The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-08-21
go Santiago: 1905. $50
o.
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90

or just any old thing we know-to
relieve the tension. Two mighty
empires are. graphing in a death
struggle to the tune of GA Hot Time
in the Old Town."
The War Correspondent got out of
breath and fell behind. He stopped
and mechanically pulled out his tobacco
pouch and rolled cigarette. AS he
smoked wounded men began to stumble
downward past him. A burly negro
came down, .reeling from side to side
and whining dolorously, 20 Lawdy!. O
Lawd!" The War Correspondent
touched him on the shoulder. "Down
there" he said, pointing to the hospital
tents in the valley, "down there" "Yes
suh," said the negro feebly trying to
salute, "Yes suh." And he stumbled on
downward, still moaning in dolorous
monotone, 20 Lawdy! o Lawd!"
The War Correspondent went up the
hill where the fight was raging. The
three regiments whirled and gyrated
around the blockhouses while the negro
soldiers sang camp meeting or "coon
songs in shrill voice. They fought
like devils. The Correspondent stepped
on dead body, half hidden in the high
grass. He looked down and saw that
the mans jaw had been torn away by a
mauser ball. He recoiled with horror.
"God," he said, only once and just like
that. War was fast losing its romance.
Apollo was high in the eastern
heavens when he reached the fighting
line. The Americans were concentrat-
ing their forces in an endeavor to force
open the blockhouses.
"How you maxim it ?" said the Cor
respondent to one of the officers, "Hey !?
How you maxim IT."
damn 'em," said the other savagely,
1--WE can't git 'em out therer I.
"Huh!" said the Correspondent. He
was no military critic.
"Don't git up too close there, captain" ;"
he said to one, "they'll git yeh, won't
they?"
"My boy" said the officer, who was
coolly putting cigarette, "the Spanish
bullet isn't made that will kill me-" A
moment later an ounce mauser crashed
through his skull killing him instantly.
The War Correspondent watched
with horrible fascination the lighted
cigarette. in the dead officers fingers
as it turned dull red, then an ashen
gray. He suddenly grew sick, sick of
1t all, and turned to go. Not the sick
ness of fear but the sickness of sensa-
ton lust satisfied He had seen
enough. At that instant he felt some
thing touch his forehead and the earth
flew up and struck him in the face.
When he came to he realized that he
was lying on the ground. Where, he
could not tell He tried to open his
eyes, to speak, to move his limbs, but
they refused to obey him. Ali was
dark, yet he was conscious. Twice he
felt the earth jar meath the tread of
passing legions. Then he heard three
Voices approaching.
"Hellop' said a thin whining Voice.
"here's dead citizen. How the dick
ems did he git here ?"
"Must be one of them newspaper
men," said shrill piping voice.
"Throw him in with the Others"
said gruff authoritative voice.
The War Correspondent shuddered
with horror. Dead! He dead! Why
he had always thought that death was
l-was-his brain reeled in confusion.
He tried to cry out but his tongue re-
fused TO articu]ate. He heard the
voices counting, "One, two, three ne
felt himself being hurled through the
air and then terrible jar as he struck
the bottom of the ditch. A little later
he heard the grating of metal on the
bank above him. The next instant q
shovelful of earth struck his face
then another. .....
1854.
p =. ~ 81. 4