Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1900-01-18

Sometimes, after converslng with
the Cubans, Bender would sit down
IN front Of his peep tent and tell Won
drOus stories that he had heard OF
the terrible vengeance of tho natives.
How each one IN the so-called Cuban
army kept necklace on which was
strung tooth from every Spaniard
! killed by the wearer. The owner OF
the largest string held the awe and
admiration Of his comrades and even
: ranked with the officers in their eyes.
Then there was the story of the
red machete, wonderful weapon car
ried by Spanish officer It's owner
was immune to bullets and could be
taken only by capture. But though
many times the officer and machete had
! been seen aud .na.iy plots had been
laid to trap him he had eluded them
4 all. Whenever he was seen at the
head Of column Of Spaniards the
\ Cubans fed precipitately, for he was
"a terrible fighter and was never known
TO nave been beaten.
But it was not long that the troops
remained II camp at Slboney. Soon
/ the march on Santiago was begun and
within week the American army was
at La Seville, a suburb of the famous
1 old town. Skirmishes had been fire.
guent on the march and now the men
were ANXIOUS to see fighting. real hot,
brutal and bloody war. Some Of them
/ knew what it meant, most Of them
! did not, but all were anxious for it.
Mango Pete and the Maine Guy
4 had pitched tent at Seville as soon as
4 the march was done and fifteen min
utes later were off with bag and can
teens to find good water aud some ripe
man3oes..
We'll, Pete, this looks some as
K though we would have walk over
I going into Santiago, don't it?" re-
marked Bender. >
ct sure does" was the reply.
''Then greasers amt no earthly good.
Got big streaks OF yellow in 'em, all
of EN-.
"StilI, Pete. you know they used to
be hot stuff. I'm thinking that they'd
give us good warm reception even
now, only there are not enough Of
them, and they haven't food, nor
money, nor much else. except lots Of
ammunition, | guess"
"Of,course, if they do make stand
at all, said Pete slowly, ''they's liza
bic to be quite a death rate around
here. You see they've got guns that
shoot like sim Jest as good as ours.
Better, maybe"
Yes, bat even al that [ think most
CT the men would welcome good hot
scrap"
Pete spat copiously and gazed at
nothing for moment. He was some
what given to thinking before speak
ing.
Unless it should happen to be too
hot" he remarked at last.
What DO you mean, Pete" said
Bender, his voice tense with emotion
on the instant. ''Not defeat, you
wouldn't dare think it even. Say,
what do mean"
'Nothin', nothin', it was only a re.
mark. No need to git excited about
it. Jest between yol an me. Only,
vou Know
That night. as all save the sentries
lay sleeping, bugle call broke out
on the still air. 1t was the reveille
Ill, sounded twice III rapid success
sion. Quickly the call passed from
one regiment to another, beginning
with the ranking command and
following IN regular order down
the line And as the call sounded the
men jumped to respond until within q
few moments the great camp was
teeming with activity and excitement.
What meant this midnight start?''
they asked one and another. And
there was but one response:
Fight
Soon the camp was but a memory
anI the army moved forward, towar 1
the enemv's works, guided by Cubans.
As the first faint streaks of gray
light showed on the eastern horizon a
low deep hoom-m N reverberatel
along the valley, a cloud of smoke
wreathed a small knoll Oh the side OF
IL Poo. and the battle was on.
An hour later the caunonading was
terrific. The ground shook with the
incessant thunder Of big guns. Small
Llllets vlis-l led through the air like
nail
say. Pete what do vou think ot
tnis= shouted Bender.
II amt no Fourth > July ceiebra-
,ion. II tell y'u that, was the reply.
Hot Stuti, eh: