Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-02

IfN .-AS personal deeds Of
A@e.2@2sal] their foe than
those engaged at the storming of San
Juan from the fact that the oombatants
at Ell Caney had a fairly good view of
each others position.
The Spanish hero Of the fighting at
Ell Caney is General Joaquin Vara del
Rey. General del Rey brought up a
brigade from San Luis to help in the
defense Of Santiago, and it fell to his
lot to conduct n forlorn hope at Ell Ca
ney. His force consisted Of 467 Spanish
regulars, armed with Mausers, and AZ
guerrillas, carrying Remingtons. The
first indication Of the American advance
from Sevilla was given on June 80,
when the balloon arose behind the
American camp, and soon after Skaters
army disappeared in the opening of the
jungle east of San Juan river.
All day and night the 30th Del Rey's
men dug trenches around the stone fort
at Ell Oaney and in front of the loop
holed houses of the village. The trenches
were three feet deep, and the men had
oA''io ~ wan VI w III taOIu. Ill tub
stone fort so regulars took their stand,
and a good fight they made with their
Mausers. The fort withstood a bonn
bardment of shells, then a fusillade of
bullets from all sides. Fighting with
out artillery, the 80 regulars kept off 20
times that number of Americans on
July !, although the enemy had lodg-
ments at close range.
And Del Rey's troops never dreamed
of an easy victory. The Americans held
their end up, a fact the Spaniards noted
at every stage. Said one of Del Rey's
aids: 1.-THE enemy's fire was incessant,
and we answered it with equal rapidity.
l have never seen anything equal to the
courage and dash Of those Americans,
who, stripped to the waist, Offering
their naked breasts to our murderous
fire, literally threw themselves ON our
trenohes-on the very muzzles Of our
guns.
"Our execution must have been terri
BILE. We had the advantage Of our posi-
ton and moved them down, but they
never retreated or fell back an inch. As
one man fell another would take his
place, with grim determination and un-
finching devotion to duty in every line
Of his face"
This sublime devotion in the assail-
ants called for its match on the part Of
the defenders. All this time the 5l4
men under Del Rey were standing off at
least 1000 Americans at distances Of
700 to 2, 900 yards. The Spanish am
munition was dwindling fast, and about
3 o'clock, after Capron' e guns had bored
great holes in the walls of the stone
fort, word reached the general that tho
last round Of ammunition had been sent
to the fort. The surviving regulars there
were holding on, with breaches in the
wall large enough to admit a man and
500 American rifles busy within 500
yards. With this last round went the
order to make good use Of it, then ''sal-
vese quien pueda" (save who CAM.
Immediately after giving the first Or
der of the day, suggesting retreat, al.
though slaughter and defeat were in
evitable, Del Rey fell, shot through
both legs. One of his aids was killed by
his side while he spoke to him. Before
the wounded commander could be re.
moved to O place of cover he was shot
through the head and killed. The four
men bearing him were also hit, and his
brother and aid-de-oamp, Lieutenant
Antonio del Rey, wounded and taken
prisoner. A decoration on General del
Rey's breast fell into tho hands of the
party of Americans which buried him,
and General Shafter afterward returned
1t to the family of the dead warrior.
During the byplay of the last round
and its tragic sequel the Americans
charged between Ell Caney village and
the fort, and the 30 defenders of the
latter were cut off and surrounded. Still
they fought or. General Cbaffee's story
has already been published to the effect
that when be saw the reckless valor Of
the Spaniards in fighting against fate
around their citadel he told their com
mander that if he would call on his fol-
lowers to surrender their lives would
be spared. The officer, already wound.
I'd, shrugged his shoulder and exclaim-
cd, with a cynical smile, 1.-THE fortune
of war" After that the Spar;ards in
the trenches were shot az they attempt.
cd to get away, and even while aiming
at Americans. Already the flag of the
fort was down and the Spaniards at Ell
Caney village in retreat.
Spaniards who fought in the open at
FL Caney were equally brave. Major
Whipple Of the Second Massachusetts
took a Mauser all stained with blood
from a PROSTATE Spanish officer, who
held it in his death grip, and had evil
IDENTIFY defended the picket line against
the American advance picket.
Cervera's boldness in handling his
squadron raised the estimate of Spanish
courage in the eyes of Americans. One
instance Of his GOODNESS in action places
him beside the fighting sailors of the
world. The pilot who took the flagship
Maria Teresa out Of the channel on July
8 was a harbor pilot. He stood by Ger.
vera's side in the forward tower and
said thar the aumiral was as cool as
though at anchor In his cabin. After
the American guns opened he simply
observed the channel and the enemy's
ships and asked the pilot, "When can
we shift the helmi" He wished to turn
to starboard. In q few seconds he re.
peated, pilot, advise me when we can
shift the helm" A few minutes later
the pilot said, "Admiral, the helm NAV