The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-26
"REppY's" PLUCK.

Several Of seated table the Manila
Club enjoying whiskey and soda, and talking
and feats of daring talk when some
OF their number still khaki Campaign hats
with the smell of powder their clothes Although
plenty of fighting going within a few
rlneu of Manila the stories mostly days long
by and had acquired certain unnatural by
dint of frequent 1t is curious how will
their necks and their eyes toward the past
order find proof hardness which every day they
pass by unnoticed in the around them One man
suggest, There isn't any chance the
we fight nowadays for show any ind
vidual nerve; he simply machine medals are
distinctly of place
Medals may be out date, old man." said Capt
Odsborough but the thing that the medals
happening along line. had young corporal
in my company when duty down in Tayabas
Province. who had the kind of sand that doesn't
read about often. He boy of about twenty
years old a factory town in Connecticut
1 think he worked in a shop There wasn't
of romance dash about him; he had washedout red
,freckles, about five four in his
shoes. and weighed about hundred and twenty
pounds He had anything to for himself and
shouldn't have noticed him for mis-
the quiet thorough way in which he attended
to all his duties 1 can't remember his name. but the
all called him 'Reddy'
we had been in the field weeks and the
fighting all with small bands guerrias who
kept constantly the alert The rainy had
on and several of the were suffering
dysenery; the cholera made cautious of what
ate, and and bananas forbidden
fruit. We far from comfortable and if had
any yellow in him. 1 promise you it showed. Wen.
'Reddy' known to kick about any hing;
eral times knew of his doing work for his 'bunke
had harassed for several days ~ small
o natives who had been following a safe
taking chance shot any who happened to
struggle 1 decided that it was to squad
reliable follow this party and for all rid
ourselves of their unwecome presence. Accordingly l
selected sixteen under a placed 'Reddy
second in command and sent them off with few hours
provisions. They had with them two native guides who
a
of five hours began. Part of the way the walking
through very heavy underbrush and bamboo forests
parts that the had TO walk in single file.
and unexpected bolO rush would probably have fin
shed the whole party before shot could have been
fired. Part of the lay through deserted rice pad
dies and tobacco fields where the tropical burned
iercey when the pouring down in torrents.
With the exception of small village. whose nhab
tants professed themselves Amigos. and few stray
'carabao' they living thing.
Finally, towards dusk, the party came a small
creek whose banks covered for fifty yards
both sides with heavy dense growth of reeds and
broadleafed palms. No the middle of this
reached than the surrounded by the
band they in search Of Instead however of find
twenty-five thirty guerrllas they had expected.
the enemy numbered about hundred. Order
given charge for the short sharp fight fol-
lowed and my found themselves in the open pump
ing away for dear life with five of their number lying
somewhere between them and the creek About twenty
five yards further stood single shack which
the Fiipinos has used sort of arsenal This shack
their only refuge. another determined charge
brought them to it On the another was killed
and Reddy' shot through the ntestnes. By sheer
he managed get in the hut which built
tiles of about five feet from ground, the
remaining made openings in the bamboo walls Of
the shack and began long, steady fight Reddy quiet
y told the that he had been shot, but that
he still enough to help the load So he
three loaded while the others kept constant
fire for hour. After this time the enemy's
somewhat cooled though party had to keep
constantly the alert. Then Reddy erawled noiseess-
ly and laid down his back The Filipino
line was so closely drawn that pos
sbly dash for the creek. Their water supply
gone and the poor little corporal must have su
fered fortunes of damned soul; but not did
he call for drink ask to turn him over to try
to his position. The of the almost
dead from exhaustion and each took his turn walk
ing about the shack and kicking his companions TO keep
them awake.
The next morning at daybreak the Filipinos became
active again, and it looked for awhile though
little be taken. Through all these sitting
hellish hours Reddy' breathed quietly The little
filed with smoke and splinters of bamboo.
had leaked and the floor soaking and the
crashing of rifles singing of bullets for
instant abated. Finally at the shooting subsidized.
and of the men discovered small spring about
twenty yards from the house. Driven TO desperation
sorte effected, and the men returned with some
water. Reddy given his share Ike the rest, and
tho told afterwards they never such look
Of gratitude a mans face before Afternoon had
and the party had been twentyfour hours on
water and bareback The men then realized that the
poor boys time near. and of them detailed
care for him his last hours as much as
possible Reddy protested that he all rfght. and
insisted that the fellow back to what he called the
firing Never mind old man, he said, get back
and stay there, and for several hours
longer the little chap lay dying without a murmur
Towards six in the evening Reddy called to
his side: he was SO weak couldn't talk above whs
per and the he was dying. 1 guess its all
up now the little corporal. and wish you would
say a prayer cause always used TO 1t at
The comrade knslt down and with his head close
to the wounded for the firing stiil sharp,
Re repeated Lords Prayer And then Reddy peace
fully and let his head fall back without
a found the party about twenty-eiEht hours
after they been ambushed and eight of them were
still alive"
For time after Odsborough had finished nothing
could but the swing Of the punkah over
heads. and then some one said. Heroes don't al
kays the white plume OF battle, DO theyf-Jaul
Fuller. Jr.. in New York Post