The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-07-07

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haT come that treacherous fire in the
rear that killed and wounded men,
bers Of the sacred band who serve
under the protection of the Red Cross.
Dense volumes of smoke and flame
were pouring from the roof and win
dows of the great church and convent
in Paco Square. "And yet" said the
soldiers, huddling in the shelter of
the nearest building, "there's gang
Of 'em in the stone tower the flames
can't reach, and they are firing at
every man who shows head along
the street."
Peering through the murky veil,
the young officer could dimly see
other crouching forms of blue shirted
soldiers firing upward at the tower
window-wasted shots that only flat
tened harmless on the archway above
the hidden heads of the daring occu-
pants, who poured through narrow
slits deadly fire on the roadway.
Over at Battery Knoll Captain Dyer
had trained one of his guns to bear
on that lofty little fortress, and now
and then a shell came screeching over
the roofs, and burst with crash and
crackle at the tower; and still any at
tempt on part of officer or man to run
the gauntlet along that road was met
with the instant crack of Mauser
and the zip of bullet. 1t was a
lane of death-but duty beckoned on.
Despite vigorous balk and protest,
the little beast wac urged into trot.
and the brave lad with his eyes on
those precious wires. rode sturdily on.
Another second and he was seen
from the tower. barely two hundred
yards away, and then down came the
kissing bullets. Like angry wasps
they buzzed past his ears, and the
brave young heart beat hard and fast,
but duty-duty always led him on and
just block away, under sharp fire
every inch OF of it, he came suddenly
upon soldier of his corps crouching
in the shelter of the stone wall at the
roadside, and pointing helplessly tc
where the severed wire hung, limp
and useless, from a tall pole close tc
the abutment of that perilous bridge.
One way and one way only could it
be repaired. Some one must climb
that pole in the very face CT those
lurking rebels in the tower.
If the smoke hung low it might spoil
their aim. If it lifted, and it was lift
ing now, he could not hope to escape.
Yet that wire must be restored, and
duty bade him make the thrilling,
hazardous effort.
Springing from saddle and crouch.
ing at the wall, he made his hurried
preparations. From the nervous hand
of his subordinate he took the clamps
and the few tools necessary, slowed
them in the pocket Of his blouse, and
then, with who knows what thought Of
home and mother, with who knows
what ,nurmured prayer upon his lips,
with the eyes of admiring and applaud.
ing Comrades gazing at him from the
safe.rGfuge of the walls, he sprang sud-
denly 10 the swaying pole, and 1.-the
and agile, climbed swiftly to the top.
Madly now the Mausers cracked
from tho belfry. Fiercely the Spring
fields barked their answer}as the cheer.
ing lads in blue sprang out into tho
open, andpoured rapid volleys to keep
down the rebel fire. Clamping the
pole with his sinewy legs and using
both hands deftly, quickly, he drew
together and> firmly fastened the sew
cred ends.
Then, just as he was about to slide
to the ground and out of harms way.
zip! tore a bullet through the other
wire, and down, dangling, it fell to the
ground.
Inspired by the heroism G. his young
chief, the soldier below ,leaped for the
wire, and clambering part way up,
passed it to the lad, who, with ciinched
teeth and frm-set lips, clung to his at
| the top.
Another minute of desperate peril,
and the work was done.
Cheered to the echo by the few SOL
diers-an officer and perhaps dozen
men-who saw the gallant deed, the
brave lad slid unharmed to the shelter
of the wall; and at last the wire
hummed with life again, and bore to
division headquarters and to an eager
nation thousands of miles across the
sea the brief, stirring story OF sweep
ing victory from the distant front.
And that was the exploit that led not
long after to the recommendation that
the coveted medal of honor be awarded
| Lieutenant Charles e. Kilbourne. OF
the;volunteer Signal Corps, on duty at
Manila. Youths Companion.