The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-10-05

get train. He desired to move his
regiment to Port Tampa, ten miles
away. But he was equal to the situa-
ton. With characteristic boldness he
seized an entire train. He jumped
aboard the engine and demanded that
his men be conveyed to the port. The
train moved.
On arriving there he did not wait to
be officially assigned to a transport
He was not that kind Of man. He
promptly put his regiment aboard the
nearest vessel. Then followed long
delay, due to the news that Cervera's
feet was cruising somewhere in Ameri
can waters.
However, at last he was transferred
to transport, sailing for Cuba. His
regiment was among the very first of
the troops to land. Following the same
tactics of boldness and self-initiation,
he got his men ashore without await
ing specific or detailed orders.
On the first night of the landing he
began the march to the front. He
passed General Lawton, who, under Or
ders from General Shafter. was holding
the advance guard position of the
American army.
1t is said that Lieutenant Colonel
Roosevelt passed the extreme outpost
without orders and began the Las
Guasimas fight at daylight of the next
morning. When General Shafter re.
ceived news later in the day of the
Rough Riders encounter, which was
of a sensational character, he was not
pleased.
He was even told that they had been
cut to pieces. Shafter swore roundly
at the Rough Riders, and declared that
he would "bring that damned cowboy
regiment so far back in the rear" that
it would never get another chance at
the enemy during the whole campaign.
Two hours afterwards, however, he
received further news and wrote Il
most fattering and complimentary
note to Colonel Roosevelt,
congratulating him upon the brilliant
success of his attack.
During the entire campaign, Colonel
Roosevelt made every effort to get his
regiment to the front, and on July 1,
with the Rough Riders moving in col
umns Of twos through a densely for
ested roadway leading to the 'Bloody
Angle" and while his men were fall
ing wounded around him, with shells
bursting almost Mt their feet, Roosc>
Welt answered the salutation of war
correspondents Hello, therew with
wave of his hand, shouting:
"By God, isn't this fun?"
Where the battle ragged the tiercest
Roosevelt was ut his best. The greater
the danger the deeper his joy. Whist
ling bullets were music. Bursting
shells n part Of wars anthem in his
ears. The more desperate the charge,
the more his patriotism famed Into
action. Like Sheridan at Five Forks,
he courted death like a lover.
After the war was over and he ha0
returned, to be honored by the country,
wined and dined in the mansions of
the rich, he still remembered the boys
of his regiment. When they got to
New York and painted the town red,
spent their savings, and found them
selves adrlft without friends or money.
Roosevelt opened his big house to
them Mt Oyster Bay, entertained them.
put on the old uniform, told them sto-
ries, ana sent them home with their
fares paid and bit of "chinll' in their
pockets.
And now he bears with dignity the
honors of the White House. The SCI
ence of government has been the study
of his life. We'll equipped, having wide
experience in the administration of af-
fairs as governor, in the navy office
and as leader of troops, he will have a
chance to let the people watch the de-
velopment Of other qualities In him
that have been long waiting for call
to executive action.