The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-09-06
FELL FOR THE FLAG,
John Pears Kenosha Soldier in the
Philippines Gives his Life
For His Country.
TORTURED BEFORE HIS DEATH
Caught in Ambush by Insurgents-Ears Cut
Of And Left on Field of Carnage1to
Die-Men Avenge His Death.

Another Kenosha soldier has fallen
while fighting for the flag in the Phi
lippines, for yesterday a letter was re-
cieved in this city from Joseph Ma
l1owski, Kenosha man, who is
serving in the 47th, which gives the
details of the details of the death of
John Pears which occurred on indie
pendence day. Pears had gone with
the company from this city last Octo-
Der and had spent six months fighting.
lie was always one of the men in the
front line of battle and on this account
he was popular with the men. On July
Sd the commanding officer of Company
+ of the 47th, desired a detail of six
men to do some special skirmishing
and as Pears had a splendid record he
was elected leader of the party. The
party had been away from the camp
only short time when they were am
pushed by party of insurgents and
Pears fell, bleeding from half dozen
wounds. His five comrades escaped
but a terrible fate remained for the
leader. Wounded to death he was
taken up by the rebels and carried to
their camp where his gun and belt
were taken from him and his ears cut
off. He was then left to die on the
ground without aid or attention.
When the five men who had been with
Pears returned to the lines and told
the story of the death of their leader,
the men went out in all directions and
managed to capture one of the insur-
gents who had been connected with
the killing OF Pears. All wanted to
avenge the death of their comrade but
the officers 'interfered and the insur-
gent was turned over to the guards
and two days later he succeeded in
making his escape. After several days
the body of the Keposha soldier was
found and buried with all the honors
he had won by loyal service to his flag
and his country. Pears was not well
known in Kenosha as he had come in
from the country, but his sad death in
fighting against common enemy has
caused tears to start in the eyes that
formerly knew him. He was generally
liked among his companions and was
very popular with the officers of the
regiment. He enlisted here as d mem
Der of Company F, of the forty-seventh
and went to the Philippines from
Meade, Pa, in November 1890.
The remains of young Pears will be
sent to Kenosha county for burial if
his friends so'desire. but they will not
be sent home until late in the fall.
This is the second Kenosha soldier
that has fallen on the field while light
ing in the Philippines and many other
of the Kenosha boys are right on the
firing 1ine. In his letter Makowsly
states that since the company, of
which the Kenosha boys were mem
bers, reached the Philippines, they
have been constantly in the fight.
Several of them have been wounded
and a number of them have spent
much of the time in the hospital.
The letter from Makowsky is a very
interesting one and we hope to be able
to reprint it in full within a few days.
From it we learn that the Kenosha
men are making bright records in our
new possessions and before the war is
over they will and'high in the army.