Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-06
|TRUMPETER
/ SAM.
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On the trocp-ship en- route from
Manila fer the Chinese service, ito
relieve the legation at Peking," Sam
my Burlage's fame assumed dimen-
sions.
He played taps on still, starry
night in the Yellow Sea. There was
q sob of inconsistencies in his own
throat and perhaps he put something
of it into the last lingering notes. At
all events, the five cavalry squadrons
were in gloom when he finished, and
Brigadier Hendrie, the commander,
sent for the little bugler.
Look here, young man. the old
cavalry chief demanded, what do you
mean by making us all want to go
home? I'll take you for my orderly,
to keep you out of mischief
THANK you, sir!' said Sammy, and
he was attached to headquarters from
that night.
This is All honor which usually falls
to one of the senior trumpeters, but
old rules drop away when troops are
out on active service. And the young
soldier found himself strangely fond
of the gruff, kindly old warrior before
he had been a week on Chinese soil.
Days of heavy riding followed, but
the browning misery had nothing to
do with fatigue. TO Sam, and innum.
cradle others of the American force,
the bitterness lay in the lack of let
tiers. The cavalry had left Manila on
the eve of the arrival of mail-steam
er, and the precious news from home
had not yet been forwarded. Sam
was barely twenty. He had been
away year-and it was the first time
out of his native state. Some who
read may know the agony of waiting
which he endured.
Six weeks in China, and the walled
city of Tiesnshan less than a mile
ahead! Night was settling down, and
with it came a chill wind across the
rice-felds, and fine, drizzling rain.
There was much grumbling from the
American lines, for the rain put out
the supper fires. Many who had start
ed to relieve Picking were back in the
coast hospitals now, for the hard and
constant service and the cold nights
of China had been rough on the men,
SO long used. to torrid Luzon. Just
ahead of the americans was regi.
ment of Japanese. Behind, and on
each side, We're bivouacked the Eng
fish, Germans and Russians. General
Hendrie, with Trumpeter Sam riding
at his heels, had reached the extreme
rear of the cavalry line when a pack
train rode in from Taku.
Mail for Hendricks brigade" the
boss" packer announced.
The nearest troopers heard the
word, and it was repeated like bat
tle-cry down the line The men sprang
to their feet, and an American cheer
rent the air. WEAKNESS, hunger were
forgotten. Letters! Letters! The
magic word of all campaigning!
An hour later with six envelopes in
his hand, the trumpeter lighted a
candle-stub in his little pup-tent be-
hind headquarters and sat down with
his treasures. He hardly dared to
breathe. A thousand things might
have happened. Was mother well?
And little sister? How were the other
boys at home? Home-that was the
word! He found the envelope bear
ing the latest date-six weeks be-
fore
A strange bugle-call sounded from
the headquarters of the British com.
mander. Sammy sprang up with a
cry of anguish. He had not even torn
open the envelope, and he was called
back to cold, damp, windy China
with war at hand and work to do. He
stood at attention at the flap of the
generals tent.
Sir" he announced, Commanders
call has just sounded from the British
headquarters, Hendrie was already
upon his feet, tucking his personal let
tiers into his blouse. The huge pile
of official correspondence was as yet
unopened. His horse was brought
and Sammy rode behind him to the
British Camp, with his trumpet and
his unopened letters.
Great words were spoken there
Hendrie and his orderly rode back on
a gallop, and commanded an advance
Tienshan was to be taken in the
night!
The great column struggled forward
in the darkness. Ahead, the Japanese
kept up terrific pace of walking
A shell screamed over the command
Rockets rose from the black ribbon
of wall ahead, and sounds were In
the air that made men dodge. The
English artillery was laundering for
ward.,tons of steel and brass. gal
lantly engineered. Sammy held his
horses head to the tail of the gen
erals bay-it seemed for ages. This
was night. of tragedy and history
making When it was over-letter.
from home!
The masonry doomed ahead. Livin,
forms and a deadly fire shook in /;
red mist upon the summit.
Inc JdpdHeSe anu american imam
try were damned at the base of tn,
wall. Only the commanders and thel
stats had retained their mounts.
Hendrie roared orders, and Trum
peter Sam, ever shadow at his heels
interpreted the commands on hi
bugle. SO that all could hear abov,
the roar of the battle.
In the reek of powder and the gar
lsh light of belching guns the eng
ueer corps affixed their ladders to tn
wall. Hendrie, his staff and orderly
turned over their horses to the men
Make way for the general on tn
ladders!" the adjutant roared.
The Japanese had already reache'
the top. and the Chinese were fallin,
back. Black still figures dropped from
above, the first fruits of the battle
japanese, who made SO sound IL
wound or death. Hendrie was painting