The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-03-01
SAID MARINES
WERE C0WARDS.
A Naval Officers Accusation Repud-
lated.

A Naval Officers Accusation Repud-
lated.
The Spaniards had sIun,- away from
the Plaza del Este. They had tested
the American mariae and they were
satisfied. The buzzard- picked bones
in the simmering valley of Cuseo, where
Fighting Bill" Elliot and his 200 men
trapped the lurking guerrillas, were
warning to which the Spanish troops
at Caimenara paid heed. Camp Nc
Gala was as peaceful as a State gather
ing Of militia. The warships 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 thiekly crowding the
bay. Boats filed with jackies were
pulling about between the ships and
the shore with rarely an anxious 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,
says the New York Sun, 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 actual fighting. Peaceful as every
thing seemed, however, there was no
relaxation in vigilance. The Outposts
were on duty at the crossroads and at
the salt pond and the danger Of sur
prise was eliminated.
Among the officers under the mess
tent the talk was about the three days
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 were thinking about
it all. Pretty soon there came up from
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
did from Que of the warhips in the har-
Dor, with the camp-sOiled and fight
torn uniforms Of the officers in the
land battalion was very striking. His
brother 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 hardtack and joined in the con-
versalion concerning the repulse of
the Spaniards in their attack upon the
camp.
Boys" be said hesitatingIy, 81
heard something on one Of the col
liers to-day that l did not like. /
don't believe it, but as it concerns
you all, l think you ought to know
it.n
sOh, we're not tbin-skinrei any
more" said one of the officers on
shore. "Itn have to be pretty tough
to worry US after our little experience
of the last few days"
"Well, this will worry you, if any
thing wi !" replied the visitor.
"What was it % asked several.
"Why, heard, " went on the visitor,
"that if it hadn't been for the Cubans
you fellows would have been wiped
out. They say you fiunked the Sunday
night the Spaniards jumped you and
that the Cubans had to rally you. The
report Is all over the ileet.n
There was just a moment of silence,
while several of the men who had faced
death all through the fighting without
fiinching looked at one another little
queerly and then grew angry. The ac-
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 big fellow
with a full black beard grew red in the
face and stood up.
"Who told you that ?n be asked as
his eyes flashed in an ugly way.
His brother officer told him, naming
u lieutenant on one Of the ships in the
harbor.
"Go back to him. said the angry
man, "and tell him for me that he's
liar. Tell him I'm sorry 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.
"No, don't tell him." went on the
angry officer. I'm do it myself. I'll
let him know what I think of him,
even il can't get at him."
With that he abruptly left the shell
tering mess teut 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 Spanish blOckhOuse the day
they first set foot on Cuban soil, still
waved defiance to the impoteat Span
ish general in Caimenara- The Others
watched him as he stormed along
through the chapparal, kicking the
variegated land crabs from his path
way. They saw him climb laboriousIy
up the steep winding ascent and slip in
front Of the signal tent where stood
signal boy leaning againsta a guy rope.
In his haad the boy held the red Zig
nal flag with the white square in the
centre. Grabbing it from the private,
the officer made three or four passes in
the air.
"He's calling -'s ship" said one
o. the officers in the mess tent as he
read the signal.
What's he going to do?p inquired
ons of the others, and 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.. -'s compliments to
Mind say to him that he'sa dam