Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-10-25

v
He was Corporal of the Guard for
the first time. Events had been so
numerous and startling during the
last few days that he scarcely knew
Just who he was or what was expect
ed of him, but he was bound to try
his best. though he more than half
expected that he was booked to die
and be buried in that cursed Cuban
place. The Eight regiment o. V. l.,
had been sent for to come quickly and
relieve Shafter, for unless Santiago
surrendered by 10 am, July IA, there
would be some hard fighting, which
was not to end until Spain had had
enough Of trtsirg with Uncle Sam.
All bad gine well with the New Cor
pocal during the time he had been
private. though the constant recur-
renee of the number thirteen, in events
connected with his travels, had made
him believe that some dire misfortune
lowered over the whole regiment.
Then, when his Captain had lined him
and five more privates of his company
up, in valley near Sevilla. on Friday,
and the thirteenth of the month, and
had made them all corporals, the new
~ &,;o 70 l,a
felt that the double Jonah of Friday
and thirteen would surely be his un-
doing.
He was Corporal of the Guard for
the first time He knew the routine
fairly well, for he had been abused
on and off post and between reliefs by
too many corporals in his time to have
any hazy idea of what was expected
of him. The regiment had only been
In Cuba a few days, and the Colonel
had given orders that an especially
vigilant watch was to be kept Gen
eral Pando, it was reported, with 5000
fighters, was coming overland to San
tiago, from the north coast, and would
probably try to get into the city that
night.
Guerillas, which We're terrible things
invented to scare the wits out of tim
id privates who walked lonely posts,
We're said to be numerous around
there, and after the New Corporal had
received his orders, including things
about loading with ball cartridge, al
lowing no one to get into the lines,
shooting all who refused to answer
the challenge and be captured, his
heart failed him for a minute, but he
stuck his poncho into his belt, foraged
a piece of tobacco, and prepared for
business.
1t was big relief that the Corporal
had to take care of,and the posts were
scattered at terribly lonely places in
that awful jungle, where the dark was
so thick it could be felt, and the rust
ling of lizards or land crabs in the
leaves had most uncanny and dis
quieting effect.
The New Corporal did not have to
put his relief on guard until nearly
midnight, for he was Corporal of the
Third relief. When his time finally
came, however, he grasped his gun
and started manfully Off, accompanied
by the Corporal whom he was to re-
lieve. Several times the relief lost its
way, for the line of sentries was more
than mile long. the jungle was thick,
and the Corporal had to locate the men
on many of his posts by yelling and be.
ing guided by the sound of their voic.
es. The relief was finally posted, how.
ever, and the New Corporal tightened
up his belt and squatted down in the
long grass that was guard headquar-
ters to smoke and listen, for on his
vigilance now depended the safety OF
the whole American army, sleeping
in the tents about him, and the Cor.
poral was ambitious, albeit he was
much afraid.
He puffed his pipe and gazed at the
stars which twdnkled dimly overhead
through holes in the matted growth
which covered the valley, and he won