The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-10-26
FIGHTERS FROM NORTH YAKIMA
Company Had Severe Losses In SAINT
Ana Battle.

probably the best right TO consider Santa
Ana, the battle Of February 5, as the
severest of the entire war in the Phil
ippnes. The company lost three men
killed outright and one MORALLY
wounded in that engagement, all being
shot within short space of time. The
company participated in the charge on
| Bloody Knoll, but fortunately and
strange to say none Of its members re-
ceived any wounds in that charge, all of
the injured being hurt before the regi-
ment had been ordered to move for the
final charge.
The Yakima company was stationed in
a clump of bamboo, the only protection
they had being small hedge fence.
They were in position close to the
knoll which t'orston took with success
later during the day. The members of
Company + were some OF them living on
! the ground, while Others were standing.
| The first to fall from an enemy's bullet
was Ralph +. Shearer, one of the pri-
Yates. He was wounded in the stomach
and was carried back to the hospital
lines. lie died the following day from
the effects of the wound. Private NJ. II.
Cherry was the next victim. He was
shot through the eye and died instantly.
A little while after, the men saw Private
Frank Smith toppled forward. He had
| A. l., in
stantly. 1t was after these men had met
their death that Forston took his battal-
ion toward the enemy. George b. Reic-
hart, private in the Yakima company,
was also instantly killed, but not while
with his company. He was doing duty
with Company II holding blockhouse IL,
and was shot through the heart. Ser
geant Schanno and Private John Cam
eron also received wounds before the
charge was ordered on the Bloody Knoll,
the former sustaining flesh wound near
the right knee, while the latter was
struck in the left thigh.
Private phi +. Van Buskirk was in
stantly killed near Pateros island on
March IA. The line had been ordered to
advance toward the island and capture
it as the insurgents were strongly IN
trenched in that position. In moving
forward Van Buskrk fell, shot through
the heart.
One of the bravest deeds of the fight at
Santa Ana was done by five members of
the Yakima company, one of them,
| Private w. c. Stephens, being slightly
| wounded, as was Sergeant H. W. Leach,
| who was also hurt, both receiving slight
flesh wounds. The men were sent to the
rear of the line for ammunition. 1t was
very hazardous detail for they were ex-
posed to CALLING fire from their flank.
The men fulfilled their task though,
carrying the heavy box of ammunition
back and distributing it to the men on
| the firing line.
Private Amos Washington felt the
sting of Mauser bullet on February %
during hot engage ment in which his
| company took prominent part. The
regiment had been stationed near Quad
eloupe church and for some time had
been annoyed by the persistency of the
enemy's sharpshooters, who would fire
| into the camp at all hours OF the day
and night. Companies + and II were
detailed to ascertain where the enemy
were lurking in the bamboo thicket and
in what force the Filipinos we're stationed
there. The companies were asked to
drive the enemy out if possible. After
steady advance, the men found that the
enemy had about 400 men opposed to
them. Many of the Fillpinos were
stationed behind a stone wall about 10
feet in height They held this position
with great determination and were able
for a time to keep the Americans at bay
There WAS an opening of about ten feet
in width in the front of this wall and
through this space the Americans could
see the enemy passing to and fro at in
tervas. The Americans kept such a
close watch on this space however, that
the enemy did not try often to pass be-
fore #, for they were sure to be received
with volley. The Americans soon per-
ceived that it would be impossible for
them to drive the Filipinos out by
charging directly, without great slaughter
being the result, so detachment was sent
around to the left to flank them. This
detachment was uuder the command of
Second Lieutenant Lemon of Company
L bn Iat ho-