Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-09-25

life with five of their number lying
creek. About twenty-five yards fur
Their on stood a single nepa shack,
which the Fillpinos had used as
sort of arsenal. This shack was their
only refuge, and another determined
charge brought them to it On the
way another man was killed and Red
dy' was shot through the intestines.
BY sheer nerve he managed to get In
the hut, which was built on tiles about
five feet from the ground; the ten men
remaining made openings in the bam-
boo walls Of the shack, and began
long, steady fight. 'Reddy' quietly
told the sergeant that he had been
shot, but that he was still strong
enough to help the men load. So he
and three men loaded while the others
kept up a constant fire for over an
hour. After this time the enemy's ar
dor was somewhat cooled, though our
party had to keep constantly on the
alert. Then 'Reddy' crawled noise
lcssly to corner and laid down on
his back. The Filipino line was SO
closely drawn that our men could not
possibly risk dash for the creek.
Their water supply was soon gone,
and the poor little corporal must have
suffered the fortunes of damned
SOUL but not once did he call for drink
or ask any one to turn him over or
try to ease his position. The rest or
the men were almost dead from eX-
haustion, and each man took his turn
walking about the shack and kicking
his companions to keep them awake.
1.-The next morning at daybreak the
Filipinos became more active again.
and 1t looked for while as though
the little fort must be taken. Through
all these sitting hours, 'Reddy' breath
cd ON quietly. The little room was
filled with smoke and splinters of
bamboo, the roof had leaked and the
floor was soaking. and the crashing OF
rifles and singing Of bullets never for
an instant abated. Finally at noon
the shooting subsidized, and one Of the
men discovered a small spring about
twenty yards from the house. Driven
to desperation, q sortle was effected.
and the men returned with some wa
ter. 'Reddy' was given his share like
the rest, and the men told me after
ward they never saw such a look or
gratitude on mans face before. Aft
ernoon had drawn on and the party
had been twenty-four hours on water
and hardtack. The men then realized
that the poor boys end was near. and
one of them was detailed to care for
him and ease his last hours as much
as possible. 'Reddy' protested that he
was all right, and insisted that the
fellow 60 back to what he called the
firing line. Never mind me, old man.
he said, get back to the firing line
and stay there and for several hours
longer the little chap lay dying with
out a mur1nur.
Toward in the evening 'Reddy'
called a man to his side; he was so
weak he couldn't talk above a wills
per, and the man saw he was dying.
1 guess IL Ill ny now ooAo @hS AANeAo
corporal. and 1 wish you would say
a prayer for me, cause 1 was always
used to 1t at home The comrade
knelt down, and with his head close
to the wounded mans tor the firing
was still sharp. he repeated the
Lords Prayer. And then 'Reddy'
peacefully closed his eyes and let his
head fall back without sound. We
found the party about twenty-eight
hours after they had been ambushed.
and eight of them were still alive"
For some time after Oldsborough had
finished nothing could be heard but
the even swing Of the punkah over
our heads. and then some one said,
Heroes don't always wear the white
plume Of battle, do they?-New York
Evening Post.