Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-09

delight in all he sees and hears Of the
life Of the great nation which is so new
and strange to him. Many anecdotes have
already been %recounted of his bent for in
vestigation of things about him in Ameri-
can cities and of the pleasure he has had
in them. This marks him as still a human,
healthy Individual, and. like the burglar
when he isn't burgling,
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Is quite as great as any other mans
Four years ago, April 10, 1898, the
Twenty-second infantry marched away from
Fort Crook to Join the army being assem-
bled on the southern coast whose mission
was to bring freedom to the struggling
Cubans. Omaha people felt a more than
friendly concern in that regiment, and have
followed with interest its fortunes during
the hard service It has seen. No other
regiment has given more freely of its blood
in the warfare since that day. Two colonies
have fallen in battle, leading the regiment,
and one has succumbed to disease con-
tracted in the service, so the Twenty
second will come back under the ommand OF
the fourth colonel 1t has had in four years.
Colonel Wikoff, who commanded the regi-
ment when It went from Fort Crook to
Cuba, was shot and killed while carrying out
orders for the movement OF the Third bril-
gade, OF which he was commander, at San
Juan, Cuba, on July 1, 1898. In the list
Of killed sent by General Shafter in his
message bearing date Of July /, 4 p. m.,"
is given the names Of Colonel Wikoff Of the
Twenty-second and Captain "Bucky"
O'Neill OF the Rough Riders. Lieutenant
Colonel Patterson Of the Twenty second is
mentioned among those severely wounded
in tina days fighting. Fuller details added
many names to that list, but none brought
more real sorrow to Omaha than that OF
Charles A. Wikoff. Mrs. Wikoff was stay
ing at Fort Crook, with other ladies of the
regiment. The sad news was telephoned
from The Bee office to the officer in charge
Of the post, Captain Henry C. Hodgins, and
by him was impaired to the anxious m
The insufficient data of the early dispatches
left the company of distressed wives and
daughters in an agony OF suspense, which
was but lightly relieved by fuller informa'
tlon of the engagement and it's results.
Exact details as to the manner In which
Colonel Wikoff met his death have beef
given in a letter written many weeks afte
the battle. First Lieutenant Wendell L
Simpson. who was Colonel Wikoff's ad
jutant, wrote, under date OF Piqua, o., Sep
TENDER 26, 1898, to Mrs. Wikoff, giving he
a full account Of the affair. He says
Ever since the battle of Fort San Juan o
July / / have intended and desired to writ
TO you. There was, of course, no oppor
tunity for this while we lay in the trenche
prior to the surrender, and, though l wa
in the city of Santiago for many days afte
the surrender. | was so Frustrated wit
fever as to render even the lightest task
q beyond my strength. Upon my return I
: the United States was granted sick leav,
+ and, though my recovery has been rapid,
is not until now l have really felt equal I
attending to correspondence. 500
after the fleet Of transports arrived in tn
d vicinity Of Santiago harbor Colonel Wiko
came on board the transport Santiago wit
d orders to take omman Of the Thir
e brigade of the First division, consisting {
e the Ninth, Thirteenth and Twenty-fourt
O regiments Of the regular infantry. "
= While we were at our rather meager break
It fast on the morning OF July 1 the colon'
e took a card from his pocket, wrote vol
Is western address on the back and passed
q to me by one of the aides without remarI
r although at this time we had received I
- orders to move and knew nothing concern
a ing any plans for a battle that day. Sue
n incidents were destined to be brought to m
a mind in a most startling manner befoI
e were ended the tragic and heroic events
Is the day. At 7:30 a. m. July 1 we receive
70 orders to break camp and move forwaI
on the Santiago road, overtaking and TO
a lowing the First brigade. . Colon'
!. Wikoff had received orders from Gener'
Kent, the division commander, and at tn
y head OF the brigade had turned on a ira
: to the left and proceeded to the lower for
y of the river. " When l reache
n Colonel Wikoff with the orders he ha
a crossed the creek and was giving direction
@ to three companies Of the leading regimen