Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-04-07

Krupp guns and swarm Of in
surreCtos, was as level
as a billiard table and
a regular adobe quagmire
that we sank into from ankle
to knee deep every step.
run to that first dyke!
down, and fire at WILL" came
the orders from our Major, as
he stood as straight as an ar
row without the slightest ire
NOR in his voice. Forward |
COMPANY 3D." then Forward
company &C." to the next
dyke. On the left of the fort
there we're several banana groves
and native shacks with stone base
ments that some insurgents had oc-
cupied and from there they were
throwing a fierce cross fire into our
ranks. Still further to our left
they had entrenched a knoll or
little rise and it too was about
l 200 yards from us and company
sc" was sent with company &c"
of the Washingtons against it.
That left companies &c" and "B'
with hell in front and two good
sized hells on the left, besides sew
eral sharpshooters in our rear and
in the Danish Consul's houses.
Just as we got swung into line
fronting on the fort and the native
shack in the banana groves the
Major took his place between the
two companies. Lieutenant Hart
man in command of company &C"
and Lieutenant Martinson COM
pany "B,' assisted by Lieutcnants
Roos and Holden, all as cool as
veterants executing the orders Of
the Major with promptness most
commcndahle. Ever and anon the
clear steady voice of our own
Major could 'rbe heard above the
scream of shrapnel and Mauser,
Forward, company "B" "Come
up to the next ridge company &C"
"Fire intO1 that house boys"
"Fire low" $50 at them like you
were after deer" whats the
matter with Idaho" 'sThat's
grand" up and on to the next
dyke boys"
About half way across the fiat
We commenced to lose men pretty
fast. Some poor fellow would 60
down, then he would crawl on his
hands and knees through the mud
to the next little protection and
lay there. Now we are within 175
yards of the fort and there is Mt
language to describe the fire we
were passing through. Company
"B'' deploy to the right" They
did so on their hands and knees.
Company &C." forward, and
deploy to the right Company
3D." onward" came in rapid sue.
cession. and was executed with a.
much promptness, GOODNESS and
precision by the men as if going
through the figures Of a quadrillr
We reached the last dyke. the foot
is about sixty yards in front o.
company "B." Company "C
has driven them out of the banan;
5 groves and company &c" is NOV
, ing them down on the river bank
AT the same time company "C' il
closing in on the flank of Santa
Ana. Now comes our turn. Botf
: companies concentrate a most de
J structive fire upon the old fort
, IA bed bug couldn't live in it. y
| 1t was awful, yet it was reall,
grand. just roar and an ava
lanchc of lead Now the Filipino,
! are tumbling out Of the fort ant
our boys are rolling them over il
. all directions.
AS soon as we got them out o
) the fort panic seems to have seiz
ed them. They broke on ever,
side above and below us. Tn,
! slaughter became general. TIL,
r Idahos and Washingtons have il
4 all their own way. The enemy,
fire is weak and wild, ana ours re-
doubles every minute. The knoll
on our left is captured by til,
Washingtons and a block of insur
: rectos come pell nell down tn,
slope into that valley of death
In a very few minutes the grounG
is covered with dying and deat
natives. All of our men know
that the Major and about invent,
S other of their comrades were killet
or wounded. Company SOP ant
, the Washingtons did some fearful
execution at this place, with the
natives that company "C' drove
out of the banana groves; hun
5 dreds jumped into the river trying
. to escape to the other side but they
never reached either bank. The,
found it bad swimming, and not a
man ever came out of the water.
: At last the insurrect0s found
. that escape was out of the question
and poked up several white flags