Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-11-27
WAS HIT FIVE TIMES
SERGEANT HURLEY AT THE BAT
TIE OF SAN JUAN HILL.

Although Perforated by Bullets, He
Likes Wars Excitement, and Does
Not Mind Fever, Pneumonia, Etc.
So He Is Off for the Philippines.
Sergeant G.. L. Hurley formerly of
the Seventy-first New York Volun-
teers, has not had his patriotic ardor
quenched by five bullets which hit
him in different parts of his anatomy.
He recently enlisted in the Fortieth
United States Volunteers, which will
go at once to the Philippines to serve
for twenty-one months, the time for
which its members are enlisted.
Sergeant Hurley is a modest young
fellow, apparently not at all anxious
to talk about his exploits in Santiago.
Yes, | was hit five times in the
charge up San Juan HILL" said he, in
response to question. Once
thought | was gone, but the doctors
pulled me through all right, although
| had fever, pneumonia and almost
everything else you can think of be-
fore | got well.
Il should think that when a man
had undergone such an experience as
you have that he would have had
enough of war to last him for gen
eration," his visitor said
We'll, like the excitement of it.
am young man and can spare enough
time to go over to the Philippines for
a couple of years. 1t will be nice to
talk about when l get back-if l ever
do come back. You know luck can't
last forever.
Il don't know what l can tell you
about that charge up San Juan Hill.
It's been written up in hundred diff
ferent ways already. | was only a
private in the Seventy-first New York.
and only saw part of the fight. The
boys in the Seventy-first were all fight
ers and anxious to go ahead. If some
of the officers in the regiment had
been a little more active we'd have
made better record.
Il guess all the boys were pretty
well excited when the charge was
made. l know l was. | didn't think a
bullet could hit me, and at the time
thought | wouldn't care if it did.
"All at once | felt my legs give way
under me, and | knew | had been hit
| had Mauser bullet in my right leg,
and the other boys had to carry me
back to the firing line, and from there
to the hospital, where my wound was
dressed. ! hadn't lost enough blood
to make me very weak, and as soon
as my leg was bandaged, up l got out
of the hospital and went back to the
front again.
Il was all right during the rest of
the day until about 5 o'clock. Three
other bullets hit me, but they didn't
go deep, and | kept on fighting. One
of them lodged in my arm, and the
doctor had quite time getting it out.
They had to cut my arm open at two
different places before they could find
it. About 5 o'clock | got the wound
that laid me out. 1t struck me in the
neck and went straight through, COM
ing out on the other side. After that
| had to give up.
"The Seventy-first made good rec
ord that day. We lost % killed and
between 70 and 80 wounded, but it
didn't discourage the boys bit. There
were soldiers dead and dying all
about us on the hill that day, but we
were all so excited that no one paid
much attention to them, although we
helped them as much as we could.
After the battle | was laid up for
five months in the hospitals in Santi-
ago before DelnS Drought 10 Lne UnlC-
ed States. We had pretty hard time
down there on account of the climate
and the rations, but none of the boys
kicked much. When | was brought
back to New York | was in the hos
pital about four months. When | came
out | was in tair shape, but my lungs
We're little weak, and | came out
west to recuperate. When | felt all
right wanted to go back to the army,
for | liked the excitement, although |
wouldn't like to be soldier all my
! life
After the Santiago campaign Hurley
was made sergeant. He enlisted as
a private in the Fortieth but his COM
rades say that on account of his reputa-
ton for bravery and experience as a
soldier he will be made sergeant
when the regiment is organized. After
he has served his term of enlistment
in the Philippines, he says he will set
tie down in New York city, where he
has lived for a long time.