The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-05-18


Pasig and thence TO old Fort San An
tonic Abad at the southern suburb,
long lines OF American soldiers were
pitted against the opposing forces OF
the native army, led by Aguinaldo's
best and bravest generals.
As early as the middle OF December
it was only too evident that armed
conflict was imminent. All the same,
orders required that Aguinaldo's Of
fcers be received with every courtesy,
and the rank and file with kindness.
They came and went within our lines
at their own free will. Their sol
diery, their women and children in
swarms would visit the American out
posts and claim q share OF the ample
rations, and profess undying regard
for their Amigos Americanos; yet In
hundreds OF native homes rifles and
ammunition were stored TO be used
when the day OF battle came, and
some Of the converts and many OF the
churches proved TO be veritable ar
senals.
And il is about one Of these, the
big stone church at East Paco, the
easternmost suburb Of Manila, that
there hangs q story not soon TO be for
gotten by the men Of Anderson's Di-
vision Of the Eighth Corps-a story
OF heroism and devotion to duty that
may we'll be remembered by the youth
of America.
Crossing the Estero de Paco by a
massive bridge Of stone, the Gale
Real-the main street-passed within
few rods of the windows aud towers
of the church. II was the broad thor
oughfare over which went most OF the
travel, and much OF the traffic be-
tween Manila and the thronged towns
and villages up the Pasig River and
around the picturesque Laguna de
Bay. IL was lined on both sides with
houses the lower story of which, at
least. was Of stone, solidly built tore
sist the earthquakes sometimes so de-
structive in this volcanic land, and on
it's northern side were strung the tele-
graph wires, two In number, OF the
signal corps of the army, connecting
the outermost blockhouse, Number
Eleven, with the field headquarters Of
the general in command of the First
Brigade Of the First Division of the
American army of occupation, anG
with those Of his superior officers,
Major. General Anderson at Division
Headquarters in West Paco, and
Major General Otis at the Palace
within the walled city of Manila.
With the early dawn of that lovely
Sunday there came galloping along
the hard.beaten road wiry little Fill
ipino pony, ridden by q slender
young soldier in brown KHAKI uni
form. From underneath the curling
brim of mis- drab felt campaign hat u
pair of clear, dark brown eyes peered
eagerly, searchingly along that line
of wire and up and down every pole
From the fact that the sentfies at
the bridge presented arms as the
young rider spurred along, and that
there was single silver bar on each
dark blue shoulder strap, it was evil
dent that, despite his youth, the young
rider was an officer, first lieutenant,
and the device on the collar told fur
ther that he was of the signal corps OF
the volunteer army. He was hand
some fellow, with regular features,
dark, wavy brown hair and face
broDzed by tropic suns, but radiant
with the health and spirit of youth.
Only few minutes before, two men
OF the First Idaho had been shot al
most III front of the building where
the young signal officer sprang from
the saddle to make his report to the
acknowledgement.
Lines all safe as yet, sir, he said,
his hand going up in salute, but the
fire is pretty sharp along the road,
and the sentries say there's occasional
shooting around them. The worst Of
it is that they can't tell where the
bullets come from, now that il il
light, and the enemy uses smokeless
powder. The Wyoming regiment is
in reserve, by General Anderson =
order, behind those buildings across
the bridge, and they say, too, that
they hear shots every little while
An ambulance, driving rapidly,
came rafting down the street from the
firing line at the eastern skirt of the
village. A pale.faced soldier, his arm
freshly bandaged, sat beside the
driver, and both soldier and driver
trembled with wrath and excitement
as they drew up in front of the build.
ing.
1--WE were fred at from three o,
those nipa huts up the road, righ;
there this side of the bendw said the
driver angrily; aud then, lowering his
voice. i've got two desperately
wounded men inside, too" Then @
hospital corps soldier, springing from
the ster, corroborated the statement
81 could see them in one shacl
aiming at zoe, ;" he said, and the bul
lets few close as--that," and b,
whisked bis hand back over the shoul
der, almost shaving his ear
1.-The generals over at Batter,
Knoll with the guns, was the answer
of the chief of staff. There they q,
nowl" he added, as with roar ant
shrek the long shell leaped from th,
brown muzzle aud went tearin,
through space toward the Krupps il
the river redoubts. Then followed
distant crash-it had burst just aboy,
the hostile parapet. "We can't ge
orders 20 advance yet, and when W
do he wants you 20 follow US right nj
with your wire. Communication mus
be kept by telegraph. It's as mucI
rs a mans life is worth TO attempt {
ride this street, and I hate to send n
nrderlv with n MESSAGE