The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-21
TALES OF ARMY LIFE
HEROIC DEEDS THAT CAME UNDER
THE NOTICE OF LIEUT.. TARLTON.
How Private Chiniski Distinguished
Himself in the Philippines
Another Brave Man.

lated TO put TO rout any suggestion that
past generations produced a drawer quality
of men than those that make up the armies
of the present. A noticeable trait of the
American bearer of arms is his modesty.
Lieut.. Charles S. Tarlton, of the Thirty
first United States Volunteer Infantry, re-
turned from the Philippines short time
ago. and since he has been here he has
narrated many incidents showing the brav-
cry OF his comrades. but when asked con-
corning his own achievements he manages
to delicately shift the conversation.
Lieutenant Tarlton's account of the hero
ism Of Private Chiniski, Of Company l..
Thirty-first United States Volunteers. is
calculated to make American at home
uncommonly proud to be of the same ma
tionality as such a soldier. Chinski sus-
tanned severe injury Jan. 6, 1900, in the
battle of Binang. through which he was
confined TO the hospital for some time. He
was ordered invalided home, but refused
to be sent away and made a plea to be re-
turned 10 his company, which was granted.
Last September the plucky young private
was a member of the advance guard of
party of fifteen men and one officer march
ing between Sariaya and Tayabas Sud-
OtUly tuc pIOSItSS Vi the punt, VI dd-
vance guard, was arrested by a heavy fire
from about seventy-five insurgents lying in
ambush in the jungle. One man in the
point Ohere were four altogether) dropped
his gun and ran like deer. Another re-
treated along the edge of the road until
he got back to the main party The cor
poral who had charge of the point was shot
through both legs and also in the stomach,
falling to the ground and lying there, help
less and unable to get away.
FOUGHT SINGLE-HANDED.
Chiniski, the sole remaining member of
the guard. as soon as the volley came. dart
ed into the ditch alongside the roadside and
Immediately opened fire on the insurgents,
who proceeded to rush him. In the first
exchange of shots Chiniski wounded several
and the rest withdrew When he had load
ed his magazine rifle three or four of the
enemy ran out into the road to carry away
their wounded comrades, and more
the intrepid American soldier let drive at
them. wounding two more. He kept up this
merciless shooting until he had used up
forty-fve or fifty rounds of ammunition.
All the while the enemy was edging closer
and closer to where he lay in the ditch.
Suddenly Chiniski heard voice say in ex-
cellent, If somewhat forcible English. "Who
the deuce is doing all that firing down
there?" He promptly answered, Its me,
Chiniski, of Company L. Who are your"
The voice answered, I'm the corporal
You'd better get down or they will shoot
you full of holes" called back Chiniski
| I'm already shot full. OF holes" was the
startling reply. MY leg is broken and
| can't get down there"
Just wait until l get my gun loaded
sang out Chniski, land I'll help you" He
| loaded his gun and then began to work his
way along the ditch until he was opposite
! the place where the wounded corporal lay.
AS he rose up to make a dash for his dis
apled comrade a heavy fire from the am
pushed insurgents forced him to duck down
| again, but without an instant's delay he
made a break for the corporal. got hold of
him and succeeded in pulling him into the
safe depth of the ditch. Although the cor
| poral was wounded so badly that he could
not shoot a gun with much effect, still he
| could relieve his doughty companion of the
| task of loading the magazines and accord
| ingy while Chiniski blazed away with one
| gun the disabled corporal kept the other
| loaded and ready for instant use. In this
| way Chiniski was enabled to fire with I'M
usual rapidity. and he succeeded in killing
| three of the insurgents, besides wounding
| several more. After the two men had kept
up this sort of warfare about half an hour
they began to be fearful lest their supply
| of ammunition would run out, and Chiniski
said they had better move from the place.
CARRIED HIS COMPANION.
Without further ado he put the wounded
| corporal on his back, and, carrying a gun
in each hand. crawled through the ditch
| along the side of the road for about a
hundred yards until he came to a ravine,
| into which he plunged Through a dense
jungle the plucky soldier climbed up a
steep hill with his heavy burden, all the
while being subjected TO a severe cross fire
| from the enemy. He managed at last TO
get his wounded comrade TO the summit of
| a hill and there intrenched himself, await
ing the arrival Of assistance. During the
period in which these events had been oc-
cupying the attention of Private Chiniski
others were occurring of which he knew
nothing, but which were of vital interest
TO him. When the main body joined
by the two men, who had at the outset
retreated to them. they found it necessary
to withdraw four or five hundred yards on
account Of the concentrated and CALLING
fire from the insurgents. They at once dis
patched messengers 10 Sariaya for help
which was not long in coming up. Wher
the reinforcemcnts arrived they went uI
to survey the scene of the fight, and fount
all of the dead and some of the wounded
who had met their fate at the hands of q
brave American soldier defending himself
and the disabled comrade. Soon they cam,
upon Chinski himself and the corporal
Unhappily, the latter died in few day:
from his injuries. The foregoing fact,
were elected during a court-martia
over which Lieutenant Tarlton presided
called TO try the soldier who aban
dcned his gun and ran away from
his comrades at the first fire from the in
surgents. Chinisk was recommended for ,
medal of honor on account of his bravery
Later he was made a corporal and then ;
sergeant, distinguishing himself on tive
separate occasions in addition TO the on,
mentioned.
ANOTHER STORY.
The exciting engagement of Lieutenan
Anders and his little band with a larg
party of Filipinos between Tayabas an
Thong is the subject of another of Lieuten
ant Tarlton's fascinating stories of arm
life in the Philippines. Lieutenant Ander
and twenty-six men from the Thirtiet
Infantry Regiment were detailed TO escor
, | b,- rrL