Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-03


 clad Mausers oni the stony road, the whiz and whir about the ears of the few who for dutys sake or that of example held their ground in the high way, gave evidence that the Tagal marksmen had their eyes on every visible group of Americans.
 In the side streets at right angles to the main thoroughfare reserve bat talions were crouching, sheltered from the leaden storm, and awaiting the longed-for order to advance and sweep the field at the front. From the grim, gray walls of the great church and convent, which for weeks had been strictly guarded by order of the American generals against all possible intrusion or dissertation on part of their men, came frequent flash and report and deadly missile aimed at the helpless wounded, the hurry ing ambulances, even at a symbol as sacred as that which lowered above its altars-the blood-red cross of Geneva.
 It was the iagal's return for the honor and care and consideration shown the church of Rome. As an- other ambulance came swiftly to the spot it's driver swayed, clasped his hands upon his breast, and, with the blood gushing from his mouth, top pied forward into the arms of the hos pital attendants. 1t was more than flesh and blood or the brigade com mander could stand.
 "Burn that churchl" was the stern X the front, and a score of soldiers, leaping from behind the stone walls, dashed at the barricaded doors. A young staff officer, galloping down the road, reined in at sight of the little party and whirled about by the gen. erals side. "It's perfectly true, sir said he. Right across the bridge in front of the blockhouse you can hear him plainly. It's white man giving orders to the Filipinos." The general nodded.
 Well get him presently. Do they understand the orders on the left ?"
 Everywhere, sir. All are ready and eager" and even the native pony ridden by the aide seemed quivering with excitement as, horse and rider, they fell back and joined the two of ficers following their chief.
 'Hot in front, Stuyvie?" queried the first in undertone, as Mauser dipped between their heads to the detriment of confidential talk, and great burst of cheers broke from the line crouching just ahead across the open field. "Why, d-7n, it man, you're hit now!"
 sHush!" answered Stuyvesant, i'm ploringly, as he pressed a gauntleted hand to{ his side. Don't let the gen. eral know. I want to join Vinton in a moment. It's only tear along the skin." But blood was soaking through the serge of his blue sack coat and streaking the loose folds of his riding g-breeches, and the bright color in his clear skin was giving way to pallor.
 "Tear, 5ndeed! Here! Quick, or derly! Help me there on the other side!" and the captain sprang from saddle. A soldier leaped forward, turning loose his pony. and as the general, with only one aide and or derly, rode on into the smoke-cloud overhanging the line, Gerard Stuyve- sant, fainting, slid forward into the arms of his faithful friends.
 A few hours later, sslined up'' along the river bank, great regiment from the far west, panting and exultant, stood resting on it's arms and look ing back over the field traversed in it's first grand charge. Here, there, everywhere it was strewn with in- surgent dead and sorely wounded. Here, there and everywhere men in American blue were fitting about from group to group, rendering can teens of cold water to the wounded, friend and enemy alike.
 Far back towards the dusty high way where the ambulances were hur- rying, and close to the abutments of massive stone bridge that crossed tributary of the Pasig, three off. cers, surgeon, and half-a-dozen sol diers were grouped about prostrate form in the pale blue uniform, with the gold embroidery and broad stripes of a Filipino captain, but the face was ghastly white, the language ghastly Anglo-Saxon.
 With the blood yelling from shot. hole in his broad, burly chest and tho seal of death already settling on his ashen brow, he was scowling up into the half-compassionate, half-con- temptuous faces about him. Here lay the "Capitan Americana" of whom the Tagal soldiers had been boasting for a month-a deserter from the army of the United States, a com missioned officey in the ranks of Aguinaldo, shot to death in his first battle in sight of some who had seen and known him Gin the blue."
 Lieut.. Stuyvesant, revived By long pull at the doctors flask, his bleed ing stanched, had again pressed for ward to take his part in the fight, but now lay back in the low vic- toria that the men had run forward from the village, and looked down upon the man who in bitter wrath and hatred had vowed long months before to have his hearts blood the man who had so nearly done him to death in Honolulu. Even now in Sackett's dying eyes something of the same brutal rage mingled with the instant gleam of recognition that for a moment flashed across his distorted features. It seemed retri-