The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-31
REALLY PLEASANT.


Louis Republic representative Of Cap
tainnJohn B. Kerr, captain Of the Sixth
cavalry. who was wounded by Maui
ser bullet while directing the move
ments Of cavalry squadron at San
Juan on July 2.
why, it's great relief" replied the
brave soldier quickly. cts not at all
like facing the old army rifles, and the
clumsy, inhumane balls which they dis
charge. The Spaniards are all equip
ped with modern rifles, which carry
Mauser bullets. These are small, plated
with nickel, and possess remarkable
penetrative qualities.
"They do not inf1ict the ugly wounds
caused by the old balls. It is true that
more men are wounded under the fire
| Of the Mauser bullets, but then more
IF them recover. The wounds are not
bloody, the flesh is not badly torn, and
the bone struck-if bone Is struck
with the MIME balls. ~. ,l ,,,.,,.
Soldiers understand that If they are
wounded in battle now their sufferings
will not be so intense, and If ball
strikes in any of the vital parts death
will be instantaneous and painless.
Fewer men are killed and more are
wounded now than in former times,
and of the injured majority get we'll
This is humane, or as near humane as
war can be made, and, therefore, the
soldier enters conflict with the as
1t probably will come painlessly, and
| If he is wounded he most likely will
recover 'h'''' = 30
| However, a man intent upon the
| serious business before him. especially
| If he Is in charge of company, or di-
recting the movements Of the troops
thinks very little of the dangers of bat
tie. Not because he does not realize
that there are dangers, but simply be.
cause he Is too deeply engrossed with
the Other duties of his position to give
any thought TO personal danger. When
| dying and wounded men begin to fall
| about him the soldier in the thick Of
battle thinks of only one thing-to an
initiate the enemy. And the hotter the
| fight becomes the less conscious is he
| Of his peril. If there is any fear at all.
Elt is at the beginning Of the struggle.
warrior forgets his chances of life or
! death.
1t is to be regretted that the govern
ment has not been able to equip the
volunteers with improved rifles. Now.
when the regulars shoot it is impos-
where the firing comes from or whittier
1t is directed. especially IL number
of men are using weapons about the
same place. But with the volunteers
1t is different. The moment the gun Is
| discharged smoke begins to curl above
the soldier. and after several shots the
spot Is betrayed to the enemy by a
dense volume of smoke. and the advan-
tage of position Is lost. This is an
other reason why the new rifles and
Mauser balls could be used to ad-
vantage by the entire army, volunteer
and regular. l,s ita'. ~ stt4ti'
"The wound received from the Mau-
ser bullet, the surgeon tells me, would
have caused me the loss Of the arm
had 1t been a MIME ball that struck
me. The bullet entered the forearm
at the wrist and passed out at the ell
bow, making clean hole. the pain for
a while was sharp, but kept right
on In the fight, which lasted about ten
or fifteen minutes longer. Now the
wound is healing nicely. and expect
to return to the front shortly If these
rumored peace negotiations are not
completed. FH
"a Mauser ball will pass through
three or four persons. It is so effective
that you do not realize for a time that
you have been hit. and the fatal shot
Is beautifully quick. 1t is great thing
for the! men who are to take part In
this war that such q bullet has come
into use. It increases their bravery, to
a certain extent, lessons the apprehen-,
sion natural TO the untried soldier and
does Its work in manner that tends
to make war less, cruel r M s,sss ,rra--