Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-02-07

with the motives OF the little PARTY
The four men had volunteered 20 SC
company the surgeon several miles
back along the railroad over the scene
or yesterdays fighting In quest OF Ger
tain members OF the command who
had been numbered among the miss
ing In the recent casualties The
character Of the expedition appealed TO
his sense OF admiration. for under the
circumstances neither brassard nor
hospital flag was any safeguard
against attack from the insurgents.
who were known 70 infest the locality
10 be visited
Suddenly the impulse seized him TO
Join this little excursion II would at
least serve 20 divert his thoughts from
the unpleasant theme that At present
dominated his brain Hastily folding
his copy. he placed II In an inner peck
ct OF his blouse and crossed over TO
the party. As be drew near the final
arrangements for the start had been
consunmated- The men were already
taking their places IN the singular con-
veysnce.
lis ycur squad complete. sirr- cour-
teously inquired the correspondent OF
the medical officer In charge
At the question the latter turned and
regarded the speaker with manifest
surprise. Then be answered. pleasant
" enough;
We'll. yes. considering there il room
for but four men at the brakes. Hard
" the most interesting subject for
cable dispatch. however" be added
toculariy.
But I'm not hunting news this
morning" replied AddingtOn seriously.
Fact IS. I'd Ike 10 accompany your
party II you don't object You might
include me as q SOFT Of supernumerary
"a relief crew. as Il were"
''Oh, you're quite welcome 20 20 with
Us II you so desire" was the cordial
response. but I must first get you q
permit And. taking the name OF his
latest volunteer. the officer FASTENED
away TO headquarters Returning in
few moments with the necessary pass.
the surgeon. followed 10y Addington.
stepped aboard the car. and q moment
later the party were trundling along
over the narrow rails. bound away on
their hazardous mission.
For the first mile the route law
through a comparatively open stretch
OF country, commanded by the pickets
stationed on the outskirts Of the Amer
lean camp But beyond this the track
entered q dense brake. the depths Of
which were impenetrable 70 the eye,
save al intervals. where the exuberant
growth had been beaten down by the
irresistible advance OF the conquering
army. IL was here that much Of the
hardest fighting had transpired. and
here consequently the work OF the am
/ bulance party began Slowly they
worked their way onward. pausing at
frequent intervals 10 beat about
I through the surrounding thicker IN
their search for the missing. be they
living or dead. In this manner a dis
lance OF some three miles had been
covered without developing anything
OF an encouraging nature. when OF s.
sudden the sound OF rife shots was
heard emanating from q distant point
directly along the road. Faint as the
/ reports fell upon their hearing the men
were quick 10 analyze them. plainly
distinguishing the occasional Spring
field from the more promiscuous Maui
ser.
Our fellows 10 n certainty" OBJ
served one.
Yes, and putting up q fight against
al kinds OF odds" declared another.
Come" said the surgeon briefly.
We must 20 10 them"
Down the track rumbled the hand
car, the men straining every nerve a.
I the brakes. Another mile and the
scene OF the conflict was at hand. In.
deed. the car had actually swept
through struggling line OF Fllipinos
/ crouching IN the thatchIike jungle OF
I tree fern and bamboo Less than half
q thousand yards beyond. at the sum
NIT Of a slight hummOck. a heap o.
stones and earth appeared, and be
hind this the besieged party was in
trenched, held at bay by Overwhelming
numbers of the enemy. AS the hand
car burst into view IL was greeted 81
multaneously with feeble cheer from
the beleaguered occupants of the rife
pit ahead and a volley of shots from
the insurgents behind. In the same
instant one OF the men relaxed bis
grasp on the brake and sank des
perately wounded TO the bottom OF the
car.
Without & moments hesitation
Addington sprang TO the stricken man.
place and. laying hold on the handl,
bar, strove with the others 10 main
tain the speed they had developed
AS the car approached the base Of the
fortified hummOck two men arose from
the rife pit and. bearing a WOUNDED
comrade between them. FASTENED L
meet their deliverers. They were th'
sole survivors Of an original party o
ten who had become separated from
their command during the battle oil
The previous day. AT sight OF this fee
bic remnant OF the gallant little gar
rison the FilipInos set up a fierce, ex
ultant shout and. breaking from thei
cover. dashed forward TO prevent thei
escape. But the handcar had alread,
been brought to a stop. and il was evi
dent that the wounded and exhauste,
Americans would be rescued by thei
comrades ere they could be overtaken
Seeing this, the furious horde pauset
IN its onward rush and discharged