The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-21

Continued from Page 81
| for eveiI.Ule.
And now TIL MEN b @an pouring up
| to the top OF the hill, iElng Dehnd the
crest and discharging bullets at the
Standards who were fleeing down the
other side, making htlter-skelter for
their entertainments toward Santiago.
Those who reached there, and not all
did, Joined heavy force OF Spaniards
lying there and turned their ire upon
the hill they had SO recently left. Thus
hail of lead flew upon and over the
heights which the soldiers had taken
compelling the regulars, Rough Riders
and the white and negro cavalrymen
who had rushed over from Kettle Hill
to flatten themselves in the pits which
had been prepared by the enemy.
To Holton, as he lay huddled in
trench with Rough Rider on one side
Of him and a dead Spaniard on the
other. 1t seemed as though the immo'
lation Of the entire army must follow
an attempt upon the entertainments
before the objective point Of the cam
paign was attained, and yet such an
attack was what he had counted upon.
as 1t would have enabled him. had be
escaped the leaden storm, to make his
way into Santiago.
Cervera had threatened. In event OF
the success of the American land cam.
paign. to turn his guns upon the city.
and as long as his vessels were In
their present position, they constituted
menace to the army that certainly
presented prospects of the latter's ulti.
mate success in rather q doubtful
light. And until the forts guarding
the harbor were invested from the
land side, naval attack would prove
too hazardous to undertake.
Over toward Ell Caney the thunder
OF cannon and the racketing of small
arms showed that Lawton and Chaffee
were not having the easy time in tax.
Ing the place that had been expected.
Indeed Holton could see that 1t must
be determined whether San Juan itself
was to be held. All the men were now
In the pits on the hill, discharging
their weapons from cover, and keep
ing as close to mother earth as they
could nestle.
The situation. as 1t appeared to the
navy man, was curious one. The
men had taken the hill, but what were
they going to do with 1t? They could
not 90 back and they could not go for.
ward. Their position was surely an
anomalous one.
A fine lot of siege artillery, as Hol.
ton saw it, would solve the situation.
and, indeed. as he thought this, a bat.
terry, red guidons flying and men
cheering. came rolling and swaying up
the hill.
Quickly Numbering. the men aimed
hastily. and sent volley OF projectiles
flying into Santiago. But the huge
yellow clouds had no sooner arisen
and the reports had not died away.
than 1t seemed as if the fire of the en-.
tire Spanish force was concentrated
on that row of guns on the hilltop.
Shells screamed. bullets whned, artil.
Ierymen fell one after the other.
Thus many minutes did not elapss
before the gunners went rafting away
down the hill much faster than they
had come up. The effect of this on
the minds Of the men. hanging on the
hill as though by their teeth, was not
at all reassuring.
Late In the afternoon Lawton and
Chaffee stormed through from Ell
Caney, where they and their men had
fought magnificent battle, and bring.
Ing reinforcements of four odd thou.
eand, materially increased the hopeful.
ness OF the situation.
AT the same time Gen. Joe Wheeler
and his staff came out to the trenchea
with determination not to yield an
men OF the position gained. Twilight
Tell and silence settled over the hill.
Then came darkness.
For an hour Hol,on lay, wondering.
doubling. How soon would II be be.
fore the army would move farther nm
toward Santiago? That 1t would bs
delayed. Holton had rea.
son to fear.
he arose from his place OF retreat
win sudden resolution. Slowly be
turned until he faced the lights NJ
and then with a half wave
Of his hand toward the brave men who
mad been his comrades. he stepped
along the hilltop.
Hallway down the hill he turn.a
and made another gesture toward the
lines. 1t was a sort Of fare
we'll. dramatic little act born Of mia
state OF mind.
Being Interpreted. Il might havs
read: