The National tribune., 1901-12-26
CORPORAL jim.
The Story of a Stowaway in
the Philippines.
By CAPT. HARRY L. WELLS.

johnson, put them to work shovcling coal
, and see that they don't Shirk their Job,
and he turned TO the Chief Engineer, who
was surveying the scene from his state
room door.
This was no unusual sight on board an
ocean steamer, this rounding-up of stow
aways, for there are tramps of the sea
as well as of the land-men who beat their
way from port to port and never work I'M
less compelled to do so.
A few days before the transport had
sailed through the Golden Gate, followed
by the cheers of thousands, the music of
bands and the screaming of steam whiS-
ties, carrying on her decks the first soldiers
sent to the aid of the gallant Dewey in
the Philippines. With two consorts, also
crowded with troops, she was now many
miles from land, plowing her way steadily
westward across the Pacific. On her deck
was gathered this little group of half a
dozen stowawayS, under guard of 4 squad
of soldiers, while n hundred other soldiers
stood as near as they were permitted, in
tently watching the scene and in evident
sympathy with the prisoners. As they
were driven toward the fire-room. one of
them, a mere boy Of not more than IA
years, turned and said:
please, sir, won't you give me some
thing else to do? | don't think l can
stand it to shovel coal"
mo, Get in with You. If you are
strong enough to tramp for Il living, l
guess you can shovel little coal"
At this point the Officer of the Day. who
| had watched the proceedings with much
| interest, stepped forward and requested
| that the boy be turned over to him.
Certainly, Captain; but | warn you
| that these tramps are no good on earth.
| They beat their way from port to port
| and steal everything they can lay hands
on"
IN take my chances on this one" re-
piled the officer. and signing to the boy to
follow, he led the way to his state-rOOm.
Capt. Watson questioned the young
stowaway closely and learned that he was
an orphan who had been living with an
uncle III San Francisco. and had been
earning his own living by running an ele-
vator in store. He had tried to enlist,
but was too young, and had secrcted him
| self Oh the transport with the idea that
when they found him, after it was too
late to send him back. they would take
him into the army in some way or other.
| In this he was not altogether mistaken,
for the result of the inquisitOn was that
James Thompson became the personal at
| tendant, or tiunky, of the Captain, and
was soon known as Jim throughout the
entire regiment.
On the voyage his duties were light, but
when Manila was reached he found plenty
! to do, looking after the Captains quarters
and wardrobe, waiting on the table ut
mess and performing the manifold duties
/ that are usually given to some enlisted
man detailed from the ranks. He quick
ly acquired a speaking acquaintance with
| Spanish and became the interpreter for the
officers in their many annoying little busi-
ness transactions with the natives.
If there was anything new or good in
the market Jim WAS the first TO discover it.
He could always find a quilcz or victoria
when the Captain wanted to go anywhere,
though the Filipino muchachos of other
officers often came back from such a quest
with a mournful mo ay, no ay," accom-
panied by a waving of the index finger of
| the right hand in front of the face.
Capt. Watson had Il khaki uniform
made for Jim, and he wore it with as
much jealous regard for its honor as any
soldier in Uncle Sans army. He saIuted
officers ard stood at attention when spoken
| to, and was very particular to take off his
hat to the flag and stand uncovered when
the band played THE Star Spangled Ban
ner' at retreat He lacked only years and
stature to make an ideal soldier of which
the American volunteer who has joined
the army from sense Of duty is the high
est type the world produces.
When the inSurrectiOn broke out and
the regiment took the field Jim went with
it, and if Capt. Watson appreciated his
services before, he did so dOubly now
There was always Il cup of chocolate
ready for him at rcycillc, and he was the
first to he served with something TO eat
at the end Of 4 march. At night his
blanket roll was always spread In dry
place, and some sort Of shelter built over
it if il rained
After some weeks of campaigning and
fighting the regiment was detailed to
guard the railroad. and Capt. Watson was
stationed with his company near an i'm
pOrtant bridge to protect it from destruc-
.f
defenscs were constructed. the company
camping on the high ground near the track
III an extremely exposed position. On the
north Were open rice fields. on the west n
belt of bamboo timber and on the south
and east flowed the narrow river across
which passed the bridge to be guarded.
The Eiliplnos noted the exposed position
of the command. and laid an elaborate
plan to destroy the bridge and exterminate
the company. Under cover of darkness
they approached within 400 yards of the
camp at ) 0 clock in the morning and took
shelter in Il ditch running across the rice
hcld on the north and in the timber on the
east. The first notice the Americans had
Of the presence of the enemy was the
sound of the guns and the whistlng Of
bullets tearing their way through the
tents. Had the FilpinOs charged into
camp instead Of opening fire upon il, but
few of the surprised soldiers would have
| escaped alive, but they were too much
afraid OF the Americans to risk a hand to-
hand conflict.
! The men poured out Of their tents
clothed just rs they had been sleeping.
but each one with his rifle and cartridge
belt in his hand. and in AN instant were
disposed by their officers in "A Scmi-circle
around the camp behind little rice ridges
| that gave more protection in Imagination
| than reality. In half a minute from the
| firing Of the first vollcy by the enemy the
defenders began pouring bullets into the
surrounding darkness in steady and well
regulated yolleys. The odds in numbers
were more than five to one against them.
| and Capt. Watson began to feel very anx-
/ iOus about the outcome. Before making
! the attack the enemy had cut the telegraph
/ wires on both sides OF camp, completely
| isolating it. The nearest troops were four
miles away, and they We're also but de-
tachment guarding bridge. -Four miles
! farther was the remainder of the regiment.
with nothing but the faint sounds of dis.
! tant firing to notify it of the peril of this
isolated command Capt. Watson had TO
work ont his own salvation.
| For an hour he lay within that half
circle of flashes from the Filipino NIau-
sers, directing the fire of his men. fearful
every minute Of some sudden assault upon
! his extreme flank or rear. Intently he
watched the flashes and listened to the
( sounds of the guns, Ia sec if he could de-
J tcct any movement toward his flank and
/ he occasionally directed vOlley into the
darkness in that direction for the purpose
] pf l,yni.nipD 10 .uemy nnnrI,. -,