The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-07-25
expression of the one who told us

90 SUI duSe dS ib DlSflJ seem,
there were few of our men who
deserted and joined the army of
the Filipinos Encouragement
to which we have just alluded,
were thirteen deserters-oue nam
ed Johnston, not any of our John
stons - seemed to be a com.
mander and the most defiant. He
could be seen standing on top of
their works, waving his sword
and urging his men, but the un-
erring aim of one of our boys sent
a bullet through his heart. and
thus went out the light of another
American.
After whole days hard fight
ing our boys won the victory.
Of course, we cannot in this
article follow them in their ex-
periences through the two years,
and besides, if we were to tell all
there might be young war on
this side Of the Pacific.
When Ralph enlisted, he was
but little more than % years of
age, weight about 1870, was of
delicate build, and had never been
accustomed to any severe physi-
cal exercise. The first two effort
he made to enlist, he was reject
ed by the examining board. He
was, however, very anxious to go,
and tried again at another place,
and his friends were greatly sur
prised when they learned that he
had been accepted. After the
organization he was known as the
"baby of the regiment. This
term was applied on account of
his boyish appearance only, for
the young man sprang from a
line of distinguished military
men, and was, by no means, lack
ing in courage.
La less than three months from
the time he reached the islands,
he fell victim to disease, and his
young life went out-another sac
rifice on the altar of his country.
After being IN hospital eight
or ten days, he died on the 10Th
of March 1900.
The only person from this sec
tion that was present at his
funeral was John b. Roland, of
Mercersburg. Mr.. Roland says
that Ralph's body was embalmed,
dressed in a bright new Kaki
uniform, placed in good casket,
laid away in a grave six feet in
depth and the grave carefully
marked.
His body remained there about
year when it was taken up, re-
moved to Manila, placed in new
casket, made ready for shipment,
and after months delay, prob
ably, was sent home-the gov
ernment paying cost of transpor-
tation to Mercersburg.
The regiment left Manila for
home on the 1st of June 1901, and
in five days reached Nagasaki,
Japan, where they stayed two
days. Twenty days more
brought them across the Pacific
to San Francisco, and on the 30th
of June Uncle Sam paid them
their wages, gave them money to
get home, took the harness off
them, and turned them loose
The mileage allowance for the
homeward trip was four cents.
Mr.. Roland s allowance from San
Francisco to Mercersburg, was
S194.05. His ticket cost him
$57. 10; hence he had the balance
for pocket money.
The wages of a private soldier
is S16.50 a month.
All do not return who go out to
war. OF the 106 men who went
in Ralph's company, only 63 We're
permitted to serve their time out
and return.
His regiment (the 3Sth) went
out with 1880 men and came in
with 635. The 10th regiment,
that the Reed boys we're in, went
out with 1850 and came back with
864.
1t is all well enough for one
whose patriotism is sufficiently
strong, that he should take his
life in his hand and deliberately