davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
0bedfent.

Frum the Youths Companion.
A mother led her six children to the
apple tree. It had borne but a single
apple-no longer visible to the casual OBJ
server. II told you not to pick that ap-
plei" she said sternly.
We didn't pick it!'' the children an
swered In chorus. And the Oldest girl
added, in an injured tone: You can see
for yourself that it's still on the tree.
II mean-the core Is. We only climb
cd up an'-an' took q bite once In Q
whils-ws didn't pick itr'
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
Particular Woman.

Fsun Judsvs Litnry.
'shs insisted on having woman law.
yer secure her divorce"
Why was she 50 PARTICULAR
"she ala not want to go contrary to
that portion Of the marriage ceremony
that reads. Let no man put asunder.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

Il = hard to convince a man suffering
IN the cold gray dawn OF the morning
amer that two heads are better than
euA-Judgs's Library.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

Luttrell Company. Dupont Circle and
Connecticut Avenue: Delivered 13ts Pack
ard touring car to A. D. Marks.
These people have a three-ton truck.
which they are now demonstrating.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

Miller Bros, 1857 Fourteenth Street
and slS New York Avenue: Have no
cars" Factory sold out OF this years
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

Congressional Garage. 62s Pennsylvania
Avenue. Southeast: Motor buses will start
between Washington and Laplata, Nd.
on Monday, operated by Semmes Motor
Line.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

David s. Hendrick. 1911 II Street North
west: D. s. Hendricks and George H
Culbert. with Mrs. Hendricks and Mrs.
Culbert. have gone for a trip to Boston
in a six cylinder Franklin.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

]. II. Ebcrsole, Warder Building: IL
not in the city any more. is the wall Of
his many Capital friends. He il now in
Indianapolis with the company.
The Washington herald., 1912-08-11

Zell Motor Car Company, 1905 H Street
Northwest: Mr.. Halliday is here from
Egypt Ill, driving a Chalmers 80 and
expects to remain In the city for some
time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11


X X
1t is in the last important battle by
Gen. Taylor that Mr.. Beerhorst takes es-
pecial pride.
TT was in February, but the weather
was mild said the old warrior. in
speaking of the unique battle. where but
a mere handful of determined Americans
defeated 10000 Mexicans. Santa Anna
had been sent to the aid of Gen. Scott at
Vera Cruz and resolved to crush the re.
mainder, which was holding the city of
Monterey. Gen. Taylor withdrew his men
neighborhood of Buena Vista, or Good
View as it was in Spanish. Our army
took its station in q narrow mountain
pass, with hills on one side and ravine
or die. for If the little army had been con-
quered it Is probable that not a man
wou have esca. ed the terrible butchery
of Santa Annals soldiery.
AT daybreak the bugle called us from
a restless nights sleep, on our arms. and
until dark Of that day We fought. In the
final charge it seemed that We must
surely be defeated. The half-savage Mex
at Buena Vista. and were about to take
our wagon trains with the supplies when
Bragg's division OF the artillery. of which
l was cannoneer, swung down the
rocky way upon the Mexicans. Our guns
were unlimbered, and We rushed to with
in a few yards Of the astonished Mex
leans, and before they knew what we
were about the guns were in action, pour
ing charge after charge OF grape and
shrapnel into their thickly crowded
ranks. The front line. deafened by the
roar, wavered.
This threw the rear lines Of their for
nation into disorder, and within ten min
utes their disorganized and routed forces
were streaming away over the gulliess
their discounted leader, Santa Anna,
leading in the flight. That night We again
slept on our arms, but with coming of
the next dawn we could see that during
the night the Mexicans had quietly skunk
away, leaving us in possession Of the field
and Of Monterey"
After the close Of hostilities in Mexico
Mr.. Beerhorst re-eniisted, and for several
years was stationed at Santa Fe. n. NJ,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

which at that time was one of the wild.
est places in the United States. While
in the service there Mr.. Beerhorst was in
a. number Of Indian fights, the Conan
ches, k:owas and Arapahoes being es-
pecially troublesome. He assisted in the
rounding up and subduing of numbers of
their parties and helped in the capture of
famous warrior chiefs. He talks inter-
pistols and sabers, which the cavalry
then used.
By far the most lucid description of the
war with Mexico is given by John Con-
ner, eighty-seven years old, and a native
OF Troy, N. Y. Taking a LIBERAL pinch of
snuff, and enjoying it to the fullest eX-
tent, this old veteran displays decided
interest in recounting events of the war,
which to him are as vivid as though they
had happened but yesterday. 1t Is almost
uncanny to hear him tell of events which
long ago made history, as though they
had occurred but yesterday. 1t is like re-
turning the leaves of time; it is being
face to face with the dead past, reviving
the events that have made stories of ma
tons.
'.Not only can I recount the events of
the war; said he, but I remember
every detail of the political excitement
which preceded the opening of hostllities.
The presidential campaign between Henry
Clay and James X. Polk was most bit
ter. There were many songs concerning
the issues and features of the cam
paign."
Then the old man hummed the follow
ing words, the chorus of an endless song
regarding the two candidates:
Hi no, Henry Clay; hi. no. Henry Clay!
Now don't you spend your money SO free, for
you can't beat Polk of TENNESSEE"
II was wild to join the army, and, being
a builder, my mind naturally turned to-
ward the Engineer Corps. I had just fin
ished my apprenticeship in Brooklyn.
There were seventy-nine in our company
when it left New York, and just thirty
three returned after the war. We arrived
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

to Mexico. The wide detour taken by
Gen. Scott and the brilliant battles which
followed are among the familiar land
marks in our history
After the close of the Mexican war Mr.
Duncan remained in the service Of the
United States army. He was transferred,
after his re-enlistment following the close
of hostilities on foreign soil, to the trou-
blesome scenes in California, which just
then was in the throes Of the invasions
by the "'49ers,'' and torn by Indian
strife. During one Of the battles with the
Indians Mr.. Duncan was wounded in the
right thigh. In 1862 he enlisted for serv-
ice in the civil war. He was in the en-
gagements in which the California regi-
ment took part, having a number of fights
with raiders.
But few months younger than Dun
can is William Beerhorst, who is in his
eighty-ninth year. He was born in Ger
many, but when young man he came to
Baltimore, Md, where, in 1S41, several
years before the Mexican conflict, he en-
listed in the far-famed Light Horse
troop of the Sd Artillery. His troop was
Taylor, to care for American interests
along the Texas border. He was sent to
Corpus Christi. Tex, to the rendezvous
of the Americans during the early part of
Horse" Mr.. Beerhorst says. because the
gunners did not sit on the Timber boxes
of the cannon when the artillery was be-
ing moved, but rode extra horses taken
along. There were ten or twelve men
with each gun and liberal supply of
horses was given to the charge of each
battery. Describing the batteries used in
the war. and the different battles he was
in Mr.. Beerhorst says in the broadcast of
Teutonic infections:
THE best known gun of those days,
as well as the heaviest carried on the
Mexican campaigns, was the old six
FOUNDER, solid shot, cannon. OF course,
there was the twelve-pound shell used in
the old-fashioned howitzer, but they were
not of the range of the solid Shells and
used grape shot and slugs. But they did
deadly execution.
THE first battle of any Importance we
had was on what now is American soil,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11
Crude and Bold.

<tI KNEW the late Clark Russell
WE'LL said a Philadelphia ship
ping reporter. THE unhappy man, rack
ed with rheumatism, lay for many years
on his back as helpless as a newborn
babe. That. perhaps, was how he came
to leave 100000. He couldn't spend any
OF his money, you see.
Authors make less than Is supposed.
Clark Russell was once talking to me
about authors earnings. He said that
publishers exaggerated these earnings so
as to get more people to write for them.
He said that the millionaire publisher.
in order to draw authors on, painted the
prosperity Of the successful writer with
the bold. crude exaggeration wherewith
the preacher In the mariners bethel
painted the horrors Of the bad place.
"a bethel preacher. he explained, waa
describing the bad place to q congrera-
ton Of shellbacks.
".Shipmates,' he said, you've seen the
molten iron come running out OF the fur
mace, haven't you? 1t comes out white
hot sizzling and kissing, like some kind
OF snaky horrible monster. Well. ship
mates
THE preacher pointed his forefnxsr
at the awed shellbacks.
Well shpmates,' he said. solemniy..
they use that stun for ice cream"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

conflict later. They knew these powerful
leaders when they were but mere lieu
tenants and captains.
Some of the "MeNicans,' as they are IA
miliarly called about the home. took part
in the civil war, intimately following the
fortunes of the commanders they had
followed against the forces of Santa
Anna in the Businesses of the Mexican
mountains
Unusual privileges are accorded the
few remaining survivors of the Mexican
war at the home, for out of the thou
sand-odd veterans at the institution
they hold a unique position. They are
very proud of their records in the war of
:" 49, 49, proudly displaying the evidence
OF their enlistment and telling of army
formations now unknown. and Of cav
airy forces which were called dragons"
The eldest OF the veterans. In point OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

was shot through the leg from a house.
top during charge on the city. In 1S49
on being mustered out Of the service he
was one Of the forty miners" going TO
California with hundreds of his comrades
to seek for gold. Soon after he re-enlisted
In the army, serving in a number of In
dian battles in New Mexico against the
Apaches
Yoakum again enlisted, seeing hard serv-
i've with Gen. Grant in Battery M Of the
Sd Artillery. He was with the Army OF
the Potomac in most Of the campaigns
"A member of the far-famed Wolff
geurs." George kriner. eighty-four years
old. and veteran of the civil as well as
the Mexican war, is one Of the interest
ing characters about the home. He was
in the command Of Gen. Scott In the for
mer conflict and tells thrilling tales OF
battles fought. His favorite story is OF
the night along the ''aqueduct way" into
the City OF Mexico after the storminy of
Chapultepec. During this fight he re-
ceived bullet wound in the breast
=
Mr. kriner also tells of the terrible
butchery Of the war, and Of suffering such
as would be unknown today. Hospital
facilities were lacking during the march
upon Mexico. and all the aid many OF the
wounded received was the first aid RENE
dies that their comrades could bring on
the field. In 1852 he again enlisted in
the United States Army. serving through
out the war He was at the battle OF the
Wilderness and at Charlottesville.
The eighth veteran, Alexander S. Hill,
only eighty-three years old, "a mere
STRIPPING the other veterans say, Is the
youngest of the lot. He enlisted in the
Sth Infantry early in the year 1877 sail
ing from New York for Vera Cruz, to
join the forces Of Gen. Scott His COM
mand reached Scott when that leader was
invested at Pueblo, and Mr.. Hill was one
Of the warriors at the fall OF the palace
of the Montezumas. Gen. Longstreet of
the Confederate army was his adjutant.
while Gen. Pickett, also of fame In the
tenant in the command with which Mr..
Hill was enlisted.
He tells Of the battle at Molina Del
Rey: an outpost near Mexico City. and
of the assault on Chapultepec. The part
of the castle which his part of the as
saulting columns charged was not pro-
tected with q high wall but was almost
sheer itself, and was protected by deep
moat which the attacking columns crossed
only with great loss.
While Mr.. Hill was with one of the at
lacking columns charging from arch to
arch of the abutments along the aqueduct
way he was wounded in the neck, the
scar of which he still carries. she'll
from a Mexican gun smote the heads off
Of two of his companions, striking the
stone wall and bursting into fragments.
One of these fragments struck him in
the neck, INJECTING the wound.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

troops to reach Mexico. He was with
Gen. Scott during the notorious three
months. when that leader was penned
up in the ''quartelle' section of the city
of Pueblo. awaiting achievements from
the United States, while the Administered
ton was fighting out at home various
policies of the prosecution of the war. He
tells of actual privations during that
time when Santa Annals investing army
of superior numbers prowled about the
lines of the Americans, waiting for the
proper moment to strike. Tho moment
never came for reinforcements arrived.
Mr.. Cunningham was one of the first
locomotive engineers to pull a throttle
in the United States He began in 1S44,
on the old Reading line in Pennsylvania
In 1859 he went to Cuba, answering the
call for enginemen on Cupa's earliest
lines. where ne was at the time of the
civil war.
-
Another son of Ireland is John Dun
can, eighty-nine years old, the second son
in the family of Mexican veterans at the
home. Beside his record with Scott's
army i'm the Mexican war, Mr.. Duncan is
proud OF the fact that he was a soldier
in the Federal army during the civil war,
and took part in the Oregon and Piute
Indian wars of 1856 In July, 1S47. Mr..
Duncan was one Of the soldiers sent to
reinforce Gen. Scott, who had been hold
ing the territory gained by investing
Pueblo. He was member Of II Troop
of the Sd Artillery, and served until the
close Of hostilities with Mexico. in 1919.
Il will never forget August Z, 1S47."
said the old man. THE distance from
Pueblo. from where We set out for Mex
leo City to the city, was about 100 miles.
The roads were narrow. and lurking along
the entire way to their capital were the
Mexican forces. After three-day march,
during which time the artillery horses
suffered greatly from the roughness OF
the way and the rigors of the march, we
reached, 11,00O strong. the heights of the
Cordilieras, where the magnificent valley
of Mexico lay stretched like a wonderful
picture before US.
''In the heart of the valley, surrounded
by snow-capped mountains. fertile plains
and crystal lakes. lay the City Of Next
co. The soldiers clamored for the onward
march. But the way to Mexico City was
guarded by 10000 troops, nearly three
times our own force. They lay behind the
best sort of projections. natural barriers
of stern, unyielding granite and lava
flows. and were intrenched along the
marshy edges Of the single road direct
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

at the scene of trouble in Texas, Brazos
Santiago, and joined Gen. Taylor's
forces" It may be remarked that Mr..
Conner was the only one Of the veterans
to see service through the whole Of the
conflict, being one Of those who were
transferred from Gen. Taylor to Gen.
Scott, just before the battle Of Buena
Vista.
1.-THE first duty that we had was to
prepare the pontoon bridges which Tay-
lors men used In crossing the Rio
Grande, after the battle Of Resaca de la
Palma. After taking part in the various
battles with Gen. Taylors forces I was
transferred to Lopez Island, to await
transports to Vera Cruz, where Gen.
Scott was to land.
1.-The famous old city of Vera Cruz
was surrounded by a wall, and presented
a most striking appearance. To the front
Of the city. o. . small rocky island In
the bay, was the strong castle Of San
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

X
with practically no resistance en-
trenchments were dug in the sand all
about the city. The bitches could not be
dug more than three feet deep, on ac-
count Of the surface water which would
constantly rise from below. 1t was my
duty, being Of the Engineer Corps, to
superintend the planting of the heavy
siege guns and mOrtars for the lombard
ment. George B. Mcclellan of civil war
1ame was my brevet second lieutenant,
and L worked side by side with him for
many days. The barbarously beautiful
city Of Vera Cruz. 'on the day before the
terrific commandment was begun, was a
sight never to be forgotten. The Mexican
forces had been crowded within the
walls, and the streets were strongly bar
ricaded. From every building in the city
hung the colors of the Mexican army.
while bunting festooned the streets at
every crossing. The city seemed to be
hooking at death by putting on it's best
holiday attire just before its fall
'On the twelfth day of the investment
the bombardment- was begun. 1t was a
part of my duty to keep the sacks of
sand piled high about the siege guns
the Mexicans. and my hearing to this day
is Slightly affected by the awful belch-
ings of the guns just beside me. On the
fourth day of the bombardment the city
Vera Cruz, with its strong water fort and
garrison. was occupied by Gen. SCOTS
army.
ION leaving Vera Cruz for the capital
city We went in light marching order
Each man had the choice of his overcoat
or a blanket, and this was all the bag
gage We carried. Our real load consisted
or ammunition. With as light trains as
could be carried, we crowded toward the
interior, along the national highway.
AT Cerro Gordo we met decided re-
sistance. The Mexicans under Santa An
ma had set themselves on a conical hill.
and had the advantage in no undecided
way. as far as position was concerned.
During the night 1 was one of those who
dragged cannon up the steep crags Of a
neighboringt hill by ropes, and on the
coming Of light we opened fire upon
them. Tho enemy's position was stormed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

and again there was the ignominous spec
tacle of Santa Anna leading retreat.
this time on one of the mules that had
formerly been hitched to his coach. He
left his wooden leg on the battlefield.
with battles of smaller consequence
We finally gained the outposts of Mexico
City itself. By detour We had avoid
ed the strongest points of the Mexican
encampments, but on the morning OF
August 10 we came suddenly upon the
strongly entrenched camp Of Contreras,
within fourteen miles of the capital.
This was stormed and the same day the
height of Churubusco was stormed, nu-
merous batteries taken and the defenses
laid bare to the very gates of the city.
There was one chief defense to be
taken yet, however. This was the castle
defenses of the city. The place was
'sugar-loaf rock, surrounded in part by
a strong stone wall. and every inch de-
Tended by the strongest garrison Of
tary Academy Of Mexico. 1t was part of
my duty to make the ladders with which
it was proposed that we scale the heights
first surrounding the wall. When all was
ready, by a concerted action, the charge
was made.
IT hardly remember what was done, but
1 do know that before the setting of the
sun that day the castle was taken and
the way open to the heart Of the city.
The story of the victories gained by our
armies SOuuQS lk0 d larry SLOTy, uOeSu I
it?'
At the close of the war Mr.. Conner re-
tired to private life, and has been a sue
cessful builder in Albany, n. Y. He has
been in the home but year.
\ native of Ohio. George V. Yoakum,
eighty-six years old, is another veteran
Of the conflict. Mr.. Yoakum's memory
is not so keen as some Of the others, but
he can tell much of the campaign from
Vera Cruz to Mexico City, under Gen.
Scott. He enlisted with the "1st Mounted
Rifles but during the transit from New
York to Vera Cruz a terrific storm struck
the transport in the Gulf of Mexico, and
the horses Of the entire company were
lost. After that the Mounted Rifles
served afoot, acquitting themselves with
marked valor Mr.. Yoakum's colonel was
Robert e. Lee of civil war fame. Mr..
Yoakum we'll remembers the taking of
the Citadel" as the castle Of Chap ulte-
pee is called.
A picturesque career has been that of
Samuel Emmert. now eighty-four years
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

but 5000 men, our army advanced upon
the city of Monterey. The city was
strongly fortified and surrounded by dead
Iy ravines and mountains, the garrison of
the city being about 10000 strong. While
the Light Horse Artillery and full bat
teraes of Gen. TayIor's force cannonaded
the place deadly attack was made di-
rectly upon the city, whose streets were
strongly barricaded, and whose houses
were, for the most part. made Of stone.
Holes were dug through the houses, or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

THEY Tell of Battles
i That Have Long Had
a Place in History-Their
Combined Ages Would
Amount to ego Years
Youngest of the Veterans
Is 83-Oldest Is gold
Warriors Talk on Old-fash-
toned Army Tactics, and
Tell How They Defeated
the Mexicans on Their Own
Soil.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

many interesting "reminiscences OF the
days when toilsome marches and fierce
battles We're made in the shifting sand
dunes and chaparral thickets in the wild
region south OF the Rio Grande.
They speak in familiar terms of Ulysses
s. Grant Robert E. Lee. Jefferson Davis
and other leaders in the civil war; to
whom the war with Mexico was but a
bloody training fer still more desperate
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

years, is John Cunningham, ninety-two
years old. A native son of Erin, Mr.
Cunningham possesses the native wit of
his people poking fun at inquisitive
visitors who would query him concern
ing his war record. He came to Amer
lea in 1887. and just ten years later en-
listed with the forces of the United
States, being transported among the last
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

HERE are, out at
the Soldiers Home,
eight veterans of
SCOTS and Tay-
lOr'S armies OF in
vasion and con-
quest in the war
with Mexico. The
sum of their COM
bined ages amounts
to $50 years. and
the veterans them
CANE~n- ~ IN ~ - n a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

at Palo Alto, where we put six thousand
Mexicans to flight, losing but nine men
killed. The next afternoon we met the
sane forces at Resaca de la Palma, a ain
putting them to rout, capturing their
guns and their general, La Vega. They
rushed pell-mell across the Rio Grande
river.
A bit more leisurely we followed them
across the river, using mud scows for
ferries, with the greatest difficulties get
ting our batteries and horses across the
treacherous Rio Grande. With q force Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

Juan de Ulloa, considered one of the
strongest Notifications in the country.
We landed on the sandy beach below
that the Mexicans in their. forts offered
no opposition. Forthwith we drew up
our siege lines in the shifting sand dunes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

uralized citizen of the United States for
many years. He enlisted with the Penn
sylvania Blues" regiment raised in
in 1915. Like Mr.. Yoakum, he
was transferred to Vera Cruz from New
York. His most vivid recollection 10 the
stormins Of Mexico's capital, when he