davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14


the compan? were so profoundly i'm
pressed that no one but the cook, who
hoped to be Hamilton's successor as
coinmisSary sergeant, had the sense to
propose three cheers for the colonel.
But the prospective lieutenant did
time to fry and deal out that half bar
rel Of batter. Besides. Phil was teach.
ing the cook. Finally the supply was
exhausted. Hamilton threw his greas-
Pr into the fire, turned the tub upside
down and sat upon il to rest.
Suddenly one man exclaimed:
well. by thunder! The cafes were
so good hat we've forgotten all about
our coffee"
Thanks! That's a bigger compli
ment than the colonels." said HamIl
ton, raising his hat. He was right too.
The coffee cups We're filed and emp.
tied. and we went slowly back to TIE.
quarters in little groups instead OF sin
ely and in haste, as was usual in covi
weather. There were not as much scuf.
fling, swearing and horscplay as we
generally had between supper and tat.
too. The quarters Were quet-so quiet
that we were almost startled when
Mick McTwSnys grating voice and
thick brOgde were heard in an ATTEMPT
TO sing. The words were merely
"Thra- lah-lah," but the music, in spite
of some eccentric sharps and flats, was
finally recognized as that of Home,
Sweet Home" Some one hummed the
bass another fellow helped Mick along
with the air, others dropped in, singly
or two or three together on various
notes and bars, and when the last note
was touched it seemed as though every
voice was in it. Then Brainard start.
ed us all off again, with all the words
and notes distinctly enunciated.
The effect was not what I would
nave expected. Everybody looked seri.
Gus. Some men fixed their eyes on the
ground; others looked at the shingles
overhead as II trying TO pierce them
and see the STARS; more than one fel.
low drew his hat over his eyes. and a
married man sitting on a bottom bunk
suddenly turned and buried his face In
the pillow. AS for me, though my
gaze was fixed on the little black stove
in the center Of the room, l saw our
house at Summerton, my father and
mother, little Ned and Cousin Nav.
the dog Rover, the horses, cows, pigs
and chickens, my room and everything
on its walls. I felt my face twitchlng
so, to keep from betraying my feelings,
l hastily began looking about the room
again, but was a second too late-I
couldn't see anything distinctly.
And all this merely because OF SUP.
per of pancakes.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14

startled me and caused a guilty pane
as my having been concerned only for
my own life impressed me. | looked
quickly about for him and lust in time
to see him roll sidewise from behind a
fallen log, his face as white as the pa
per on which l am writing. Killed?
No, he moved. | hurried to his side
and asked him where he was hit.
I'm the heart Jack. but twas not the
enemy that bit me. Twas Mick Nc
Twyny's tongue. Great heaven! I've
vowed my life hundred times to the
saving Of men-you know l was study.
Ing for the ministry. But now I'm try
ing to kill men! It's nll-but why
aren't you firing? See that red beard.
ed face sticking out from behind tree
on the other side of the creek? No mol
Don't you fire at him! Here goesw
Brainard's lips closed so tight that
could not see their dividing line, so
looked toward the Confederate with a
red beard, aud a second after Branard
fired l saw the red bearded man clap
hand to his shoulder. Then the
angles OF his elbows and knees lndlcat.
ed that be had gone out of action and
sat down behind his tree.
At that instant Brainard himself had
a strip Of skin and a bit Of flesh taken
from his cheek by a shot from the
other side, but he did not know of it
till the fight was over was recalled
to a sense OF duty by Cloyne, who
drawled:
What are you loun@ing for, Jackl
This isn't Sunday sclo DOL picnic"
Quickly / covered my confusion by
resaining the cover 1 had left, but 1
was still curious to know what other
men were doing. The Balaklava vet.
Grams were side by side on the ground
and az fat as the head of snake
about to COLL though they did not seem
intent on striking. Not far to my right
stood Phil Hamilton, handsome and
composed as usual, but In apparent
trouble with his pistol He looked so
superb, with his clear cut face. erect
figure and broad shoulders, that for q
moment 1 wished my cousin May
might see him. Then was glad she
could not, for did not Brainard love
May, and was not Brainard my dear.
est friend2
Still, pistols are made only to shoot
With. aud the moment of battle is the
time to use them, so hurried over to
Hamilton ana said:
Take my pistol and give me yours.
Mine is in perfect order, and, as
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14
eb get awayl Second company dis.

reb get awayl Second company dis.
mount; lie down along the edge Of the
bank! Cover every reb trying to get
out OF the water and order him to come
ashore herer
Out Of their saddles dropped Nos. I,
and 3 of each set of tours in our
troop, and in less than half minute
each had picked out FOR himself n gray
target In the great gully below. The
sklrmishers had already begun to
blaze away ut the gray targets on the
other side Of the bridge, but the John.
MES, like sensible soldiers, broke right
and left into the woods, left their
horses pretty well sheltered from FIRE
by the standing timber and then took
cover themselves behind the trees near.
est the creek and began to operate ex-
actly according to our tactics, firing on
our skirmishers and trying to secure
prisoners from the struggling mass
below. We were the stronger in num-
bers and weapons. but nature gave the
enemy one immense advantage. As
members Of the Potomac army will re-
member, creeks on the Virginia coast
almost invariably have one bank high
and steep and one which Is low and
shelving, and where we were fighting
the steep bank was on our side.
Our fellows could not easily get out,
much less drag out prisoners. but the
Johnnies had scampered up their own
side before all OF us were in position to
fire. Some, too, whose horses had been
hit or who had dropped their guns dur.
ing the tumble had the presence of
mind to take Yankee carbines or horses
with them. One had the impudence to
lead away two of our horses. including
the forage, blankets and overcoats
strapped upon the saddles, and he shell
tered himself so skilfully with one of
the animals that none of the bullets
aimed at him seemed to hit. On the
other hand, when one of our fellows
tried to climb the bank on our side,
perhaps with revolver in hand, try
ing to drive an unarmed prisoner in
front OF him. he was a capital mark
for the other side to shoot at and if
he was hit his prisoner would general
ly change his own mind and hurrJ
back to his friends, taking with hin
the wounded mans revolver and car
bine as memento. Such dash re
quired him to wade the creek. but the
water was not very deep, and maj
who had once been wet did not seen
to mind little additional soaking.
Suddenly the major, who had beer
closely eying all that had occurred
passed the word from man TO mar
along the irregular line of knecling
crouching Or fiat lying skirmishcri
that at the word of command al
should drop over the bank, ford III,
creek, press the enemy as closely a!
possible and try to drive them to tn,
left of the road. Two miles away or
that side was another road by which
we rightly imagined they would hurry
for home should they think us toe
many for them. Men without carbnci
were warned to have their revolver.
fully loaded before crossing.
1t took two or three minutes for cap
tnins, lieutenants and sergeants to pas.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14


helped father when be was inventing a
revolver. l know something of a pls-
tolls works"
THANK you. Jack" said he as coldly
as II he had been born and brought up
In an icehouse, but l think I'll con-
Quer It in the course Of time"
I was somewhat offended by his
manner. but l reminded myself that
there is time for everything and that
in the thick of battle was not the time
TO expect polite reply. even from the
Chesterfield Of Summerton. When
again 1 Glanced to look toward Hamil-
ton, saw that his face was very white
and he was looking at a card photo
graph. could not doubt who the orig
inal was. On our, homeward ride big
Pat Callahan snarled:
did yes see our swell commissary
Sergeant behind the thickest tree there
was: I'm thinkin he was afeard o.
gittin' his beauty spots seratchedr'
"G'wan to blazesH snarled Mick Nc
Twyny in reply. "Conmissary sar-
jints don't made to fight il they don't
want to. Besides. it's better that
we'd lose the captain-yes or the colo
nel-than the man that kapes US In the
best Of grub that can be made OF ra-
tons" - II
I'm not sayin' ye lie," Fat replied,
"but if l had as little stomach for grub
as he has for tghtin' Id 50 to the hos
pital and stay there"
After unsaddling l was greatly de-
iayed in reaching the quarters. for I
went over my horse very carefully
to learn whether he had been wound
ed. Horses have their own reasons
for not reporting "a mere scratch"
that might In time disable them.
Climbing our bunk - Brainards and
mlne-which was at the top of tier,
saw my chum lying down, with a
pocket mirror in one hand, my cousin
Mays portrait in the other aud with
tears In his eyes. ,..
Brace up, old chap" said I.
He quickly turned his hands to hide
their contents, but his face was too
honest to hide anything that was be-
hind it. Besides, he said in fragments
between sobs:
II was homely enough before. Now
I'm dis6gured for life. The surgeon
wouldn't deny it, and Hamilton - Ne
always was handsome. Heaven made
him so. Therefore I've no right to
complain. but-but"-
But you fought, and he didn't"
"Fh?"
"IIe didn't, say. l was watching
him"
Brainard mopped his eyes with his
hands and looked proud an instant.
Then he groaned
"'Tis hard world. Jack"
The cruelest thing about II was that
Brainard was the only member Of our
company that got scratch, though
fully half of us, not being handsome,
like Hamilton coveted the scar which
8rainard wore after his wound healed.
Among the half that did not covet that
red badge OF courage" was Hamilton.
le never spoke of il, but many times
fterward did | see our handsome COM
ltssary sergeant look at Brainard's
neck with an expression that indlcat-
d extreme satisfaction and triumph,
With dash of centemptuous pity that
made me hate the man, theugh b he had
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14

He didn't lay aside his plate and
fork either, but twice took his turn
and cake-like the commonest of his
cake. Ike love, levels all ranks. When
he departed, 1t was to bring the colonel
over to see the fun and also to see a
company which was we'll fed. My
place in the circling line brought me
near enough to the two officers to hear
the captain tell the colonel how adj
mirably Phil managed the company
commissariat. A minute or two later
the couple passed through the line, and
the captain astonished us by saying:
Sergeant Hamilton, can you spare a
sample cake FOR the colonelT
Any other man In the company would
have felt awkward at coming face to
face with his colonel while holding a
pan greaser in one hand and a cake
turner In the other. but Hamilton sue
ceeded in throwing his implements in
to one hand and in saluting; then, with
another salute. he passed a plate to
the colonel, and all the while he looked
as manly and self possessed as il he
were just entering one Of Summerton's
best parlors. l did wish my cousin
May might see him Just then. A mo-
ment later l was glad for Brainard's
sake that she couldn't. The colonel
went through the motions of tasting
the cake. 1t would have been undg-
nified for him to eat all Of il, though
every man knew he was dying to. Then
in his clearest dress parade voice he
said:
Sergeant Hamilton, will make you
lieutenant as soon as vacancy oc.
ours. A man who knows how to feed
soldiers well has in him the stuff OF
which good officers are made"
Hamilton again saluted, but with the
air Of man to whom lieutenancies
were offered daily. The remainder of
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14


had been imprisoned so long by the
preceding rain that we heartily en-
Joyed the beginning Of the trip. We
had been well fed all winter, but nc
one neglected the precaution of carry
ing all the rations, particularly fat
pork. that he could get. In camp we
had good fresh bread daily, but once In
awhile when other rations abounded
had begged a days rations Of hard
bread instead and slowed it away
against the next scout. l had never
forgot ten the semistarvation Of our first
three days outing,
On the morning referred to only foul
companies Of US went out. but we fell
entirely safe. What could happen I,
us? We wer" strong enough to whil
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14
CHAPTER XII.
AFTER TIE FIGHT WAS OVER.

! last we were on ON
own side OF the bridge
those who were left
of us. Roll call show
ed thirty men missing
from the first compa
ny, which had carried
only fifty men into az.
ton. besides severa!
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14

'om each OF the other companir
me Of the missing we found dead g
Wounded in The creek and woods, vii
larger number Of the enemy in Il
anne condition, but after a careful
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-14
CHAPTER NJ.
CROSS PURPOSES.

RUE to his custom, OH
colonel ordered a scout
promptly Mt the begin
ming Of one very cold
spell. The roads. never
raveled in wet wealth
er, had frozen as hare
as any pavement, and
West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-24
R. R. Earnings SATISFACTORY
Former Steel Condition intensified BY
Threatened Decrease In Fuel
and Labor Difficulties.

New York, May 24.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review Of Trade, issued
today, said in part:
Many minor labor controversies
have been settled, but the situation
in the anthracite coal region has as
sumed a more serious aspect. Rail
way earnings continue satisfactory,
roads reporting for two weeks of May
show gains Of g. per cent over last
year and 1874 per cent over 1900.
No change is reported in the iron
and steel situation, former conditions
merely becoming intensified by the
threatened decrease in supplies Of
fuel and the labor controversies IN
certain branches Of the industry.
The railways are seeking rails,
roofing stock and other equipment,
while contractors require much struc-
tural material.
Print cloths are quiet at last week S
decline. Weak conditions have pre-.
vailed in the cereal markets, with
only a moderate volume of option
transactions and fractional changes
in quotation. Exports of wheat, in
Guiding -four, were only 3,s63,56S
bushels during the past week from
all ports Of the United States, against
5,225,1 bushels in the correspond
ing week last year Small receipts
of corn, amounting to only 1858, 1SS
bushels for the week, against 1867
042 year ago, held the spot price
at about zoe.
Dispatches from correspondents Of
r. G. Dun & Co. indicate satisfactory
progress with the new corn crop and
material increase in acreage.
Failures for the week numbered
1872 in the United States, against $50
last year, and IL in Canada, against
% last year.
West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-24
MONUMENT TO ROCHAMBEAU.
Unwilling Occurs Today-Brilliani
Luncheon to President on
Gaulois, Yesterday.

Washington, May 24.-The unveil-
ing Of the monument to Count Ro-
chambeau occurs today.
Annapolis, Nd, May 24.-The
luncheon given yesterday on board
the French battleship Gaulois in
honor of President Roosevelt was one
Ct the most memorable incidents of
the visit Of the distinguished French
soldiers and sailors to this country,
who are here to join in the celebra.
ton of the unwilling Of the monu
ment to the memory of General Ro-
chambeau,. which took place in Wash
ington today.
President Roosevelt left Annapolis
on the 4:30 train for Washington.
Among the notabilities present at
the luncheon were the following:
President Roosevelt, Miss Alice
Roosevelt, General Nelson A. Miles,
Governor John Walter Smith, Admiral
Dewey, General and Mrs. Corbin, Am
bassador Porter. Count and Countess
Rochambeau, Count and Countess de
Lafayette. Senator and Mrs. Wet
more, Of Rhode Island; Assistant Sec
fetary OF State Peirce, Commando
Rodgers, Captain Gleaves, Admiral
Higginson, Secretary of War Root
and Mrs. Root, Secretary of the Navy
Moody, General Chalendar, Captain
Fillonbeau. Mr.. and Mrs. Cortelyou
NJ. Pierre de Margerie, Commander
Wainwright, M. Renouard Vicomte de
Faramond, Colonel and Paul St,
Marie.
After the American guests had de-
parted a number Of launches were
boarded by the French officials bound
for Annapolis to take the early even
ing train to be in time for the ban
Guet which was given last night in
Washington by French Ambassador
Cambon.
West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-24
GENERAL MILES CANNOT ACT.
President Revoked Order by Which
He Could BE Temporary War
Secretary.

Washington, May 24.-The presi-
dent has revoked the old executive
order of August 20, 1901. by which
the lieutenant general commanding
the army General Miles) and the ad-
lutant general General Corbin) in
turn are to assume the duties OF Sec
rotary Of war in the absence OF the
secretary and the assistant secre-
tary.
The presidents order Of revocation,
which is dated Thursday, leaves the
department without a head in the
event Of the absence of the secretary
and assistant secretary, unless such
head is specifically designated on each
occasion. Both the secretary and as
slstant secretary were absent yester-
day, but Secretary Root, before he
left yesterday morning, issued spe-
cial order designating Chief CLERK
John c. Scofield ito sign acquisitions
upon the treasury and other papers
requiring my signature, during my
temporary absence from Washington
on the 23d of May, 1902, and until my
return or until the return Of the as
sistant secretary of war;"
1t is presumed that similar special
orders will be made designating Mr.
Scofield to perform these duties when
ever the secretary and assistant sec
rotary are absent in the future.
Secretary Root has issued an order
which revives an old order of Jan. 1S
1886, providing that in the absence OF
the head. Of a bureau the senior Off
Ger of the department or corps, on
duty in the bureau, shall assume TEN
porary charge. The significance OF
the order Hes in the limitation con
duty in the bureau" Under the ap
plication of this limitation no officer
on duty outside Of the bureau could
assume charge, as does Colonel Ward
of General Miles headquarters, in the
case of the adjutant generals Office
but General Corbin's duties would
ordinarily be assumed by Colonel Car
ter.
West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-24
Dead or Entombed In a Coal
Mine, In British
Columbia.
LITTLE HOPE OF SAVING LIVES.
Only "a Out of 1873 Were knCwn to
BE Out Of Danqer-Reason Of Ex-
pcsion Unknown-Detais Of the
Accident Were Meagre.

Vancouver, B. c., May 24.-One OF
the most terrible mine disasters in
the history of the frequent accidents
in British Columbia occurred Thurs,
day night in the Crows Nest Coal
company's mines at Fernie, B. CT
Over 100 men are either dead or inn
prisoned il the mine, and little hope
is entertained Of rescuing any who
may yet be alive. Fernie is 800 miles
up country and the limited telegraph
facilities have not enabled complete
details Of the disaster to be sent out.
A special last night from Fernie.
in part, says that the explosion took
place Thursday night at 1880. The
management has a list Of 1873 men
who are known to have been in the
mine and there were probably others.
OF these only "a are known to be
safe. 1t is feared that few, if any, Of
the remaining 100 are now alive.
What caused the explosion had not
yet been definitely ascertained. Many
of the miners were ignorant foreign
ers and one Of the mine shafts was
always more or less gaseous. 1t was
reported in Ferni2 last evening that
the explosion resulted from the use
by careless Italian of an open or
naked lamp. Another theory was
that miner struck a match, explod-
ing the gas, which was almost always
present in No. 2 shaft. The true
cause of the disaster will probably
not be positively ascertained, for it is
doubtful if any man who knows will
ever reach the outer air alive or be
able to tell the tale. The explosion
took place in No. 2 shaft of the mine,
being repeated in a few seconds in
No. 3, with which it was connected.
The scenes at the mines and in the
village of Fernie were heartrending
yesterday. Hardly a house had es-
capped affection. The work Of rescue
was being hurried and perfect order
prevailed, assistance coming from
every available source.
The presence of coal damp was
adding to the danger Of rescue work.
A fear had become general that the
mines may catch fire at any time, and
survivors were being besought by
their relatives not to venture into
the shafts even for rescue work.
West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-05-24
Opinion of Well Informed, as to
Situation In South
Africa.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED
Last Night, IL 6oer Leaders Had Suf-
ficent Control of Their Men to Com.
pei Acceptance-May Be a Few
Bands Of IrreconcilabIes.

Berlin, May 24.-The foreign Office
here was advised last night from Pre-
toria that peace in South Africa was
practically concluded. The articles
Of surrender were ready to be signed,
with the exception that the approval
Of the British cabinet of the wording
OF the secondary provisions was
awaited. The suspension of hostili-
ties might be announced at any hour.
This news, it was understood, came
from the German consul.
topdon, May 24.-The Associated
Press has every reason to believe
that peace in South Africa is practi-
cally secured. How soon it will be
announced depends. apparently, more
upon the convenience of the Boer
leaders than upon the inclination Of
the British government. The private
and Official advices received last night
in London from South Africa all
pointed to the same conclusion. The
delay is technical, and to end the long
war seems to be the desire of both
British and Boer leaders. The latter,
however, are unable to convince all
their followers of the wisdom Of ac-
Quiescing to the terms of peace.
Information as to what transpired
at yesterdays meeting of the cabinet
was closely guarded. but il is not
likely that the cabinet transactions
were of vital import
There was widespread belief in the
best informed quarters that the end
OF the war has come. In fact. those
persons who are best acquainted with
the actual details Of the present nego-
tiatiOns only qualified this optimistic
expression of opinion by guarded
reservations concerning the extent of
the personal control of the Boer lead
ers over their commands. Were the
Beers a thoroughly disciplined force,
dependent upon the action of their
general officers, peace would prob
ably have been proclaimed last night,
but Botha, DeWet and the other gen.
erals seem themselves unable to posi-
lively guarantee the degree to which
their example will be followed
The delegates at Vereeniging, ac-
cording to information in possession
Of the war office. are fairly evenly
divided. Consequently extreme pre-
cautions are exercised both in London
and Pretoria, to prevent any prema-
ture action or report which might adj
Versely influence the burghers.
The most pessimistic forecast heard
last night only admitted that a few
isolated bands Of irreconciliables may
be left in the field.
A member of the house Of COM
mons, who is in close touch with the
government. said to representative
of the Associated Press last night
that he believed everything was set
tied and that the British terms would
be found Unexpectedly liberal