The Anaconda standard., 1899-11-19
THE SIGNAL FOR BATTLE.
How Captain Jensen Deferred
the War Three Months.
CAPTURED THE .MAUSER
Had 1t Bsen Firsd 1t Would Have Been
the First Shot OF the Philippine
Insure ction : Curios
From Manila.

Great Falls. Nov. 1S.-All over these
United States are scattered souvenirs
of the land of Aguinaldo, brought
home by Uncle Sans returning volun-
teers: some are simply curios and some
have assisted in making history. To
the latter class belongs the Spanish
Mauser carbine brought home by Cap
tain Andrew. Jensen of Company e,
LIST Montana, Aand now standing in the
window Of Roberts & Brigham in Great
Falls.
The Mauser in question Is not pretty,
In fact it is just the opposite and re-
sembles as much as anything else the
tumbling-rod of horse power thresh-
ing machine; its caliber is 90 and one
can scarcely realize that the steel jack
eted messenger 1t spits forth on occa
sions is good for clean hole through
mans body at two and a half miles.
AS carbine the barrel is short, only
Is inches and covered with wood from
breech to muzzle; this is to keep the
barrel from burning the shooters
hands in rapid firing, and it evidently
Y has served the purpose intended, for it
is scorched and blackened almost as
badly as though it had lain for few
Mauser has evidently done some live
ly work in its time. The cartridges
come in clips of five and once they
are in the magazine the only way of
getting them out is by shooting them
out, and one cartridge Is always in the
chamber under the firing pin. This
little popularity may commend the
Mauser on the battlefield. but will
never popularize it as fireside COM
panion. A strap is inlaid in the stock
and reaches to the muzzle in order that
it may be more conveniently carried
across the back. It shoots 500 yards
with fiat sight. and is sighted further
up to 1000 yards. This particular
Mauser is No. c 2,0S2 and was made in
Berlin. On the breech and stock are
stamped the royal arms of Spain and
its official name, cut in the barrel
seems to be ''Mauser Espanola Mod
Ella The story of it's capture, how
subsequent career is interesting. Dur
ing the time that the 1st Montana was
dosing outpost duty outside of Ma
nila and three months previous to the
commencement of hostilit:es. Captain
Jensen. while at a considerable dis
tance beyond his sentinels noticed
native lodging through the UNDER
brush and acting SO queerly that he
resolved to watch him. and seeing him
at last taking aim at something, rush.
ed in upon him and struck the gun
up just in time to save the life of a |
corporal of the captains company who
was sitting a few yards away endeav-
oring to extract comfort from long
black native cigar AS the soldiers
were under strict orders not to kill
any Of the natives, this one was ad-
ministered a few very vigorous kicks
where they would do the most good
and passed up a sorer If not wiser Fill
tytH - q A-1
and the war was deferred for three |
months-because it was not fired. Had
it spoken who knows but that the war
would have been precipitated at that
time? 1t is almost certain that 1t
would, for the first shot fired by the
Filipinos was the signal for battle, and
had that shot been fired some three
ruary, who can tell what change |
might have been put on the face of
affairs
After its capture Jensen issued the
gun to his orderly sergeant, as 1t was,
owing to it's short barrel, a very con-
venient arm for an orderly's use. One
day before Malalos some one noticed
Filipino scout dressed in white on
a side hill mile or more away. The
man evidently felt perfectly safe, and
made no effort to conceal himself. The
orderly sergeants attention was called
to the man and an officer present
suggested he try the Mauser on him.
Adjusting the sights to 1000 yards
and resting on his knee, the sergeant
aimed carefully, pulled the trigger
and the man in white crumpled down
out of sight. The officer who was
watching with his glass said he saw
him collapse like toy balloon.
Next morning a detail passed over
the ground on the side hill and the
Filipino was still there. his face turned
up to the sky and the mark of the
steel-clad 2s-caliber bullet on his
breast. In one hand he still held a
half rolled cigarette.
An SO 1t is that Mauser c 2,0s2 is said
to have a history of peculiar interest.