The suburban citizen., 1900-04-14

II found that Lieutenant Nesbitl
had taken an advantageous position.
which afforded him the opportunity 10
fire into the confused mass OF bandits
with terrible effect and at the same
time to cut of their escape from Salu.
pitan by the only trail in that diree,
tiou.
@''Sergeaut Bennett soon arrived
with the other men who we're able To
travel, making in all htty.fve tired
soldiers for the work ahead, the re.
mainder being too much exhausted to
join the command sent Sergeant
Bennett to the right to fire the village
and to post himself so that he could
cut OF the escape Of the robbers to
the hills on that side. felt quito
sure that they would not try to come
in the direction in which they had
first seen my men.
Shortly after we opened fire the
village seemed to be suddenly desert
cd, the riAemen alone remaining at
their posts. The robbers did not,
however, leave the place but, much
to my surprise, went into the houses,
which afforded no protection except
to screen them from view, and,
stranger still, the deadly fire of our
men could not dislodge them, as volley
after volley failed to bring any Of
them out.
'It occurred to me that at this rate
our supply of ammunition would be-
come exhausted aud the village still
remain in possession of considerable
force OF the enemy so / concluded
they would have to be attacked a.
close quarters and poked out OF the
houses.
"My force was too small for me to
retain a reserve under my immediate
command, and sorely felt the need
of it now. / could not take the force
from the hills for fear the bandits
would avail themselves Of the oppor-
tunity to escape, So having two meu
with me, I sent one to each of the de-
tachments for fifteen men, aud then,
with Trumpeter Steele, ran down the
hill toward the village In the dead
space under the hill the trumpeter
sounded the assembly repeatedly, so
the men sent for would know where to
assemble.
81 took the position of centcr
skirmisher of the party and directed
Trumpeter Steele to sound the charge,
telling the men that at the last note
was going forward and expected them
to 60 with me,
"At the last note Of the trumpet we
sprang gp over the bank into the viii
lage.
"This sudden countercharge by the
men whom the bandits had few
minutes before probably regarded as
their victims completely demoralized
them. They became panic-strickeu
and dispersed, deeiug down tie hill,
while our boys poured a deadly fire
into them at close range so long as
they were in sight,
"a notable incident of the fight was
the killing of the chief of the baud,
tall, handsome man, who looked like
q Spaniard
she was apparently a person Oi
great importance and influence; was
equipped with O good Winchester
rifle, a revolver aud fine talaboDg, or
kind OF broad sword; he also lad u
fine pair OF field glasses of French
make.
"a man of superb courage, he used
his Winchester from his horse.
"He died as hard as be fought.
When pierced by two bullets through
the breast he fell from his horse,
rolled, plunged and scrambled over
the ground like a chicken beheaded.
sit was now 8. 80 q. m., the affair
having lasted in its various phases for
two hours and fifteen minutes.
THE men were now afforded an op.
portunity to get breakfast, but ex-
pressed desire to go elsewhere.
"The stock was driven in from tho
grazing ground; chickens, pigs aud
goats were killed to be brought in for
food for tho soldiers. Great quanti-
ties of rice and various kinds Of pro-
visions were destroyed, also house
hold goods Of great variety, the ac-
emulation, probably, Of years OF
plumber and robbery.
"We burned the town.
''As we moved out OF the noun.
tains into the valley the command
presented a remarkable sight.
almost every man carried one or
more Of some sort Of baDdi weapon
spear, bolo, tc.--and the soldier who
did not have a bunch OF chickens,
young pig, kid or some such thing
was the exception.
"The combat resulted IN the killing
Of $50 bandits, according to count.
The Intelligent Mules.
rnI-. 49,. IL. u. L. Ia