The San Francisco call., 1899-03-25
BOYS
WHO FELL FIGHTING
OVERWHELMING ODDS
Two Brave Volunteers VentuPed
Far Into the Insurgents
Lines and Died
Like Heroes.

lieutenant and a private. The IN
surgents returned the fire and retreat
ed The battle really began when Ser
geant O. A. Curtis ordered his men 10
fire upon a large body of the insurgents
who were attempting to cross the river
opposite his post. Volley after Volley
was fired in brief succession, when
sent the insurgents back scrambllng 10
their Notifications. Sergeant curtis
was wounded and compelled to retire.
When the battle began the insurgents
seemed to be ready, and the Nebraska
regiment was made the center OIL thelf
attack The American soldiers, how
ever stood them off, and positions
were held firmly all along the line. At
daylight Companies L, NJ and {, led
by Captain Hollingsworth, advanced TO
drive back the insurgents, who mad ell
fected crossing farther up the river
and had gained position on the lett
flank from which they poured terrlnc
fire on the advancing line. The ad-
vance was made by rushes, and 1t was
a magnificent sight to behold. The
command forward, guide center"
could be plainly heard, and the long
line moved forward in as perfect order
as though on drill. notwithstanding
the fact that they had TO advance a
quarter of a mile in plain view OF the
enemy, who poured upon them con-
drove the insurgents back to their boat
and across the river.
The Utah Battery, acting in conjunc-
ton with the Nebraska troops, did
great service. The constant and fear
less forward movements of the Ameri-
can troops seemed to strike terror to
the hearts of the insurgents, who, re-
treated hastily leaving seventy-nin
dead comrades behind a stone wall. It
was here that E. G. Edlund of Com
pany B was killed and Fred Kuhn of
Company wounded. a Mauser bullet
passed through Captain Hollings-
worth's hat.
There is general anxiety among the
patients of the brigade hospital to get
well sc they can take their places al
the front. A close watch has to be kept
upon the delirious wounded, who are
constantly trying to escape from the
hospital Some Of the weakest willfully
deceive the nurses as to their condition
in the hope that they may be dis
charged before entirely mended. If the
hospital authorities would only allow
it the firing line would be reinforced
with every patient in the hospital who
is able to walk. The hospital is crowded
with wounded insurgents, who are
carefully attended by American sur
geons, and the Captives seem to be sur
prised at the kindness of the men who
hold them prisoners
The insurgents are using brass coated
bullets, which infiict shocking wounds
whenever an American soldier is
struck Blood poinoning almost in
variably results from q wound inflicted
by one Of these bullets.
Thomas Bryan, a member of the
| California regiment, was shot through
the groin by a Remington. The wound
was not considered dangerous, but two
hours after he was brought in from
the field blood poisoning set In, lock
| law ensued and fifteen minutes later
Bryan was dead.
A report has reached here of the seiz-
ure by the insurgents of the American
steamers Saturnus, San joaquin, Dor
! Jose. Gloria and San Pedro, the captain
of the latter boat being murdered.
On February II Admiral Dewey, Cap
! tain Lamberton of the Olympia anc
several ladies went up the river in the
admiraPs launch and visited San Pedro
Macate While at the headquarters OF
| General King the insurgents sent 6
| shower of Mauser bullets whizzing al
around and the naval party hastily re
turned to the launch and went full
! speed down the river, where the ladies
were out of danger.
There is no such name as Rackarc
given in the roster of the First Cali
fornia regiment. The nearest ap
proach to it is the name of Guy G
Packer, an Oregon boy, given in the
list of recruits sent to Company C Of
the First after the regiment entered
Manila.l