Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-06
TRUMPETER
SAM.


On the trOop-ship en- route from
Manila for 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
a 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? III take you for my orderly,
to keep you out of mischief"
'aThank you, sir!" said Sammy, and
he was attached to headquarters from
that night.
This is an honor which usually falls
20 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
III Ire bod loft Manila
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 tiIhe
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 mile
ahead Night was settling down, and
with it came a chill wind across the
rice-fields. and a 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 a regi-
ment of Japanese. Behind, and on
each side, were bivouacked the Eng
lish, Germans and Russians. General
Hendrie, with Trumpeter Sam riding
at his heels, had reached the extreme
rear of the cavalry line when pack
train rode in from Taku.
Mail for Hendrie's brigade" the
''boss" packer announced.
The nearest troopers heard the
word, and it was repeated like a 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 we'll?
And little sister? How were the other
boys at home? Home-that was the
wordl 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, tucl1ing 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 gallon. and commanded an advance.
Tfenshan was to be taken in the
night!
The great column struggled forward
in the darkness. Ahead, the Japanese
kent up a terrific pace of walking.
Al 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