Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-02

HfJt. anu every W DttEtl
tie, skirmisb or scout, brings to the
front some brave man. From the ranks
to a licutenancy at a single bound is
the story of gallant Dakota boy Civ
en- below. Some win prizes; others sim
ply do their duty and display that
nerve which is the badge of the true
soldier
A Dakotan of marvellous nerve is
Private Smith of Company E, First
South Dakota volunteers. Smith was
marked for victim of assassination
by the Filipinos while patrolljng the
most dangerous beat on the line.
Shortly after sunset two natives came
toward him in single file When chal-
lenged, they answered promptly with
the usual friendly words, ''Buenos
noches. amigo" meaning, Good even
ing, friend" AS the Filipinos passed
turning away he glanced sidelong at
the strangers, Il circumstance which
saved his life. The second Filipino in
the file had drawn his machete and
was actually springing forward to cut
down the amiahle sentry.
Smith lodged the blow so AS TO save
his skull, but the keen blade gashed
his cheek from temple to chin. Whirl-
ing upon his enemies, the nervy fellow
shot one through the heart before he
had gone three lengths. The reaction
from this effort. weak as he was from
pain and the loss of blood, caused
Smith to drop to his knees. But he
was not dead American yet. Reload
ing his rifle, he took careful aim and
brought down the other fleeing native
Just on the edge of bamboo thicket.
When Smith lay in the hospital, Gen
eral Otis called personally to praise
him for his bravery.
The hot fight at Mariquina found its
hero in the person of an aid-de-camp
with soldier blood in his veins. This
was Lieutenant John C. Gregg, scion
of tile Pennsylvania family which has
a fighting record. Young Gregg went
into battle with his chief, General
Hale. His horse was shot under him,
and as he bent down to unloosen the
saddle soldier warned him to be on
his guard, for the shot which had hit
his horse came from shaTpshooter liz
a tree near by. Instead of taking to
cover, as most of the men were do
ing, tie lieutenant stepped forward,
erect, with glasses in hand. Coolly un-
casing the glasses, he surveyed the
dangerous tree. A puff Of smoke, a
sigh, a quick grip of the hand to the
chest, and an American hero fell dead
on the blood bought soil of the Phil
ippines.
1t is natural TO discriminate in ia
vor of the valor which is displayed for
the rescue of Il comrade. A deed of
this kind. which would have won the
Victoria cross in the British army, was
performed by Corporal Reno, Fourth
cavalry, in one of the early skirmishes
with the insurgents. In an ambush
fight one of the troopers named Da-
vicki WAS wounded and left behind.
The party rushed for shelter, and then
it was discovered that Davicki could
not move. Reno dashed back under
fire, dismeunted and placed his wound
ed mate in the saddle. Holding ON by
the stirrup. he galloped the pony a
distance of 800 yards across the deep
stream to the shelter where his COM
panions stood. breathless, at this ex-
hibition of heroism. Reno was raw
recruit, but there is something in a
name. for General Jesse Reno was one
of the most gallant fighters of 1862
The navy in the Philippines has had
little chance TO win glory since the
Spanish feet was destroyed, but the
plight of the Spanish garrison at Ba-
Ter by the Yorktown developed q hero