The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-11
TWO HOLD A BRIDGE.
Dramatic Story of the War Told by
Major General Lawton.

San Francisco, Aug. Hone of the most
dramatic stories of the Filipino war was
that told to Major Grant of the Utah ar
tillery by Major General LaWton in the
latter's tent at the front near Manila
shortly before Grant left for home. Gen
''Soon after leaving NIaIolos I entered
the enemy's country and was greatly an
nOyed by their sharpshoOters- one morn
ing had ordered a halt to make recon
nOissance in the front Sitting on a log
some distance to the front OF where my
staff and I were I saw man in civilian
dress watching operations I asked who
piled that he did not know, but that he
had seen him one the firing line many
times; and; although ne had been ire
quently ordered to the rear, he had dis
obeyed the order. The lieutenant said !:
He mas been continuously IN front OF our
lines under fire, but the men can't keep
him away
/ said. Who are you and what are you
doing. out there?' He replied; I am an
American citizen, my name is Young. I
have been scout in the Indian campaigns
of Montana and the DakOtas and L
thought ID come out here TO Try and help
the boys a little.
I recalled his name as one of the men
VINO mad done gallant service against the
redskins. I asked him if he could pick
twenty-five men like himself from the
North Dakota regiment He SAID that ne
could and I at once appointed him chief
OF the scouts at a salary OF Sl9U q month
he accepted and the next day was ready
Tor business.
"On the way to San Ysidro the enemy
had crossed the river on our approach and
fired the bridge Then Young's scouts
showed their mettle- The brave fellows
Waded into the water on either side of
the bridge, and, using their campaign
hats to dip up the water. they put out the
IRE on the bridge while Young and a man
of the name of Harrington, his lieutenant,
armed only with big army revoIvers,
stood in plain sight on the bridge cover
ing their men When Filipino raised
his head above the trenches a revolver
bullet ended his career The brave Offic-
ers held the bridge amid a storm of bull
lets till finally Young fell. shot through
the knee Harrington ran TO his wounded
leader, and, with a pistol in each hand,
stood over the fallen man, shooting at the
Fflipinos who tried to pick him off. He
held his position until the soldiers came
up and carried Young to the rear and lat
er sent him to the Manila hospital. Our
men crossed the bridge and drove the in
surgents out.
"A few days later Harrington took his
men to the front. and. after a hard march
stopped for supper at o'clock He sat
down. leaned against a bank of earth
and waited for the mess call. He did not
respond when the call came so the men
went to look for him. They found him a
corpse, leaning back, his head resting on
his breast, with his rife lying by his side.
He had fallen asleep and a stray Mauser
bullet had passed through his neck, kill
ing him.
'The next morning I sent this personal
message to Young in the Manila hospital:
Harrington died at o'clock last night
A few hours later received from the
patch: Young died at 3 O clock last night
So the two brave men had closed their
last campaign at almost the same mo-
Tnent.''