The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-30

nizing.
1t seems very likely that the man
whom Lieut.. Brown shot was one OF
these.
Incident That Caused Trouble.
At the time of the shooting the young
officer was in charge of a detachment
from the Second infantry. The detach-
ment-this is the generally accepted
version of the incident-had been at
tackled by party of hidden Filipinos.
They were across a stream, and en-
sconced behind breatsworks concealed
in a thicket. The Filipinos outnum-
bered the Americans several to one.
Lieut.. Brown did the Funston act"
in great style. At the head of his men,
he charged across the stream in the
face of a heavy fire and rushed the in
trenchments.
AS the company. in struggling line,
splashed through the water over waist
deep, one of the leading soldiers was
struck in the shoulder by a Mauser
bullet. The others were too busy to
pay any attention to wounded man.
Weak and bleeding profusely. he was
swept from the ford by the force of the
current and carried on down stream.
The water was just over his head in
spots, but the soldier managed to keep
his head up for about seventy yards.
At last he reached the tall, slippery
bank Filipino was sitting there,
within seventy yards of the fight, fish
ing unconcernedly, as though nothing
was the matter. The faint and wound
ed soldier supposed him to be an Am
igo." Two of his comrades who were
hurrying to his assistance heard the
wounded man cry to the Filipino for
help.
g 'mericano!" answered the ma
tive.
Drowned While Native Laughed.
The weakened soldier struggled half
way up the bank. He slipped, fell back
and drowned there in water scarce six
feet deep.
The native sat on the bank and
laughed. The American soldiers hur-
rylng up, got there just too late. They
seized the native and brought him a
prisoner to Lieut.. Brown, with the
story of how he had willfully let the
American soldier die. Brown was still
excited over the fight and enraged at
the loss of his soldier who had been
one of the best men.
What did you mean by letting that
man drown?" cried the officer. The
native did not reply.
Here, you, come with me-" said
Brown. You're a prisoner of war"
D 'mericano," shouted the native
and made a dash for the jungle. The
officer whipped out his pistol.
They picked up that native forty
yards away with five bullet holes in
him.
Lieut.. Brown was tried on the charge
of having killed noncombatant, found
guilty an dsentenced to dismissal from
the army. He is now on his way to
this country. where at Fort Thomas
he will await the final outcome of the
case.
Gen. Chaffee, Gen. Bates and the
members of the court have recon-
mended that mercy be shown. Other
powerful influences are at work. His
friends hope that the sentence of the
court will be commuted.
Who Brown Is.
Preston Brown is not West Pointer,
but a young fellow who has worked his
way up from the ranks. Back in the
early 90s he was graduated from Yale
and ran Frank Butterworth a close
race for fullback on the team the first
year that football "phenom' appeared.
On leaving Yale, young Brown was
offered a commission, but on account
of his mothers wishes declined it. Co
ing to the University of Virginia, he
was graduated in law in one year. His
uTSL pOSlIlON was IN lSiduu
where he worked for the American and
English Law Encyclopedia. Leaving
them, he went to San Francisco in the
employ of another firm. But the young
mans heart was set on army life.
There were four friends, young lawyers
all, employed in positions that paid
from $500 to $4,000. But all four
wanted to be in the army.
One day, by agreement, they threw
up their positions and enlisted in the
Fifth Artillery. Then came two years
of hard life. Although gentlemen, they
| had become privates, who cleaned
horses, swept stables, did fatigue duty
and helped clean quarters of former
friends. In two years. the quickest
| time allowed by law. the four came up
! for their examinations.
They passed the regimental test, then
went to the department finals at Fort
Leavenworth. There were sixty eight
| in that examination and the four
| friends stood at the top. Lieut.. Brown
was assigned first to Fort Kehoe, with
the Second Infantry.
The Spanish War came on and he
served at Santiago. being promoted to
| first lieutenant and being mentioned
| for having saved a wounded brother
officer under fire. At Montauk Point
! the young officer almost died. but re-
covering, was sent to the Philippines.
This is the first trouble he has ever
experienced since soldier.