Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-01-17

Bile. They were wild, rough-lookine
lot, addressed and dirty even in that
dim light. For an instant, congested
within the limits of the hallway. both
sides paused, staring at each other in
mutual surprise and hesitation. Then
heard Jones below of command. and
Grants nasal voice profanely ordering
them to come on. With us there re-
manned no choice; We must fight 1t
out where we were. regardless of mum.
| bers
'Firel you damned fools-fre!a
roared Jones. and there was a crash.
ing of guns, the dense smoke swirling
between us. A Dragon at my right
went sprawling; another behind gave
vent to a yell as he plunged head first
down the basement stairs. There was
| the sound of splintering wood. of
breaking glass. felt the blood in my
veins leap to the fever Of it.
We We're upon the fellows with
rush, firing in their very faces, and
leaping madly at them. There was
little room between the walls, barely
! space for halfdozen to fight in.
shoulder TO shoulder, but those be-
hind, eager to strike also, pressed IN
SO recklessly that we hurled them
back. To me it was all confusion. ND.
roar, deadly fighting / could think
OF nothing to right or left, only of the
struggling devils in my front. Faces,
forms, came and vanished in the swirl
OF smoke, brown gun-barrels whirled
before me, flashes of fire burned my
eyes. strange features. bearded, malig-
nant, glared at me. / leaped straight
at them. striking fiercely. Once saw
Grant, and aimed blow at him. Then
he was gone, swallowed in the ruck.
Our mad onrush swept them back,
helpless, demoralized | stumbled over
bodies. slipped in pools of blood, yet
kept my feet. Every muscle ached;
was cut and pounded. yet drove into
the mass, shouting to those behind:
Come on. lads! Come on! We're
driving them!"
A yard two yards, three-beyond
the door where the men had escaped
we won our way. Then they could go
no further. Blocked, unable to retreat.
wedged helplessly against the far end
OF the hall they turned like cornered
rats. | could see nothing CT Jones.
but ! heard him, raging like iend
Now, you ours, now!" he stoTmed
You cowardly scum-perhaps you'll
fight when you can't run! What are
you afraid Of? There's only handful,
you can chew 'em up. If you VIM Push
EN- back. there! Push EN- back!"
With yell Of rage. those crushed
against the wall hurtled forward. driy-
ing the Others; men Were lifted and
hurled at us; others gripped al our
feet; by sheer force of numbers they
swept us backward. It was hand to
hand, neither side having time to re.
load their weapons. The smoke rose,
permitting view of the shambles.
There was tangle Of arms, a tumble
OF faces. They were maddened beasts.
desperate, revengeful. Hands clutched
at us, gun butts were thrust into orr
faces, the crush too dense to permit
of their being swung overhead MY
Dragons had their sabres out, and
stood TO 1t like men, the steel blades
dripping as they tasted blood But
killing one only brought new man to
the front. One does not see SO much
as feel in such a tumble. Yet | knew
We were worsted, outnumbered. They
came at us like a battering ram
saw the sergeant shot through the
forehead; saw Eric go down beneath
crushing stroke. and roll under NV
feet. / stepped on bodies, fighting for
my own life as never fought before
Somewhere | had gripped gun OUT of
dead fingers and swung 1t sayaaely
smashing the stock at the first blow.
but retaining the twisted iron The
intensity of excitement seemed to
clear my brain. | began to distinguish
voices. TO notice faces. | heard Grant
yell safely in the rear; heard Jones
roar, ITO hell with emf To hell with
'em!" Out of the murk of struggling
figures I made out his black beard
the CLEAN of yellow fangs. and leaoed
toward him. striking men down unit!
was able to swing at his head. He
went over like a stricken OK under a
DutcherS ak, knocking aside two men
as he fell. 1t gave me chance TO
spring out of the melee.
ITO the stairs. men. The stairsl"
cried. I'VE can hold them there!"
cannot describe now how we made
it. but We did | only know Tom and
l held the rear. sweeping circles of
death with our whirling gun-barrels.
falling back step by step as we fought
AT last ] felt the bottom stairs With
my foot. and heard voice shout:
Come up. sir! Well hold EN- noRt"
Then was above the heads of The
mob, gripping the rail-, and sobbing for
breath. There followed a moments
wait, an instant of hesitancy. | began
to see and feel once more. Below ms
the hall was jammed with men an