. When he was about twenty feet from
me fred a second time. His right arm then
fell helpless at his side. his bolo dropped, he
turned as RAPIDLY as he could without checking
his speed and dashed into the cane in spite OF
the rife shots sent after him by the men,
have the holo. but he carried away my sheath
II he would send It to mo l could almost con-
graduate him on his escape. provided that he
has indeed survived his wounds
But though admirable In its way. regret tc
say that this feat was not purely brave. The
man placed an overweening reliance on
charms On his. ie.. my. bolo was a spot OF a
thick ointment resembling curry gravy. This
/ was told by the natives is a magic ointment
II the forehead. lips. heart and weapon OF O
man are thus anointed he becomes invulnera
Bile. excepting by one who IL in possession OF q
still moro powerful charm. or dntin0 dnttno
than his own Every one Of tho men killed
bore amulcts to protect him from the fate
which did not spare him.
This dashing attempt was the last made by
the Tulisanes. and In an instant the last o.
those alive had disappeared. The little detach.
ment which l accompanied killed five men In
their tracks and sent many more wounded into
the almost impenetrable canehelds. One o
the killed bore insignia and is said to hav,
been Gen" Vicente Ornedo. who carried witt
him list OF persons to be killed. on which wa.
the name OF tho wife OF the manager OF The
estate. 1t will be a day two yet before all tn,
corpses in coneealment will be disclosed. anc
meantime the number Of dead is unknown.
The ten men and CORPORAL who went to the
Talaba River found at least 200 Tulsanes, &C
cording to their estimate. drawn up in som,
sort Of order. The natives are said to have haC
only their rifles. Rapid but careful fire by ou
men at short range kept this relatively larg,
body at a sufficient distance. and the Tulisane!
made no charge. They stood their ground
however for some time. and when they retired
three OF those who had been instantly killed
were found on the ground. while man,
wounded were seen limping or staggering int