The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-14

| seemed TO be lingering spark somewhere
about him His parents had been advised
by telegraph OF what had apparently hap
pened and asked whether the remains
should be shipped home or buried in beau
tiful Arlington.
The shrill buglo brought the body OF
Private Carter to his feet with a bound
at the foot OF San Juan hill on that
fateful morning. He did not feel Just
like himself AZ first he did not seem
to know just where he was. The sur
round'ngs looked strange Looking down
| the line, he saw his comrades struggliny
TO their feet to get into position for roll
| call.
When the name OF Private Carter was
called. he did not answer. but glanced to
the right as II expecting to see some one
not within his line of vision. He was at
the head OF the company. and intuitively
side-stepped to the left to make room for
| the man on the pivot. The first sergeant
looked up from his book, saw Private
| Carter in his place and checked him as
| present.
After the company was dismissed for
| whatever breakfast could be procured. Pi
vate Carter astonished his comrades by
asking strange questions. He wanted TO
know, among other things. how they had
got there and why il was they were out
without tents and camp equipage and what
| was going on.
You'll ind out soon enough what's
going on" volunteered one OF the boys
who belonged farther down the line. Look
out there at the Spanish sentries. They'll
give you a taste of their Mauseis before
the day Is over"
1t was not long until the Rough Riders
went up that famous hill with the rush Of
prairie fire. The volunteer line as sup
port advanced wavered and seemed unoer-
tain In its movements. The Buffalo sell
dIers in the rear came on with yell and
seemed about to trample down In their
rush to the front any one in the way.
At the bugle call to the charge Private
Carter seemed to awaken from a dream.
He threw up his head. and his eyes g.is-
ton as IL by magic.
Already the spiteful Spanish bullets were
finding their marks. The sharpshooters
were seeking those wearing the stripes and
officers and 'noncoms'' The corporal at
the left OF Carter went down after a stum
Bile In the long grass. private in the
same four dropped his Springfield and
clutched a wounded arm.
Private Carter paid no attention TO what
was going on around him. From the time
the order to fire at will had been given he
advanced without fiinching. firing as he
went. Much of the time he was in advance
Of the firing line and contrary to the usual
conduct of private, was exhorting his
companions to greater speed. He was
among the first to push into the Spanish
works and had two prisoners when his cap
tain came up.
After the fight was over he was warmly
congratulated by his comrades IL regard to
his actions under the first CALLING fire Of the
enemy. His superior officers recommended
him for promotion, and the less fortunate
In the company envied him his great cour-
age and bravery in the face Of the enemy.
The victors made themselves as COM
Portable as possible the night after the as
sault on San Juan hill.
The next day after the apparent death
of Private John Spear at the Camp Alger
hospital his remains were removed to the
deadhouse to await word from his home
as to the disposal of the body. He lay
there all the succeeding night. with no
sound to break the stiffness except the
sentry's measured treat. Just as the re-
lief was approaching in the morning the
sentry thought he noticed a disturbance
inside. The regimental band was play
ing to the colors. which at that instant
were mounting the tall pole at headquar-
ters to welcome the rising sun. and all
the companies were in ranks with uncoy-
cred heads. so he did not give much heed
to the noise.
However. Just as the corporal. with his
relief. came up the noise was repeated.
The sentry pulled back the flaps of the
tent and looked in and was considerably
startled to see Private Spear sitting up.
holding his head. The hospital call was
sounded, and in a few moments two hos
pital men bore Private Spear back to the
hospital on a streteher. He was assigned
to his old cot. and from that hour i'm
proved rapidly. In few weeks he was
back with his company. The surgeon said
he must have had a sinking spell at the
time his fever turned. and had been so
nearly dead that life could not be de-
tected.
The first day be was back in the hos
pital Private Spear told the Red Cross
nurse of a strange dream he had had. He
said he dreamed that he was not sick at
all. but was with his regiment in Cuba,
and that they had been in fight, in which
there was a lot of cavalry and white and
colored infantry; that the Spanish had
been yanquished and that he was never so
happy in his life as when he plunged into
the works and captured two Spaniards.
When Private Carter awoke the next
morning after the Rough Riders had be
come famous the world over, he seemed
at a loss to account for where he was.
He did not remember many things his
comrades talked to him about. When one
loosely asked how soon he was to be
measured for stripes. he looked at the
questioner in blank establishment.
Finally he made up his mind that he
must have been SO greatly excited that he
did not know what had happened He did |
not see how he could have earned promo |
ton and not know about it. This matter |
puzzled him greatly. but he bore the pro- |
motion modestly and went on doing his |
duty.
Second Lieutenant Carter and Sergeant
Spear are now both soldering the Phil
ippines in the same company. both having |
re-enlisted after their discharge from the |
Spanish American war. They often discuss |
those queer notions that got into their
heads in those early days in July, 1898. |
Neither of them believes in the supernatu-
ral but both are at a loss to account for |
some Impressions that they cannot get rid |
d.
It is a little difficult for mortal man to
tell Just who did go up San Juan Hill in
the rear of the famous riders in the guise
Of Private Carter.
And who or what il was that kept the
spark OF life In the body Of John Spear
those long hours he was thought to be |
lead2
All such questions must be followed by
IN interrogation point. But. IL the souls
If those men exchanged tenements on that
nomentous night, who was 1t deserved
Carter. whose real self
vas not there. or John Spear, whose body
vas in Camp Alger?