Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-07
SCARED BY SHRAPNEL
Col. Roosevelt Wounded at
Las Guasimas.
STORY OF EYE WITNESS
GATHERING OF SOLDIERS AT
CAMPFIRE LAST NIGHT.
Addresses Laudatory of Civil War
Veterans and Participants In
Spanish-American War.
STORY OF EYE WITNESS

ment of a Spanish shcapnel in the charge
at Las Guasimas and at the time marked
for life. is not generally known. The fact
was stated at a gathering of soldiers last
night in this city by Capt. William E. En-
glsh of Indianapolis. commander-in- chief
of the United Spanish War Veterans.
Every type of the American fighting men
was represented at the camp fire and re-
ception given last night by the Department
of the District of Columbia, United Span
ish War Veterans, at the clubhouse of the
Spanish War Veterans, 719 9th street north
west. Gathered in the prettily decorated
halls were rough riders men of the navy
and regular army, volunteers, signal corps
men, engineers, infantrymen, gunners of
the artillery and troopers of the cavalry
ranging in rank from high private" in the
rear rank to major general
Shortly after o'clock the orchestra
struck up lively military march, the sharp
command, Attention. rang out and the
soldiers and sailors sprang to their feet
with their right hands raised In military
saiute- This was the signal for the en-
trance OF the guests, who marched by twos
preceded by Or. S. Clifford Cox, depart
ment commander, and Major Fred s. Hode-
son and Capt. Lee NJ. Lipscomb past corps
commanders of the Spanish War Veterans
OF the District of Columbia
SueotS Capt William F.
Engllsh of Indianapolis, comma der-in-
chef of the United Spanish War Veterans.
Major General E. S. Otis, Col. Alexander
~ Brodle, Major Llewellyn, Capt McClin-
lock ana other members of the Presidents
escort of Rough Riders Colonel Visbar of
kentucky. Col. Arthur Hendricks and other
members of the G. A. R.; Major Howard
I. ). A, son of Gen. o. o. Howard and
others. anu
Address of Welcome.
Dpna M
the address of welcome and designated
MAYOR Fred S. Hodgson as POSTMASTER.
The major paid tribute to the yalor of
the Rough Riders in the Cuban camnaien
and their gallant leader, Colonel Roose
Welt He said al Las Guasimas thew were
confronted by three times their number of
spanish regulars. armed with improved
modern rifles and smokeless powder but
american bravery won. The battle COM
mand of the American army said Major
Hodgson, is not like that of the Europeau
armies, fire and fall back but is fire
ana forward all the time. The Rough
RIDERS, led by such men Colonel Roose-
welt Colonel Brodie and Major I.IeWellyn
were simply invincibe
Commander-in-chief English was then in
American soldiers greeting including the
famous battle yell of Uncle Sans fighting
men. Captain English who wore the dis
tinctive Spanish War Veterans uniform of
piue anu gray, PAID a nigh tribute to
President Roosevelt. who was described as
our comrade and fellow-soldier." He
SAID some people had made the assertion
that President Roosevelt was an unsafe
man to be in the White House.
Il saw Colonel Roosevelt when he was
unsafe said Captain English with fervor
He was on the firing line in the tropical
Jungles of Las Guasimas, when a Spanish
shell left Its mark forever on his arm He
does not talk much about that wound be-
cause he has the modesty of the brave man
but l was present and saw him receive it,
and it has given him mark of the highest
honor for life"
Charge of Rough Riders.
Captain English then described the charge
of the Rough Riders, led by Colonel Roose-
welt which he said had stirred the whole
world" and showed them the manner of
fighting men the Americans were. Colonel
Roosevelt led his men and they would have
followed him anywhere. He shared their
dangers and their privations and these
qualities endeared him TO his comrades
Captain English gave high praise to 1.-THE
grand Old heroes of the civil war" and
said the Spanish war veterans would al
ways insist that in all things they be
given the first place of honor
Those men, he added, gave four of
the best years of their lives to the smoke,
fire and carnage of warfare that this re-
public might endure and not fade from the
face of the earth. To them we must give
the first and fullest measure of praise
The Spanish war was only a little war
out II was great and mighty in its results"
In conclusion Captain English described
the prosperity of the organization of Span
ISM war veterans since the amalgama ton
had been effected.
Major General Otis began his address nv
paying a tribute to the gallant old veterans
of the civil war. He glad the Span
ish war veterans had consolidated and
hoped they would continue to carry aloft
the flag of their country.
Colonel Visher of Kentucky was intro
duced by Major Hodgson as a soldier who
has been colonel three times in a state
where every man is colonel by right of
birth"
Col Nisher said the war with Spain had
been described as little war but it had
changed the map of the world and made
Uncle Sam a great world power The
American soldiers in that little war
would have Gettysburg, Chickamauga, An
tetam or Shiloh if they had only had the
chance Mason and Dixon's line has been
wiped out by the patriotism, galiantry anG
'forthwithness'' of the young soldiers of
the south, sons of the old soldiers who
wore the confederate gray. At best Mason
and Dixons line had only been a dividing
line between cold bread and hot biscuit
He quoted saying of Governor Bob Tay-
Tor of Tennessee. that on the Hottest noun
tain of the state a man can stand and
tickle the feet of the angels" Col Visher
related number of characteristic incidents
of the civil war and the war with Spain
and received a hearty round of applause
Department Adjutant Rufus w Pearson
of the L. S. w. V, also of the Rough
Riders spoke of the presence of his vener-
able father at the camp fire, and said he
wore the gray a veteran under Gen
Joseph T.. Johnston.
Tribute to District Regiment.
Major Llewellyn was introduced as "a
man who has never turned his back on
friend or foe" The ma ior maid hiph ,rf,,,, "a