Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-18
121ak WAR
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WAR HONoRS FOR ARMY MULE
Vicious Old Animal, Angered at I'm.
seen Pest, Aroused Officers and
Men, Saving Fifth Corps.

Ever hear how an old army mule
saved the Fifth Army corps at San
tago? asked captain in the Third
cavalry There was a general MUIR
muir among the captains auditors
that signiied that he couldn't tell too
much about the wonderful exploit OF
the much-maligned animal, and with
few more pUffs at his cigar he be-
gan: !
We had taken San Juan hill and
our line holding it was too thin for
safety, though the talk about with
drawing came only from people who
gave all the orders but were not at
the front. There was feeling OF
nervousness and restlessness among.
the men that didn't help the situa-
ton. An order to retreat would prob
ably have meant frightful panic and
all the officers were filled with anx-
iety and sending back urgent mes
sages that the line should be held at
all hazards, but that achievements
must be pushed forward at once in
order to hold the position. This was
the situation when an army mule be-
gan TO get in his work
Perhaps it was a snake or one of
those big land crabs that started him,
but whatever it was he began to kick
as though determined to level the
whole camp. Crash after crash sound
ed through the camp in his imme-
date vicinity as camp chests, kettles.
and oPR1nTrnn1nT0fc wont HyTinC IN oil
directions from the force of his rap
idly working heels. Some recruits
near by were awakened and thrown
into confusion and they rushed about
yelling and screaming in the full be-
lief that they had been surprised by
a night attack of the Spaniards. In
their terror they began firing in all
directions and in ten minutes the
aroused officers had the whole camp
under arms and ready for the momen-
tarily expected attack.
That blessed animal could not
have been more timely in commenc-
ing his work Of destruction. 1t seemed
providential, and I'm fully convinced
that heaven inspired the act, for the
OpdHIdIuS QIu dllSlupL sur PRISE d
short time afterward, but the mule
had the camp under arms and fully
prepared for the enemy ten minutes
before the scared sentries came tear
ing in with the news and found to
their surprise and JOY that the Off
GERS had the men well in hand and
with their faces to the enemy.
Coming after the defeat of the day
before, it must have taken all the
heart remaining oat Of the Spaniards
to find US all up and ready for them.
A storm of bullets met the first rush,
and they were thrown back utterly de-
feated and demoraliZed The attack
was well planned, and with our men
worn out with their constant fighting
for days and lack of sleep, it would
not have been difficult to start panic
rout of the Fifth Army corps. Once
started, nothing could have stopped
the decentralization and with only the
narrowest kind of road on which to
retreat, it is not too much to say that
it is more than probable that the
whole corps would have been crushed
There were scores of US in camp that
night after the repulse of the enemy
who believed that just as a flock Of
geese frightened the enemy and saved
ancient Rome, our vicious old army
mule saved the Fifth Army corps"