The Morning standard. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1910-191?, 1910-12-11

crashing roll Of volley, with thin spurts OF blue
smoke and Bedlam broke loose
The quick word To kneel probably saved our com
mnnd from annihllation, the Filipinos usual aim
ing high Crouching I'm the path, our men answered
the fire. pumping at random into the thckct. whence
the enemy maintained the attack with Gendlsh yells
and continued shooting Some one said "Jim's hltp
In n daze | crawled to the fallen dun.
DUN had torn away half of his neck. AS I worked at
the rcd ragged wound. looking into the STILL spat
tered face, with powder fumes Dinching my nostrls
savace yelling barking reports and the whine Of
bullets In my ear. could hear the clear, voice
of the Captain intoninG orders. 1t gave me queer
sort of comfort and the mist cleared from my vision
I unwound my bandages.
We heavily outnumbercd. SO much was
clear from the deafenng rip and rattle of rifles
from IN and down the thicket. But under the Can
tan's commands took cover at the right of the
path and our men began carefully placing their shots
wherever the waving of fronds drifting wisps OF
smoke beokened enemy.
They began to find The spit spHter OF lead
through the foliage was like the quickening of an
April shower, Flashes OF red and scowling brown
faces behind cleaning rifle barrels showed from the
copse and the ycls shrcr. AS trundcd to
another wounded man passed the Lieutenant, curlcd
behind n bush He had snatched up the fallen rife
and pumping 1t deliberately like any private
The Captain was Mt the end of the line At Intervals
his voice dominated the din urging slow aim and
low.
Suddenly saw him spring to his feet and with m
unntclgibIe yell dart off down the path through the
s7eet of bullets. snarllng cry, half half sob
broke from r. and his rifle swung around 10
the fugitive / caught his arm before he could
fire and he struggled with passion drawn face. Stm
] held him back. unable to believe what lie, in his
obscssion, Of that the Captain com
mttinG the most loathsomc fault The had
seen, and they too, cursed him, covering closer In
despair.
Then. from down the path. came whooplng cheer
followed by the smashing discharge of a heavy
volley. The Filipino yells answered with note
We all stood up, unmndful of danger and peered
down the path. We were just In time to see the
Captain, waving his sword leap into the thcket
toward the enemy and at his heels long line OF
blue sbirted men.
by God It's the boys from Bayonm shouted
Davis. Come on
And our little squad led It's bewildercd lieutenant
in a mad, reckless charge against the hidden enemy
before us.
1t great fight, The reinforcements secretly
arranged for by the Captain, had hurried up the
valley to be hand when the trap should be sprung
on us. The natives had no warning of this supple
mentary force. owing to the destruction of their
watch tower and the cutting of their line OF informa
tion by the X. O's clever tactics They outnumbered
now by more than four to one a very fair pro-
portion and what with the surprise and the yelpng
enthusiasm of charge drove them.
We of the Captains company had one good view
of him before the rout he headed the Bayan con-
tingent to close quarters In his left hand he BRAN
dished the splintered shard of his sword He had
thrown away his useless revolver and In his right he
swung dubbed rifle. twrllng 1t like a blackthorn
He hatlesS. torn and streaked with mud and
blood. The passage Of the thcket had ripped his
uniform to shreds One cheek open from temple to
chin. His voice had hOarSened to a raven croaI
And So raging, thirstng demon, he fell upon the
the rifles whitfield in his face.
In five minutes the thing was over The FilIpinos
shedding Gaudy coats guns and ammunition plunged
into the jungle where could not hope to pursue
leaving heavy loss behind them. The first thing |
remember after the burlyburly of the final struggle
was Lieutenant F., speechIess with shame and
pride--shame Of himself and pride of the other
wrnging the X. Os hand while the adorng squad
looked on.
Pretty good, sub, what" gasped the Captain
reaching hand for his scorcbed and bedragged mus.
tache. Now, when / a left'nant in the light
ARTILLERY, suh-we learned the vaue-of a flank move
ment-always 1ank suh-when you can"
And heard Private Davis murmur rcyerently:-
"Who said he wnsnt2 Who said he wasn't little
son of gun wheelS?"
We didn't capture Lukdon. but cut up his force
badly and he was captured time later and m,
priSoned for life.