The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-03-04
A FIGHT WHITING A FIcHTt
A comical "scrap" in the Trenehes ~
santiago.

~ tbAui
A comical "scrap'' I'm the Trencnes ~
Santiago.
A ssscrap'' between an Irishman anu
a Teutori In the American trencnes pc
fore Santiago, while the battle was on,
was so funny that the soldiers stopped
firing at the Spaniards to watch the
dissension in their own ranks, says ?
volunteer in the Chicago Times Herald.
Private Cassidy, Of Company r. Six
teenth d. 8. Infantry, Private Mueller
and Corporal Mulraney were facing
the foe side by side when Cassidy was
hit by Spanish don's bullet and sent
to that "bourne whence no traveller
returns" Mulraney was so busy
pumping lead toward Santiago that ne
failed to note his comrades death un-
til the poor fellow was being removed
I, from the firing line. Then he saw
Mueller In the act OF approprlating
two cartridge belts, one filed and the
others empty. Now ammunition was
TO be had in abundance that morning.
Every soldier in the regiment was sup
posed to have all the cartridges ne
could shoot away, regardless OF &C,
curacy of aim, so it CALLED Corpora
Mulraney to see another-and Ger.
man at that-taking possession OF what
once belonged to his chum.
eff ye had amy respect for the dead
we'd lave thin cartridges alones" SAID
Mulraney with scowl on his face that
would have scared Spaniard into
surrender. 'It isn't the likes OF yez,
We Dutch duffer, that can fall heir to
me friend Cassidy's belongings. IN
thank We, an with bad. grace at that,
to pass me thin belts before I take
punch at your dirty face"
"Dot vas all right" replied Mueller
defantly, his phlegmatic blood stirred
by the heat of battle. Cassidy vas
good Teller, all right, andt he toldt me
I could hat dose ammunitions ven he
vas"
eye lie, ye Dutch robber!" CRIED
Mulraney, dropping his rifle and shak
ing his fist under Mueller nose. "Ye'l
put thin cartridges down this mimi
or I'll make yez wish a Mauser hat
sthruck ye instid of me fist"
ST vas no liar" retorted Mueller
also dropping his rife, s'undt 1 cal
vip any Irish dog robber who"
This pointed allusiou to the fac
! that Mulraney had once been
"shiker" for his captain was more tina
: Mulraney cared to stand, and hi
!. brawny arm Strengthened with stun
? ming effect on Mueller cheek. Almos
as quickly the Germans fist landed o
Mulraney's nose, and then, to tn
wonder of their comrades on eithe
i, side, the two men went down together
! striking, kicking and biting with CON
" plete indifference for the fierce battl
= in progress. Before either combatar
| had inflicted any particular harm upo
= his opponent young lieutenant il
: terferred and ordered the men back
- their places, with the assurance thu
:, . each would suffer severely for such
!, fragrant breach of discipline.
. For few minutes both men pulle
q their triggers with fair degree
= regularity, Notwithstanding the. CO.
q slant exchange of civilities which the
- could not forego, but Mulrane
: changed the situation suddenly wht
he discovered that no commission
a officers were near enough to balk b
scheme of vengeance.
ot IF ye're not coward yeW r.
!" down the hill bit of ways behil
y. the trench, I" Mulraney muttered to /
=, = foe, "an' whin meet ye at the bt
.. tom may hivin hev mercy onye befo
q Tn trough wild vel"
- Mueller looked to the rear and 81
" a steep slope of nearly fifty feet and
X tangled growth Of shrubbery at t
bottom. He glanced along the line
"a both directions and saw no should
n straps nearer than. dozen files, al
" then accepted the challenge by ca
:, ing himself out of the trench al
@ Q swiftly rolling toward the shrubber
- Before he had traversed half the d
- lance Mulraney was descending in t
). same fashion, and q resumption OF b
" tilities ensued Immediately upon
-, arrival at the foot of the slope.
" It might be stated parenthetica
;. that big captain separated Mulrar
~ and Mueller and sent them back OF
more to their places on the firing Iii
: where they acted like good soldi
the rest of the day. After the fig
liza ing was over Mulraney lost his oh
W. rons and several months pay. 9
re Mueller suffered even worse punt