The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-07-13

AOT uflbSluS water ~ NdtuS uAuSI lhG
to refresh a guard covering the APP
proach to bridge Even the stream is
not named, nor whether the bridge was
wanted to cross over an army or regi-
ment The courage was the same
wherever it was and whatever hung
upon It.
Some Of the awards to Philippine he
roes relate to episodes unheard OF In
the sensational records sent over by
correspondents. The full details have
Just reached here of the gallant de-
Tense made by the garrison of Catubig,
where 10 out of 81 We're killed. It may
be that the survivors will receive med
ais, bur in that case the award will be
unusual, for ii is not deeds performed
In the usual line of duty which are in
tended in the act comforting medals,
The decoration is for such officers, nom
commissioned officers and privates as
have most distinguished themselves In
action above all others-service involv-
ing extreme jeopardy of life or the per-
Torrance of extraordinary hazardous
duty. To carry out the intent Of the
act there must be some one or ones of
the participants In an action credited
with an unusual exploit.
One Of the first of the provisional
volunteer force sent to the Philippines
last fall to capture a medal was Pri-
vate Epps of the Thirty-third infantry
Epps captured II Filipinos single hand
ed, and that is why he is on the roll
of medalers. Surely 1t is not custom
airy for soldiers to take in the enemy
at the ratio of II to l, so Epps should
have a medal. When the hero was
complimented for his deed, he said:
"Why, what could they do but surren-
der? had the drop on them"
Epps won his medal at Vigan, the
scene of another exploit which may not
be recognized, but which shows how
soldier can Guido his fellows In daring
deeds. A sergeant and six men were
sent to dislodge some insurgents from
a building where they were shooting
Americans in the streets. Finally only
Private Mcconnell was left, and he
lay between the bodies of the sergeant
and another comrade
The colonel sent some one to tell Nc
Cornell that he could come in; it was
all right. The response shouted back
some rods to the messenger, who
wouldn't go nearer, was, More car
tridgesw Cartridges were flung to him
from safe distance, and he kept at
work taking revenge for his dead com
rades until the supply was used up.
Then his voice was heard family at
the reserves. and some one crawled
up near enough to shout to the little
vanguard of one:
Whats up, McConnell?"
''More cartridgesH
The colonel detailed a prisoner, who
begged for something to do, to keep
Mcconnell In cartridges. Under cover
of night he was at last brought in
carried, for he was helpless from the
strain of firing so long. Even then
he chung to his gun, looked wildly to
the front and gasped, more car
tridgesp
Colonel ]. Franklin Bell of the Thir-
ty-sixth infantry has been in the Phil
ippines from the start and always do
ing things. In writing up the deeds
of the heroes over there, have several
times described gallant episodes in
which he was conspicuous. Colonel
Bell received the first award of
a medal, and the record says 1t was
given ''for most distinguished gallantry
In action Sept. o, 1899, near Porac.'
Colonel Bells distinguished gallant
ry'' was the capture of three Filipinos,
IA less than Private Epps corralled, but
the circumstances were different. Colo
mel Bell went out with IL company
scouts ahead of his regiment, and at
the dawn of day the foremost scouts
ran into a Filipino patrol, captain
with a lieutenant and five privates.
The scouts fired and as the natives
started to run gave chase. Colonel
Bell spurred his horse to the front and,
seeing that the Filipinos were getting
away from the scouts, dashed on until
he was 100 yards from his men. With
out waiting for help to come up, he
charged the seven enemies, pistol in
hand, sending them in all directions.
-Four took shelter in a thicket and
opened fire on the single American.
Bell "had the drop on the captain and
two of the men and forced them to sur
render.
For a single handed act Of valor Pri-
vate Thomas Sletteland of the North
Dakota volunteers won a medal On
the Laguna Bay expedition Sletteland
and fo111. natnradoe want oi1f q q flo NH
ers, and the four were shot down by
some Filipinos In trench. Sletteland
charged the trench and drove out q
squad, which, after seeing that there
was but one American against them
returned to the attack Sletteland
drove them back with his Krag and
then picked up Private Tompkins, the
only one Of the four vet alive and car
ried him back to safety.
On this same expedition Sergeant
Balch, Fourth cavalry, won medal by
a single good shot Balch, some dis
lance ahead led a detachment march
Ing through the streets Of a village.
He was fired upon by a squad of Fill
pinos who were coming down side
street. The sergeant halted and, taxi
Ing good aim, shot the leader OF the
squad, and the rest fed from this sin
gle American, leaving the road clear.
In the Philippines the scouts have
had opportunities to distinguish them
selves, because the warfare has been
Of the irregular kind where knowledge
Of the enemy could be gained only By
stealth. The band led by W. Fl. Young,