The Anaconda standard., 1899-06-05
TRAGIC INCIDENT IN PHILIPPINES.
One of Many Instances of Individual
Daring That Our Men Performed.

One of Many Instances of Individual
Daring That Our Men Performed.
People in the states do not appreciate
the intensity and horrors of the strug-
gle in the Philippines-that the hospi-
tails in the fallen city are crowded with
wounded soldiers; that for months the
invading army has been broiled by the
tropical sun and soaked by the tropical
rains; that the men have fought in the
muddy, steaming trenches by day and
slept in them by night, and that all the
time they have been worried by the
most exasperating kind of warfare pos
sible, that of guerrilla bands. The mass
of American people know only that the
soldiers camped near a river, which
has the heather name of Pasig, are
daily beating back hordes of black saw
ages, who have neither race nor clothes,
enlightenment nor a single desire save
to. be obstreperous.
Here is one of a thousand cases of
individual daring which took place in
recent skirmish several miles back
from the bay. The enemy was some
where in the hills. Lieutenant Boyd
of the 4th United States cavalry re-
ceived orders to pick a squad of men
and go out to place the rebels. He
plChtu Ou IlGIl' lIOlIl ulG bl Tile
and three non-commissiOned officers In
the detachment there was raw young
ster whose name was Reno, also an
other private named Davicki.
The outfit had planned a scout of sew
eral days, and carried a hundred rounds
of carbine ammunition and a score Of
six-shooter cartridges apiece. The third
afternoon out the squad was riding eau
tiously through a valley trail. A small
stream was on the left and wooded hills
rose to the right The cavalry head
quarters were six miles away. The
troopers were riding through a rain
storm. This was an old story for the
veterans in Manila.
All at once a ragged volley screamed
down upon them from the hills. They
had crept within range of a rebel band.
The cavalrymen were disconnected, for
not a rebel could be seen. They had
been marching in a column of twos.
"Twos-left about" shouted Lieu
tenant Boyd. The command was
obeyed.
"Trot!'' called the lieutenant He
acted wisely in leaving the open place,
not knowing the strength of the party
in the hills.
"Gallop!'' was the next order. The
men were now in a full and graceful
dash for the stream. The forward set
Private Winter was riding in the rear
set with the youngster named Reno.
The former was swaying in the saddle,
having received wound somewhere in
the body. The whistling of the deadly
Mausers was in the air. There was
only one man in the set just forward Of
Reno and the wounded trooper.
Reno checked his horse and looked
back. Through the rain a hundred
yards away he saw Private Daviski
dsentangling his limbs from his fallen
troop horse. Reno wheeled his animal
and raced back through the storm Of
rain and lead.
.DaviclSi was limping toward him now
and the wet turf around him was pune
tured with bullet holes. The air was
full of others. Reno reached the
wounded man, dismounted and pushed
Davicki up into the saddle.
Then he firmly grasped the tail Of the
troop horse with one hand and smartly
slapped the animals fianks with the
other The rest of the squad now out
of range, waited for Reno and the
wounded man to come up.
"That was a hot-foot for your life,"
gasped the young trooper as he re-
gained the detachment.
And so it was. Not one man in so
could have done it and come out