The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-12-07


The event which COST Griff his aural
appcndage, and obliged him to rely on
the artiiicer to restore his physiognomy
to normal appearance, happened in
tho summer OF '98, when the roar of
cannon shook tho sodden hills OF the
Pearl OF the Antilles and the roll and
rattle of musketry filed the island.
1t was the first Of July, half an
hour after the charge on San Juan
Hill. The soldiers, using bayonets as
ontreuching knives, were throwing up
temporary earth work in desperate
haste. The scene was one Of intense
excitement and activity when an Off
Ger, running along the line of the
Tenth Infantry, suddenly stopped and
shouted:
Corporal Grinl"
Here, SIR" responded soldier,
jumping TO his feet and coming to at
tontion.
''Take detail of twelve men, 90
down on the bottom there, and clean
out few of them sharpshooters."
Ivory well, SIR"
''And don't come back again til!
you've So. least half dozen of EN-, "
continued the Officer. savagely, as
Grif saluted and started Off to pick out
his detail.
Long service in the Apache country
around Fort Sill and Prescott Bar.
racks had made Griff Indifferent tc
danger, and he experienced only q
strange thrill of savage delight al
having been selected to lead thi;
squad on tho hunt for human game
where no quarter would be asked anG
none given, and every man would
shoot to kill.
The bottom referred to was broad
plain across which the soldiers hat
just charged in reaching the hill
Tall, thick grass covered it from ent
to end, and it was dotted here ant
there with bread-fruit trees, in whose
bushy tops were concealed many Span
ish rihemen.
just after dusk that evening Grit
again encountered the officer on top O
the hill.
"Well," said the latter as the cor
poral touched his hat, "do you wan
to see me?"
II jest want to report, captain, an
ask fur another detail"
"What d'you want?" began the of
ficer, and then peering intently through
the gloom a moment said sharply:
"Griff, what's the matter with you
ear?"
"NothiD', sir, nothin', as I know
Of was the leconic response.
Nothing! Why, it's all blood you
left ear is gonew
"Oh, I thought you meant my ear
sir, seein' as L only have one now
That" and Griff pointed to the side O
his face, chats where the last felle
missed me-"
"Yes, he did miss you, and prett
close, too" said the captain grimly
well, you 60 back to the hospits
about as quick as you know how an
get that wound dressed"
"But first off, sir, I'd like anothe
detail fur little while"
"What d'you want 'em for?"
ITO bury the first detail, sir.''
"Whatr'
The captain jumped as though sho
'"That's right, SIR"
Griff's voice trembled little as Ii
made answer.
Corporal, tell me about it," sal
the officer sadly as he sat down in
half-finished trench and buried h
face in HE hands.
well, sir, y'u sec it was this wa.
picked put my men-all old HAND
'cept Slocum-took 'em down T. u
foot o. tn hill, an deployed 'em tv
PAGES apart, Shorty Smith on tn rigl
an me on tn left. Then we advance,
meanin' to fire into tn first 'spicio,
lookin' tree we struck.
1--WE hadn't gone forty yards wht
Youngs, next T. me, says:
'Shorty's down.
That's rough luck says I.
fright through tn head, too, sd,
he.
$50 I halted 'em an walked over
th' other end of tn line, an there
was, dead. sure enough.
"Well, we held little confa
tryin' to determine where tn bull
come from. But 'twan't no use,
they was trees on all sides an in fro
an so much FIRM on the hill that '
couldn't tell u single shot on the b.
tom. Sc. tellin' 'cm to keep sha
watch out, ordered another advsnt
eve jest started of when Youn
went down like log, never maxim
sound. But ! didnt stop EN- the