davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10

position about 600 yards away. Ser.
geant Green's gun was instantly turnsl
upon this group, at point blank elevl
ton. The Spaniards melted away
Later 1t was learned trat the threaten.
ing force was 600 strong and cscapln-
from the battles left at FL Caney.
According to Spanish reports They
were struck at this point by m1chla,
gun fire so effectively that only forty q.
them ever got back to Santiago, II.
rest were killed" Surely this was a.
amazing performance for a type NJ GU
which the scientific experts Of the arm
had declared could never bee rOt {.
the front and was ft only the d.
fence of fortified positions
There was a period Of ina.uau FOL-
lowing the capture of Sa Juan hill
and during the interval Iiegf parkel
shltted his guns 10 new position and
while accommodating, he saw 'ha Gin
Il sunlight on a metal body r was q
large naval gun, az his field glasses Dis
closed, which the Spaniarls were toll
somely dragging TO a CommlUlrr point
where they cleverly hid il behind haaU
foliage.
Parker had followed the whole per
Torrance and carefully worked ONT tn
range by trianGulation. Afrr"ari tbs
big gun was found To be a lf-.g0,meu
piece. rified, mounted in h1rpr.te an
using smokeless powder. I p 'nmpan
ions it had four 3-inch field pieces an
two mountain runs When 'hr oath'
opened again this naval weapon wa
able to fire Just three shots he'1r
| Parker's gatlngs caught thHu 1p -V9
yards away,
| Therea- er the machine guns Ny me
hail of bullets, effectually prevented IN
Spaniards from again g"''n- mos
heavy pieces into action, 'h.f proven,
ing the carnage and damage they "'u'
surely have worked among ur troops
Before this our own field guns az SoV
eral points had been silen'"i 'y "'
enemy,
Lieut.. Parker has justly said I'm
| obvious conclusion Is that maeh'"'
guns can live at close ranges "ne
artillery cannot stay. There is no %,
ter light artillery in the world iNah t"o
which had to withdraw Fl m san Jua
bloclohouse and its vicinity 90 ih' mon
ing OF July g." Thus by din ~ p''s
| verance a modest lleut,roH. oI ]"
fantry upset the theories OF ihr 'Np'..
who had held. since the Franco, ~.
sian war. when the French W.'I''".t. ,
failed to live up to expectations ' ,n
machine guns were not m '"' o. IN
therefore untitled for active s'F'D' ~
the field. Foam
In short, John Henry Parker '' ~.
Missouri placed the machine gun %" "
military map for keeps and t'Ie ~. -
meaning that was not likely 20 o' -,
understood henceforth The af,'i'eS ,.u
Europe to-day are protting Ny ln's .ssr
page in battle tactics turn'H Io1 tr
by an American officer of the 'hi'H"'
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
MACHINE MILITARY

They were proud to belong to the gat-
ling gun detachment. Such was the
state OF matters when the detail sailed
away under a ruse, in the absence Of
direct orders, for Daquiri, and we shall
skip over the difficulties that beset the
detachment in getting ashore from the
transport Cherokee. But for Skaters
peremptory orders then possibly the
gatlngs would not have been landed,
and Parker and his men might not have
had their field day at Santiago. At
that time the detachment consisted of
four guns and only twelve men; it had
no mules or harness, and it's COM
mander had no authority. These
deficiencies, again thanks to Shafter,
were supplied as soon as the party
got ashore. The organization was not
fully organized until after June 10,
only two weeks before the battle.
Parker chose mules instead of horses,
an experiment which was promptly rldi-
culed by the conservative believers in
the superiority OF horseilesh over the
humble hybrid. which they unanimously
declared lacked the battle sense of the
horse and would be sure to stampede
under fire. As we have said, Parker was
from Missouri, and so were the eight
mules he chose. Possibl' this had
something to do with it, for the animals
behaved Handsomely during the entire
time OF their service and never fiinched,
even though the enemy's bullets stung
them where they stood just to the rear
Of the sizzling Gatlings. Very prop
erly Lieut.. Parker gave all credit to the
gallant men who formed his detach-
ment, and well they deserved the un-
stinted praise he lavished upon them
when their grim work was finished.
Now for the day of trial and disillusion-
ment for Parker's doubters.
They were at FL Paso. ordered there
to support the field guns OF Crimes
light battery in lieu of infantry yet 10
arrive. 1t was Just before s o'clock, and
Santiago lay OF in the distance slum-
bering in the golden sunlight of the
summer morning of the first of July
The first OF Grimes's guns barked few
minutes later, but the enemy waited
The second and the third and the fourth
in turn hurled their ranging shots ere
the Spaniards answered, and then from
hidden shelter the foe despatched a
shrieking shell in defiancc-thc range 50
distance rearward
Once more the Spanish gun doomed
and this time the shell burst over the
gatling gun battery, but fortunately a
bit to the rear. As Lieut.. Parker has
said the mules stamped impatlently
and hcehawcd as is their won't while
| the members of the detachment burst
into merry peals of laughter 1t was
evident that this detachment was not
going to run, and 1t was equally evil
dent that the Missouri mules woult
stand fire" The artillery duel lasted
about twenty minutes, and with the
arrival OF supporting infantry the gat
ling gun detachment was ordered Il
lhc rear out OF range to await orders.
In passing rearward the gatling guI
detachment met Parker's old regimen.
! the Thirteenth Infantry, on its way I,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10

THIS, in part, Is the story OF the
battle Of Santiago de Cuba-a
i part about which the public has
heard wofully little, and yet
something to thrill every patriotic
American:
I'VE were waiting at the fatal ford Of
the San Juan River-waitlng for the
order TO charge-and the delay was cost
ing us dear, The sharp snap Of the
spiteful Mausers was heard ahead. From
nowhere In particular the singing bull
let's came tipping through the dense
collage that should have been n sufficient
cover: and every now and then a man
dropped silently or swore wrathfully as
one of those leaden hornets bit him. The
situa ion was, indeed, enough TO try the
nerves,
"Brrrrrrrup, Brrrrrrrup, BrrrrrrrrrT-
up-a new sound broke into the pande-
monium from somewh' &c forward on our
right Then came the vengeful shrek
OF an answering shell-it burst with a
crash, followed by the hdeous anti
climax of the shrill hee-hawing of an
excited mule. God, man! what's that"
asked youngster jus, from West
Point. Don't worry, sonny, that's with
us. It's John Hcnry's experiment. He
is trying to revolutionize battle tactics,
and the Spaniards are probably double
crossing his senseless venture"
Thus spoke a conservative officer OF
the old school of infantry as he waited
for the signal to start his men forward
into the fray. lie did not know it then,
but the belittled John Henry was maxi
ing military history and llazing the way
for that glorious rush that a while later
swept the Spaniards from the hill oppo-
site and gave us San Juan hill. Let US
tell the story from the beginning. 1t
has in 1t an impressive lesson and Incl
dentally shows how the scientific idea
of warfare may be torn to tatters
through the initiative OF an inconspic-
uous subaltern ranking no higher than
a second lieutenant.
The years leading up to our war with
Spain gave the run or our army officers
in their circumscribed ACTIVITIES pardon
the term-at scattered posts but little
inducement 10 plan new things. The
daily routine of harrack life was the
sum OF their industry as a rule. Those
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10

THE detachment commander
was directed to report, after
posting his battery, TO Gen.
Chafee. who had charge of the
outpostS. The General inquired
what the battery consisted of.
and upon being informed that ii
consists of four gatiing guns
posted so as to comm: nd the
neighboring hills remarked in
very contemptuous manner: You
can't command anything. Gen.
ChaHee subsequently had reason
TO revise his opinion If not to
regret the expression of it,"
(History of the gatling gun
detachment at Santiago.)
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
Mrs. Gilky Dead.

Mrs. Birdie Gilkey, nee Har
manson, wife of Mr.. Ralph w.
Gilkey, of Handsboro, Miss, died
at the Sanitarium of Gulport,
Miss, on January 28th, and was
buried at Handboro, Miss. She
was well known and beloved in
st. Landry parish, where she
taught school for many years.
She was eldest child of DR.. A.
D. Harmanson and Bridget D.
Lyons, and is survived by her
father and mother of Handsboro,
Miss, Mrs. Pearl Atkinson, OF
Gulfport, Miss, Mrs. Lily Marsh,
of Handsboro, Miss, and Mrs.
Ivy Reynolds, of Houston, Texas,
sisters, and John Harmanson. a
brother, of Opelousas, La. She
leaves a husband and five child
ren.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13

members and Opelousas has
already been recognized by the
state at large. at the Shreveport
convention, when Mr.. Daniel was
elected one Of the state officers.
The Columbian Woodmen Of
this city are not the only ones
that should be interested in this
move to secure the sanitarium.
The entire citizenship should take
an active interest in this matter.
As Opelousas has a fighting
chance it is entirely up to the
members of the order and to the
citizens as to whether or not the
sanitarium will be established in
this city.
According to report high Of
ficials OF the order are very
much impressed with the sur
rounding country, one having
stated that he would use his in
duence in bringing the sanitar-
Ium to ODelousas.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
"CHANCE FOR DREDGE
BOAT GOOD"- "--DIMMICK
President Of St. Landry
Police Jury Thinks Parish
Will Buy Dredge Boat.

/ Frank Dimmick, president Of
the police jury. a practical ant
successful farmer. expressed tht
opinion that the parish would II
all probabilities purchase the
Union Irrigation Canals Marion
dredge boat at its next regular
meeting in March.
Mr.. Dimmick firmly believes
that the parish needs such a boat
and that work could be found
continually for the boat for the
next several years. He is of the
opinion that if the parish pur-
chases this boat it will be an in
centive to property owners tax
ing themselves for the purpose
Of draining their lands and will
materially aid this section of the
state in being rapidly developed
along scientific and practical
lines.
The committee appointed to in
spect the dredge boat which lies
on the Lastrapes plantation
about three miles from this city
reported the boat was in splen-
did condition and the offer made
the police jury by the Marion
Company is very abrasive, be-
ing big bargain.
Mr.. Dimmick thinks that the
majority of the jurors are dispos-
ed to vote to buy the boat, pro-
vided that the citizens in some
way interest themselves. The
jurors are willing to do anything
within their power to promote
the interest of this parish and as
many view the dredge boat SUBJ
ject as being essential to the
welfare of property owners in st.
Landry it is expected that the
motion to empower the president
Of the police jury to purchase
this boat will be passed by a sub
stantial majority at the March
meeting of that body.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
Methodist Ladies Enter
tain At Elk Home.

On Wednesday afternoon the
doors of the Elk Home were
thrown open to the public, ano
on this occasion the ladies of the
Methodist Church acted as host.
esses.
The object of this entertain
ment was to raise a certain
amount for improving the par
sonage, and when the receipts
were counted at the close of the
evening, it was with great de-
light that the ladies realized that
the substantial amount raised
would go far toward defraying
the expenses Of the much need
ed improvements.
The entire lower floor, was
turned into a vast dining hall,
Wnen home made refresh
ments were served at daintily
decorated tables. and from noon
until late at night each lady was
just as busy as she could be see
ing that each patron was bounti-
fully served with such delicacies
as chicken salad. sandwiches,
cake, candy, coffee and chocolate.
not forgetting the always enjoy
ed chicken, oyster gumbo.
Everyone was unanimous in their
verdict that this was one of the
incest affairs ever given in Opel
ousas.
The last but not the least at
active feature was the impromp-
tu concert that brought the
evening to a close.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
Eunice Election.

The municipal election has
come and passed in the progress
sive little city of Eunice. As
usual the citizens of Eunice al
ways fought hard for their re-
spective candidates, but the sup
porters of Mayor Wyble were too
numerous for his opponent to
show any strength.
Following is the unofficial vote:
for mayor. Wyhle 195, Keller S.
for marshal, Landry LA, Ledoux
81, Reed so, Walters 4; for coun-
cilmen, Hammers 100, Fuselier
2O5. G. Reed 127, Richard l52,
Launey 200.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
FIRST TO OFFICIALLY
ANNOUCE FOR JUDGE
City Judge Kerr Says He
Is Out Same Old Posi-
ton Of Seven Years.

/ Judge E. S. Kerr has the dis
tinction of being the first poiiti
: clan in St. Landry to officially
announce as a candidate for office
Mr.. Kerr will be a candidate fol
Ere-election as city judge, which
Office he has held six years ane
a-half, which record speaks fol
itself, well known to everyone il
this city and parish.
Prior to being appointed city
judge, when Opelousas was in.
corporated a Louisiana city, Mr..
Keer had been justice of the
peace for four years. He made
a splendid record in this office,
which was the chief cause of his
promotion.
Judge Kerr speaking of his
record as city judge said Il will
still be in office at least one and
a half years out of which period
official acts can be watched for
one year up to the date of the
primary election and judge me
accordingly.
Mr.. Kerr claims that his op-
ponents, Judge Arthur Simon
and Gus E. Dupre, are out ac-
lively campaigning hence his
reason for being the first poll
tician to officially announce his
candidacy.
mo doubt ] have made politi-
cal enemies, - said Judge Kerr,
as some people naturally feel of
Tended and aggrieved when COM
PEELED to pay a fine or go to jail
for the violation of the laws, but
I am net the least worried about
it, and | will continue to make
them mad as the laws are to be
enforced. have no friends to
reward nor enemies to punish. =
1t is expected that the fight
for city judge will be a warm
one again this year. Judge ST.
mon, who gave Mr.. Kerr such a.
a close run two years ago, being
defeated by only three votes,
will once more be in the race.
Judge Dupre has been actively
campaigning for sometime and
IS enthusiastic over prospects.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13

LOCAL MEMBERS OUT
FOR LODGE HOSPITAL,
City Has Opportunity To Get Columbian Woodmen
Sanitarium Interest Is Already
Aroused.

The Opelousas Columbian
Woodmen are now striving to
secure the establishment of the
orders sanitarium in this city.
At the Shreveport convention
a committee was appointed to in
Vestigate locations and plans for
the establishment of a sanitar-
III s for the treatment and cure
of disabled members of the or
der. This committee was ap-
pointed with the various busi-
ness organizations of several
towns to see what inducement
would be offered for the estab-
lishment Of an institution.
According to reports Opelou-
sas has a splendid chance to OBJ
tain this sanitarium. The local
Columbian Woodmen is COM
posed of a large number of the
most influential citizens of st.
Landry. There are over eighty
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
COMMITTEE CONFERS
WITH ACADIA JURORS
Meeting Committees From
Two Parishes To Meet
At Church Point.

The committee appointed BY
the police jury at it's last meet.
ing went to Crowley on last
Tuesday and conferred with the
police jurors of Acadia parish on
the subject Of dredging out Bay
on Plaquenine Brulee.
According to reports of the
members Of this committee the
Acadia police jury is inclined to
assist the st. Landry jurors in
having the bayou dredged out,
as this would drain approximate
" one hundred thousand acres Of
land in this and Acadia parishes.
A committee was appointed
by the Acadia jurors for the pur-
pose of conferring with the st.
Landry committee SO that plans
would be mapped out for having
this important work accomplish
ed. A joint meeting of the COM
.mittees will be held at Church
Point on next Saturday, Feb.
10th, when it is expected steps
will be taken to form one large
drainage district embracing over
twenty thousand acres of land
in st. Landry and over ninety
thousand in the parish of Acadia.
Reports from Acadia are to
the effect that the people living
within the proposed Plaquemine
Brulee drainage district are very
anxious to have this bayou
dredged out to its head not dis
tant from this city, as they re-
alize that millions of dollars
would be realized from increase
of crop and production.
The two committees will re-
port to their police juries in
March, when it is expected that
steps will be taken towards have
ing Bayou Plaquemine Brule-
dredged out.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
Drainage Meeting
Bristol.

A mass meeting will be held al
Bristol on next Saturday Feb. &c
at 2 o'clock p. m. for the purpose
of discussing the subject OF
drainage and to devise ways and
means to drain that very fertile
section of the parish. All friends
of drainage are cordially request
ed to be present.
It is expected that the majority
of the members of the police iu-
rors from this portion Of the par
ish will attend the meeting; sew
eral drainage advocates from
Opelousas and surrounding coun-
try will no doubt take advantage
of this meeting to further the
cause.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
he Macabees.

The Macabees Is the greatest
Fraternal order III the United
States. The strongest IN the
world. It has 1885,, 900 members
in the United State, and q reserve
of So, 900, 600. 1t has ), 300
members III Ia. It's death poll
cies are promptly paid. 70 give
an illustration:
Mrs. j. w. Stocumb of Oak
dale Months after he joined
the organization died of Pneu
monia. The check for his policy
of 81, 000 90 was paid S days after
proof of death was received by
M. j. Bulger. State Commander.
This order has vast sums in:
vested ii this state. Drainage
Boards, School House, Court
house and public improvement
Boards.
There is more outside Macabee
interested in La. than is coutri-
buted by the membership in the
state.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13

Mr.. S. D. Tinney Of Waco.
Texas visited relatives mere dur
ing the week.
Miss Lou Holbrook is visiting
relatives at New Iberia.
Mr.. Damon Bertrand and sons,
August and Lawrence, of Mallet
transacted business Tuesday.
Mrs. G. P. Dunbar has gone to
N. @. to attend Carnival.
Mr.. Z. Peyronx of Krotz
Springs was a visitor here Tues
day.
Mr.. Wilfred Bertheaud left to-
day for the Crescent city.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13

After a fight Of several months
Congressman Ladislas Lazarc
has succeeded to have passed in
Congress, through the valuable
influence of Senator Joseph E.
Ransdell, an amendment to the
Rivers and Harbors Bill appro-
priating money for the survey of
Bayou Plaquemine BruIe from
a point a little north of the city
of Crowley to the bayou's head
about three miles from Opelou-
sas.
Congressman Lazaro's constit-
uents had been clamoring for
this work ever since he took Pu-
JOS place in Congress. DR.. La
zaro ever willing to listen to the
wishes and desires of his people
has been making a noble fight
for this appropriation. Being
defeated in the House he urged
Senator Ransdell to take up his
cause in the Senate, with a great
deal of success.
If, after the army engineers
will have surveyed the bayou, a
favorable report is filed into the
Rivers and Harbors committee,
it is felt confident that DR.. La
zaro will be able to secure an ap-
preparation from the Govern
ment to have the good work Of
out this important
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
Does Opelousas Need A
Band?

Once more the subject of or
ganizing a band in this city has
come up. The business people,
as well as the young folks of
Opelousas are very anxious to
have music in this city, which
could be secured at any time.
Last year during the existence
Of the Crawford band the people
of Opelousas enjoyed the weekly
concerts very much and a deep
gloom was cast over the music
lovers of this city when the band
was disbanded.
There is now an opportunity to
have a band and orchestra. Mr..
Eugene Frederic, a musician of
ability, who is we'll known to
0pelouseans, has been approach
ed on organizing band
and orchestra. Mr.. Frederic
would be glad to locate here pro-
vided that he knew that material
was plentiful and that would be
musicians would cooperate with
him in this matter, as well as the
several apt musicians here. He
would therefore appreciate it if
those who desire to become mem
bers Of the band or an orchestra.
or both, would address him a
letter stating whether or not they
have had experience and how
much and If they have instru-
ments or not. Prompt action is
necessary at this time if we are
to take advantage of the oppor-
tunity offered.
It is thought with the busi-
ness mems cooperation that it
would not be difficult to organize
a permanent city band and or
chestra.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
Mardi Gras Entertainment
At Sunset.

On next Tuesday night, Mardi
Gras. there will be given an en-
tertainment at the Sunset High
School for the benefit Of the
school. Professor Dunkieman
announces that he will have the
finest kinds of eats to be secured
in Creole Louisiana for the scores
Of jolly good people who are ex-
pected for the occasion. It goes
without saying that there will
be a nice little crowd from this
section of the parish, as Sunset
is rather an attractive place for
the youngsters.
St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-02-13
BROWN IS PRESIDENT
OPELOUSAS FIREMEN
Annual Election Took Place
On Tuesday Night-Hol-
Iier Foreman.

The Volunteer Firemen elec.
ted officers for the Hope Hook &
Ladder Company at the regular
meeting of the members on last
Tuesday night. Installation Of
the officers will take place on
Washington's birthday, Febru-
ary 22d.
Following are the officers cleo
ted: A. S. Brown, President;
David Hollier, Foreman; Patton
Blacksher, 1st Assistant Fore
man; John Brown, I'd assistant;
DR.. Buster A. Littell. secretary;
Goldman Lassalle, treasuary; ].
N. Rill, Steward.
On account of the fact that
Washington's birthday will be
during the Lenten season the
firemen have decided not to give
their annual banquet until after
Easter Sunday. 1t is proposed
to have the best banquet ever
rendered by the freboys.
Great interest is being aroused
in the welfare of the fire COM
pany and many new members
are being enrolled. At the last
meeting five new faces were
welcomed into this noble organi-
zation of patriotic men. Now
that the freboys have decided
that the company is strictly a
volunteer one fines have been en-
tirely eliminated and the men,
bers of the company are placed
upon their honor. By this means
it is expectee to swell the men,
hership to a large number.
It is expected that a large /
number of new members will
again be enrolled within the next
couple of months.
The fireboys have saved thous-
ands of dollars to the property
owners of this city and have
shown themselves efficient in the
art of fighting the flames. With
the assistance of a few scores of
young men of Opelousas this
city would have one of the most
efficient volunteer fire companys
in the south.