The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-05-30
UNWILLING OF CASHION
MONUMENT AT HENNESSEY
Governor Ferguson and
Staff Present--CashiOn'S
Heroic Work

Governor Ferguson. members OF the
Official stan and Oklahoma troops. cit
liens Of several surrounding cities OF
and counties and friends and relatives,
are at Hennessey today where the
Roy v. Casnion monument is being un-
yelled at the Memorial day exercises.
The unveiling Of the monument was 70
have taken place several months ago,
bat at the request Of relatives OF the
deceased ttl- ~ s..s ~as postponed un-
tn today
The story OF Roy Cashion is still
fresh in the minds Of many OlSlaho-
mans When the call for volunteers
was issued in 1898 the dead hero was
one Of the first TO sign his name to the
rolls OF The arst recipient Of voiun-
teer .Avalry, otherwise known as
s'Roosevelts Rough Riders" On May
2. 1888, Roy Cashion. then only seven
teen years of age, enlisted in Troop D,
of this regiment. The company went
Into quarters at San Antonio, Texas,
where they were equipped and drilled
On June 15. OF the same year they
were sent 10 Tampa. Fla, where they
1oined General Skaters expedition 70
Cnha. General Sbsfter and his men
landed on the island OF Cuba on june
%. An engagement was had with the
enemy on the gath They advanced on
To Santiago ana the San Jnan hill figh'
occurred on July I, ?. 8. The death Of
Roy Cashion occurred about o'clock
on the afternoon Of the first on top OF
San Juan Hill. He and several others
were out in the FROM with the first
sl2irmish line. in advance Of any o;her
troops He had just fired his carbine
when he was struck by a Spanish bull
let in The forehead and killed instant
iy. The Americans fell back. and It
was not until the third day that the
remains OF the Hennessey boy were
brought into the American lines and
buried. The news OF Roy Cashion's
death was forwarded to his father by
r B. Huston captain Of the young
mans company. who spoke very feel
ingly Of ihe boys death. and eulogi1ed
him for his bravery and upright man
~ and soldierly qualities.
AS soon as practicable Mr. Cashion
commenced making arrangements to
bring the body of his son home for bur
iai After working for three and half
years aud making one trip TO Cuba and
trip to Washington. the fathers eff
forts were finally rewarded by the
aid OF his sons tent mate, H. X. Love.
who after the campaign in Cuba went
to the Philippines. in securing the lo-
cation OF the boys grave, and the
body was shipped to Hennessey. The
caske. containing the remains arrived
here on January ~. 1902 and we're in
torred in the Hennessey city cemetery
amid impressive and patriotic cere-
monies. on January 80, 1902.
In the year Of 1899 the Oklahoma
Legislative assembly made an appro-
priation Of 1900 toward the erection
OF monument TO the memory Of the
first Oklahoma soldier killed in Cuba.
The citizens OF Hennessey raised by
popular subscription the sum OF $500
for the same purpose making to
tai Of $4,000,
In April. 1902, the contract for a
monument. to be erected. of Bedford
stone, was let TO s. H. Miller Of Ok
,ahoma CITY for 1880. In September
OF the same year, the monument ar.
rived at Hennessey, and was placed IL
the South Park Of the city It is an
imposing shaft, and has been viewed
and admired by many VISITORS to that
city