Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-04-07

part OF the Sixth Artillery came up
with four guns that were formerly
used by the Astor Battery. Two of
them were planted in front OF the
blockhouse and two about fifty yards
to the left, midway between the block
house and the convent. The former
were soon moved down to the bridge,
whereupon we ceased firing and those
of us who were on the blockhouse de-
detail were sent as a support to the
battery, in its advance up the road.
We were in two divisions of fifteen
men each, one for the two guns at the
bridge, the other for the two near the
convent. | was for the two near the
convent, but we all went up practical
ly together. At the bridge they
turned their attention from the earth
works on the right to the battery,
thereby drawing heavy infantry fire.
The horses were brought up and the
guns started forward, we keeping them
company, while the Mausers were
swapping overhead like Fourth of
July. 1t was just at this time that
the skirmish line began to move for
ward in a body, although on the ex-
treme left they had been driving the
Filipinos from their dikes. But now
the whole line began the charge, driv-
ing the insurrectos before them like
sheep, into and through the little town
Of Santa Ana, where many of the
Americans stopped, although the in.
surgents kept going, many of them
throwing their guns into the river and
swimming to the other side. Col.
Wholley was in the lead on foot, hav-
ing left his horse at the blockhouse,
much cooler than the proverbial Gu
cumber. Gen. King was in command
of the brigade and went down the road
accompanying our regiment. When
they got to where the San Pedro road
branches off, he called to the line to
halt, and called again, but owing
partly to the fact that he had no bug
Ter and the command could not be
heard, and partly 70 the fact that the
brigade did not want to halt, no at
tention was paid to the command.
Those who were close to him say,
that he then waved his hat and
shouted: Well, if YOU won't halt, 90
ahead and be d. and 60 ahead
they did, the line swinging to the left
and entering the town about the same
time that We did, who came up the
road.
"On the way up from the bridge,
the first halt the battery made was at
the junction of the San Pedro and
Santa Ana road. The halt was made
to silence, if possible, the infantry fire
that had been following up the road.
We were supposed to lie fiat on the
ground every time we halted, but in
consequence OF SO little damage being
done by the enemy's fire, which was
high, we were neglecting this precau-
tion and many of us stood up while
the battery was looking after the men
with the Mausers. While we were
here the shots began to get lower, cut
ting the grass around and frequently
striking tree close by. We were
here but few minutes, but one artil.
lerymsn was shot through the head
and another wounded in the foot.
Just before we got to this point, we
met Private Lawson of our company
going to the rear with a shot through
his thigh. He was back long enough
to have his wound dressed and within
twenty minutes was at the front again,
this time on horseback, and he has
stayed with his duty ever since.
ave were now in Santa Ana, and
the artillery received orders to fire all
native houses and the town was soon
in blaze. 1t takes about ten
minutes for one o: those bamboo
houses to be entirely consumed, the
bamboos exploding the while, so that
it is difficult to make ones self believe
that there is not infantry firing close
by. While the artillerymen were
burning the shacks. Gen. King ordered
the support to 60 through the streets
and yards of the more substantial
houses, to hunt for stray Filipino
soldiers who might be lurking about.
1t was while engaged in this duty that
l probably had my narrowest escape,
although the bullets came closer seve-
raj times. But this shot was fired d.
rectly at me from a distance of about
fifty feet. After going through several
yards and finding nothing, a dozen or
so OF us entered large house that is
now used by the colonel as regimental
headquarters. happened to be the
last one in and was within few feet
of the house when a bullet whizzed
past and went spat against the stone
wall of the house. 1 thought it was
some blanked fool firing into the yard
to see if there were any natives there.
l turned to 60 back and suddenly saw
a Filipino soldier behind the gate
with an ugly looking Mauser aimed at
me. might say that my hair stood
straight up, but it didn't. The only
feeling that was conscious of was,
that what was done had to be done
pretty quick. Under that impulse,