Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-11-22
A BOY IN BAT TIE. I
:sisoots,n the Tenth Psnnsylvania's Mas.
rot who went to Manila.

q q
John McDermott, the mascot of the
Tenth Pennsylvania volunteers, is
probably the youngest American boy
who Las gone to Manila aud actually
taken part in the war excitement. He
was only little over twelve years old
and small for his age, when be. started.
on his long voyage across the Pacific.
When O mere tot lie Was d familiar
figure OIL the stfeststSf Pittsburg rs a
"shiner" Who Eever slightsd job,
aud later he added the business OF q
ssnewsy'' to his fieSns of earning q
livelihood. '.Boots" says he belongs!
to the Tenth regiment, but the soldiers,
Say the regiment belongs to him. His,
acquaintance with the Tenth came
through the honest shines he put
uron their footwear. They nicknamed
him '.Boots." s &
One day when the train bearing the:
regiment to Mount Gretna to attend q.
state encampment was aboat to pull,
out from the stntioh d private, spying
"Boots" on theplhtform, bundled him
into the car and managed To keep him.
in hiding until the regiment reached
it's destination. He Mas only ten.
years old then, bht being bright md
active and willing to make himself
useful, the soldiers took to him kind.
ly. After his first visit to Mt Gretna
be became m ATTENDANT on The rsgi.
ment wherever it went, and for two
Years before going to Manila he tented
with it Oh the old camp ground.
He was with his boys in camp when;
the word was received that they were
to 90 to Manila and he decided at once
to go along. The train bearing the
soldiers to the Pacific coast stripped d
few minutes ut the Fittsburg station
to allow the soldiers last word with
tho friends thronging tie platform.
Knowing his mother was too i'll to be
there, "Boots' spraag down the steps
and, rushing through the crowd, made
his way to his home to kiss her good
bye.
With q hasty farewell to, the other
members of the family he hurried
back, reaching the station just IN time
to swing himself on the rear end of
the moving trnin. Until after tho,
train left Ogden, Utah, Boots"
shared in the best that was going.
But, for some reason, the conductor
then ob;,ected to his ,presents Among
the men, and ordered him to leave the
train at the nsxt station. l.ys.s
Instead of obeying,. ""Boots" crept
under q seat until the next station was
passed, when he ventured 10 creep
out again. Angry at being thus baf-
fed, the conductor began n seriesof
prosecutions against the little fellow
which, despite the threats of the sol
dier,, continued init the train reached
San Francisco. ssBoo.s" was too
plncky 10 give in, and when tired OF
crouching under seats he went out and
scranDling to the top of the train,
found room to stretch himself.
"Boots" was uniformed at San
Francisco at the expense cf the SOL
diels and he sailed with them oh the
steamer 7e laDde for Manila. During
the voyage he fell down a hatchway
md broke his arm, but, remembering
he was soldier, he bore the pain nm
complainingly.
On August 1 at Manila the regi-
ment was attacked by the Spaniards.
"Boot-" passed the danger line timo
after time, carrying ammunition to the
fighters and water to quench the thirst
of the wounded and dying. Once
while handing ammunition to sol
dier a bullet crashed through the
crown of his hat. He took his part III.
another battle little later, and again
became ministering angel to The
wounded. Late in the fall. when
fever broke out among the troops and,
his ''pel," Jim Doran, died, the of
fcers OF the regiment deemed it best
to send their mascot home. Hereached
Pittsburg, Dec. 4, 1893, and rousing
welcome awaited him.-N. I. Sun. i