The Western news., 1902-03-05
BACK FROM THE WAR

DAOA Il lO\ym L ILL w 1AAA
eRAvE CHARLES EsCUDERO CARRIED
WATER TO FIGHTING SOLDIERS.
Went with His Fathers Company to San
tiaeo-Ministered to the Comfort Of the
wounded and Dying 1t San Juan Hill.
Had Fever, but Recovered.
Bronzed by the sun of q southern
cline and in his ears still ringing the
whiz Of Mauser bullets which he heard
st the battles Of San Juan hill and San
tiago, there arrived in New York re-
Gently Charles Escudero, 13 years old,
who marched by the side of his father,
q regular army soldier, during the cam.
paign in Cuba. This led carried by his
side during the battleA a canteen, which
he replenished from time to time with
cold spring water, drafts Of which he
gave to those who were active in battle
or lying helpless and wounded on the
field.
This child started at s o'clock the
other night over the Pennsylvania rail
road to join his mother and little broth
ers and sisters in Columbus, o., to tell
them stories Of the scenes he had wit
messed. He was sent home by the Chill
dren's Aid society, for he arrived here
almost penniless and without friend
to greet him. Hewore dirty campaign
hat on which he had linked his initials,
&c. E." and the figure 80" to tell
that he was of the Ninth United States
infantry. Over blue flannel shirt,
much the worse for wear, the lad wore
seersucker coat, wrinkled and worn.
His trousers, Of the same material: were
spotted and grimy, and it, needed no
| words to tell that these garments had
! been wern night and day while fight
ing men about him depended upon him
for aid and comfort.
The boys father, William A. Escu-
dero, Joined the army 26 years ago, and
is now member of Company F, Ninth
infantry. The company was stationed
at Madison barracks, Sacket's Har-
j Dor, N. Y, when orders were received
to start for Tampa. It happened that
Charlie had left his home in Columbus
few weeks before to visit his father.
and when the orders came he was visit
ing his grandmother, Mrs. Louise Escu-
dero, in Sacket's Harbor.
! Charles is bright little chap and
became great favorite with his fathers 8
companions. So when the orders came
for the company to go to the front the
men and even the boys father asked
Charles to accompany them. Since then
he has seen the hardships Of war, and
the other day there were still upon him
, the effects of malarial fever that has
claimed so many victims. He was
, stricken with the fever and at one time
his life was despaired of, but the sturdy
I lad overcame disease, and on his father'l
. suggestion came north on the transport
Louisiana, which arrived the othe'
night.
The lad left the transport and inquir
ed his way to the army building, when
in manly fashion he told his story t
: Major William Ewall, in charge O
transportation. Major Ewall wrote thi
letter to Samuel Carpenter, genera
eastern passenger agent of the Pennsyl
J. vania railroad:
"This will introduce to you Charlie
Escudero young soldier who has re
turned from Santiago Cuba, on one o
9 the transports, where he was engaged il
. carrying water for the soldiers durin
+ the fight. He is very anxious to get t
. his home at Columbus, O., and bein
:. without means recommend him to yn
g for your consideration"
Mr.. Carpenter was ready to Civ
Charles reduced rates, but as the la
had no money save a few pennies MI
Carpenter wrote letter to Ernest E
Opitz OF the Children's Aid society, an
| Charles presented it. Mr.. Opitz scanne
the boy closely and questioned hil
minutely. Mr.. Opitz noticed that til
lads shoes were torn and mutely tol
the story of his long marches.
J "All right, my lad, We'll send 20
: home,'' Mr.. Opitz said. "When? VIII,
tonight, if you are in a hurry. You ar
eh? Well, we'll give you new clotht
and something to eat and put you
the train for Columbus.
/ "All right, !" Charles replied. "I'l
nervous and want to get home. don
want to waste any time. I've bee
I through enough.
81 don't want to talk" the boy sa
! when I accosted him. "I'm too tir'
and nervous. All I want is to g
! home.'
I "Tell me how you came to go away:
! "Why, the fellers, the boys of II
fathers company, asked me to and
did; that's all. They said I'd be the
mascot. We staid in Tampa for tv
months. l worked as helper to t
cooks. Then we took the Santiago
Cuba from Port Tampa. We landed
4 the sand at Siboney. We staid the
j one day and then moved up six mil
| the next day. and then we got into