Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-15
FIRED TIE FIRST SHOT
One Of Dewey's Gunners Tells
About His Experience on
the Raleigh.
The Famous Command to Grid
ley He Declares Was
a Fake.
Stop For Breakfast Was Taken
Because Ammunition Was
Getting Low.

Special to Times bllcan.
Clinton, Feb. 10. Robert yryce, the
man who fired the first shot from the I
Raleigh at the famed battle of Manila +
and iater went to China as member of I
the Ninth United States regulars and
was shot to pieces at Pekin, receiving \
six wounds. is now in this city, the +
guest of Maj. d. S. Fairchild. Jr., who
made the acquaintance Of Vryce While
| the latter was a soldier in the Philip
pines.
yryces is 81 years old and is a Scotch
man. He has been in either the United
States navy or army for the past thir-
teen years. In 1897 he was assigned toI
duty in Asiatic waters with Dewey
fleet He was gunneron the Raleigh,
in charge of the only gun Of six pounds
4 on the boat which was also the
heaviest piece. As this was the first gun
i fired from the Raleigh, Nryce has the
distinction of opening the lombard
ment from this vessel. He says before
4 going into the battle he filled his ears
.lswitn cotton soaked in sweet oil TO break
4 the force of the concussion. which was
8 which vas followed for hours with the.
. terrible bombardment which destroyed.
Il the Spanish, fleet.
Since going to China vryce does not
have such big idea Of the baltle Of
&, Manila, as he saw much more fighting
s after he Went TO tfie orient. He says the!
story of Fire when you are ready is
a fake. He says it was o'clock in tbs
q afternoon when they ale that noted
breakfast ard then the firing would not
81 have ceased had notstheir ammunition
= run short.
Nryce left the navy in 1899, he says,
III because he found it dull. He wanted ex-
4 sscitanent and he got it. He enlisted III
5 the Ninth United States Regulars and
t at the beginning of the trouble With the
u boxers went 10 Hong Kong. China
i Soon after landing he started for the re-
s lief of Pekin and took part in the eight
E cen days march to that city. On the
way there was constant lighting bu,
e rot of a serious nature AT Pekin, how
: ever he says he saw the real thing nc
7 secured enough fighting TO last him tbs
a remainder of his life. The city was car
e Eried by the American and Japanese sol
aicrs and Nryce took part in t he terrible
n contest. That the combat was a fierce
o 1t enc is proven by the fact that NFryce was
lsiot to pieces, receiving six wounds. H,
e vas shot twice in the head, once in tn
stinand, in the back, in the foot and in tn
m leg. The most serious wound was il
"a fhe mouth. His palate was shot off an
n the roof of his mouth was destroyed 1
.r such an extent that he can never agail
speak plainly. Two fingers We're sho
q eff the right hand and the right foot i
4 minus three toes. While the otlle
il wounds bother him some. hey are no
of a serious nature, altho they have LEI
IS ugly sears. Vryce was carried from IN
field of action for dead, but recovered
sufficiently TO be sent TO the Unite
states. But his troubles did not en-,
81 when he reached America. Al Sal
, nancisco hi. was stricken With typhoi,
fever and for three months lowered be
tween life and death and arose from hi
d led shattered in health as result o
the trying ordea.s thru which he passed
Mr.. Nryca is retcent ard one has /,
2 draw his story out of him. thread at
2 time. He is in frail health and can
here to see If he could find a position
His friends are "a work trying To secur
a pension for him, ard a liberal one 4
that will probably be granted him, an.
also back pay. He has about 5000 Il
Ia
!, Prize money coming 10 him. He say
some of the prisoners at Pekin had
hard time. while others Jared much bet
= ter than those Who Were trying To res
z cue them. He says he saw Lii Hum
Chang and the dowager empress ssevera
times.
Clay County.s Legislative Candidate
y Spencer, Feb. 15.-Col. Lyon. of Pets
son. is out for the nomination of ieprs
IS sentative cf the Eight second districi
comprising Clay ard Palo Alto coun
y ties. Col. Lyon IS gentleman Of &C
y knowledged ability and high persona
character and his knowledge Of lubli
ID affairs BELTS, him for the position. H
NJ NJ has always been lifelong republican
He was Il delegate TO the national COR
vention from the Eleventh district ar
. filled the position with grace an