The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-11


canyon below the miners were still
chasing the elusive cavalry, their FIR
ing becoming faint as they clambered
| on toward the summit and the rebel
| Headquarters at Chular.
They had, in fact, been handled like
children, and the Americans joined in
contemptuous curses of their mistaken
bravery as they beheld in what straits
it had left them.
Forbidden by the superintendent to
participate in the combat, yet having
in their care the women of the camp,
they were compelled to stand passive
ly aside while rebels by the hundred
came charging down the ridges. Only
in the last resort, and when all diplo-
macy and federal defense had failed,
would they be allowed to so much as
cock rifle. And yet-well, twenty
determined Americans might easily
turn back this charge.
Taking advantage Of his Mexican
citizenship, Hooker was already on the
run for the trenches when the super
intendent stopped him with look.
Let the Mexicans fight 1t out" he
said. "They might resent it If you
took sides, and that would make it bad
for U.S. Just wait while-you never
can tell what will happen. Perhaps the
rurales and federals will stand them
off,"
What, that little bunch?" demanded
Bud, pointing scornfully at the hand
full of defenders who were covering
behind their rock piles. why half Of
them pelones don't know what gun
was made for, and the rurales-"
well, the rebels are the same" sug-
gested the superintendent Practically.
Let them fight 1t out-we need every
American we can get, so just forget
about being Mexican"
"All right" agreed Bud, as he yield
| ed reluctantly to reason. 1T amt be-
cause I'm a Mexican citizen-1 just
want to stop that rush.
He walked back to the house, jug
Cling his useless gun and keeping his
| eye on the distant ridges. And then,
in a chorus of defiant yells, the men
in the federal trenches began to shoot.
In an airline the distance was some
thing over mile, but at the first scat
tering volley the rebels halted and
| fired volley in return. With a vicious
spang a few stray bullets smashed
against the reverberating steel tank,
but no ono was hurt, and the defend
ers, drunk with valor, began to shoot
and yell like mad.
The bullets of the rebels, fired at
random, struck up dust-jets In every
direction, and from the lower part Of
the town came the shouting of the nom
combatant Mexicans as they ran here
and there for shelter. But by the
trenches, and in the rear of the black
tank, the great crowd of onlookers
persisted, ducking as each successive
bullet hit the tank and shouting en-
couragement as the defenders emptied
their rifles and reloaded with clip after
! clip.
| The rifles ratified a continuous vol
ley; spent bullets leaped like locusts
across the fiat; men ran to and fro,
now crouching behind the tank, now
stepping boldly into the open; and the
defiant shouts of the defenders almost
drowned the walls Of the women. Ex-
cept for one thing 1t was battle
there was nobody hurt.
For the first half-hour the Ameri-
cans stayed prudently under cover,
busying themselves at the suggestion
Of few American women in providing
a first-aid hospital on the sheltered
porch. Then, as no wounded came to
fill it and the rebels delayed their
charge, one man after another climbed
up to the trenches, ostensibly to bring
down the injured.
AS soldiers and bystanders reported
no one hit, and the bullets few harm
lessly past, their solicitude turned rap
idly to disgust and then to scorn.
Strange as it may seem, they were dis
appointed at the results, and their re-
marks were derogatory as they COM
mented on the bravery of pelones and
Mexicans in general.
From a dread of imminent attack, Of
charging rebels and retreating defend
ers, and a fight to the death by the
house, they came suddenly to desire
for blood and battle, for dead men and
the cries of the wounded and all fear
of the insurrectos left them.
Come away, boys" grunted the
burly roadmaster, who up to then had
led in the work; 1--WE wasted our time
on that hospital-there'll be no wound
ed. Let's take ourselves back to the
house and have a quiet smoke"
Fright you are, Ed" agreed the mas
ter mechanic, as he turned upon his
heel in disgust. This amt war
them Mexicans think they're working
for moving-picture show!"
II bet you I can go up on that
ridge" announced Hooker, "and clean
out the whole bunch with my six
shooter before you could bat your