The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-13
FIGHTING THE F|L|P|KOS
Sergeant Maxeiner Describes His
Thrilling Experiences.
IN THE SIGNAL CORPS
Ee Put in ~ Hours at the Telegraph
Key Without Sleep-Moving His In
strun1ent as MacArthur's Head
quarters We're Changed.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Bozeman, April 1.-THE following in
teresting letter was received by the
Standard correspondent a few days ago
from Sergeant A. NJ. Maxeimer, 18th
Co., U. S. volunteer signal corps, sta
toned at Manila. The writer was at
one time bookkeeper at the Northern
Pacific depot, and has held several posi-
lions under the Northern Pacific Rail
road company during late years, one of
which was operator at Butte. After a
few opening remarks the letter reads
as follows:
Il have had a good time since COM
ing here, but was thoroughly tired of it
up to the opening of hostilities with the
insurgents on Feb. 4, and am now will
ing and glad to stay until they are
piece of Shooting iron taken away
from them. They are the most afro
cious and reacherous lot Of animals
that ever existed.
IT shall not attempt to give very
graphic description of events which
happened to our regiment, as there is
not enough time, but shall give you
my own humble and warm experience,
for to me it certainly was hot. Too
much praise cannot be given to the
soldier lads, for all did their respective
work with untiring effort. and each and
every one should be decorated with
suitable emblem. The one branch of
the service which, from a newspaper
point of view, has been neglected, is
the volunteer signal corps, both here
and in Cuba. Our work, while it per-
tains chiefly to the official departments,
has been wondered at and highly
praised on all sides, but it SEEMS from
its very Importance, to have been kept
from the public eye.
When the first attack was made on
Feb. at a bout $50 p. m. the telegraph
operator at the Nebraska outpost i'm
mediately notified headquarters and in
less than 10 minutes the whole eighth
army corps was on the alert for action.
I was stationed for the day at the Mon
tana outpost on Bulumbay road, a
thiclSly settled insurgent district COM
panies Fl and M We're on duty there
We We're attacked at 10 p. m. and bap-
tized with a heavy fire from all sides.
I notified the city, but received no def
mite response, as the wires were being
tempered with. Our orders were in
case of attack to retreat 200 yards to
the San Lasaron cemetery The signal
corps had previously strung a wire into
the graveyard for just such a move
ment The field officer told me to go
back to the cemetery with my instru-
ment and cut in BY this time the
Mauzers were flying thick and fast.
Disseminating in the dark, gathering
what supplies l could carry, and with
my telegraph table. I made the run Of
my life 1t seems funny that I selected
TO vel no
treat. but figuring that a good footing
was half the run. I went down the road,
the bullets flying past me like hail,
leach having a peculiar sOund-ping-
pins-ping. I reached the cemetery
safely, connected the instrument, only
to catch a couple of words when the
wire was cut from inside our lines. 7
made another trip to an abandoned
post and returned under fire with the
rest of my traps. At 1910 sent up a
red rocket, which was the signal to be
used in case of emergency when the
wires were cut. The signal was seen
and reinforcements Were sent, the Mon
tana boys having held the barefoots
back nobly. About 5 a. m. Sunday an
other general attack was made all
along the line. Our post was rein
forced with several Montana compan-
les, among them being that of our
friend Captain Keown of Bozeman, and
also two guns of the Utah light artil-
lery. The boys more than thinned the
enemy's line. Shall never forget the
sound of the first cannon fired by the
Utahs. There was loud report. a
flash Of fire. and then as the deadly
missile travelled on its mission there
was "A humming sound and when it
s struck and burst, something happened
to the Filipinos, for there was a lull
in the firing for fully 10 ,minutes-the
shell put the fear of God in them. All
day on Sunday the enemy was driven
back for miles. In our immediate front
there occurred one of the most spec
taculor movements in the annals of
warfare. With the goth Kansas and Sd
artillery on the left; the Montanans.
the 10th Pennsylvania, a Utah gun sup
ported by the South Dakotas on the
right grand charge was made across
"A rice field resulting in the driving of
the niggers out of La Iona church. the
Chinese graveyard and a fortified
blockhouse. My Office was moved
ahead to the Chinese hospital. where
the night was passed telegraphing. On
Monday Feb 6. the troops strength
ened their position and the signal corps
strung wires General Macarthur haf-
ing taken the field Sunday, now moved
his headquarters to La Iona chuf$h
and my telegraph instrument was put
in there. Worked that NIGHT and was
relieved Tuesday morning to get some
sleep, having put in Y hours A flag
signal station was established on top
of the church. There being no way to
get up we got a boy to climb the light
ming rod and fasten a rope to a corner,
then we climbed IN hand over hand.
Nothing happened of much account I'M
til Thursday. ] was then on the dome
of the church sending messages with a
torch when we were fired upon by the
insurgent sharpshooters. The Nauzers
came very close to our heads and final
ly one struck the dome. aliehting with
in few feet of me. This proved to be
a brass-covered Remington, as 7 got il
the next morning. We We're ordered
down by General Macarthur. Such is
the life of a signalman almost every
day almost every boy in the two COM
panies having had similar experiences
FRIDAY, Feb. TO- will always be a red
letter day to me. 7 was detailed to sig
nal with Dewey's fleet, giving them the
word to fire etc. At $3.50 p. m. the hal
opened. We were directed to sigma