Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-03-04
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CHAPTER XVII Continued.


for life. used gun and revolver In
the red mist before me we're black
shapes. hateful faces. Twice | lost
foot and fell. but was up again. front
ing them | stepped on dead bodies,
slipped in pools of blood; falling men
caused me to stagger; a slug of lead
tore burning through my shoulder; a
glancing knife blade ripped my fore
arm. had no time. no room. in which
to reload; my hands gripped the hot
carbine barrel, and | swung the stock
like fail.
Inch by inch they won through the
door; We could kill, but not stop them.
and they hurled us back. stumbling
ever the dead, clam bering across over
turned benches, but unable to stem the
increasing tide. We were all together
now-Harwood, Whartop-the sole
handful left, and we made fight of it.
the best we could. There was a mo-
ment's pause. the merest instant In
which to breathe. and my eyes met
Harwoods. He was naked to the
waist, hatless, blood dripping from a
cut over one eye, the stock of his car
bine shattered
"Ah, gunner of stanton" he called
gut cheerily, although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't tell
you if you wanted a good time to line
the cavalry"
forward, men. forward" 1t was
Fox's voice, although l saw nothing of
him. Once more, and it's over with
forward"
Now, lads, meet them!" burst out
HARDWOOD. About me. Third Kentucky
here they comet"
They drove us in so as to encircle
US, yet the tumble of benches served
OBJ some protection to our rear. Per
haps the fact that there were Yankees
between us and the pulpit prevented
firing for we met hand to hand in a
death grapple. l have seen battles.
yet nothing like that; it was as though
beasts of the jungle fought; men strug-
gled with naked hands, struck death
blows, fired into each others faces.
trampled over writhing bodies. ours
ing, or yelling defiance as they fell.
We scarcely knew friend from foe,
blue from gray. cannot even tell
what occurred to myself in those
GREATNESS moments. | know | fought
1adly, blindly-again and again
sweeping a space clear with my
weapon; hands gripped my throat. my
hair. and tore loose; fingers clutched
at my legs, but | kicked free. | was
conscious of blows, of wounds; I
knew when Harwood fell, and was
trampled under foot; l heard others
scream; | saw the hated face of Anse
Cowan in the ruck and leaped for
him, but whom my mad blow struck
could not tell. Some rush, some quick
pressure of bodies, hurled me side
wise, caught me in a wise; / tripped
over dead man, staggered to my feet
again. got footing on the pulpit
platform, and held it for an instant,
my gun-barrel crashing into the mass
OF faces below. Wharton joined me.
bull mad with rage; saw him rend
the pulpit stand from the floor and
hurl it with all his strength into the
Tuck. Then twenty hands gripped him,
hauling him down, a dubbed musket
descended. and the sergeant pitched
forward like log of wood. There was
q shot. the blow of a rife barrel, and
! went down. the very breath of life
seemingly knocked out of me.
fell on the platform, back of where
the pulpit desk had stood. and a body
lay across me. If lost consciousness
1t was for no more than an instant, yet
my whole body felt numbed and use
less. ! could scarcely move my fingers
TO unclasp them from the gun barrel.
and every breath / drew was in pain.
Stlil | realized all that happened. dis
unguished voices, and the shutting of
feet on the puncheon floor. ! heard
FOX shouting orders. as the mad hub
bub ceased.
That's enough! That's enough,
menl It's all over with. Here, ser
geant, round up those prisoners; God
knows there are few enough Of the
poor devils left. Guard those able to
walk outside. Now, Herzog, carry the
"bAuucQ over mere. w 0dLs why. Oh
course, you idiot, we are not savages-
those fellows fought like men, and are
to be treated decently. No distinction.
mind you. Let tie dead lie where
they are tin daylight, but don't over
look wounded man. Where's Cowan?
Does anybody know"
Shot, sir; he's here in this pile
somewhere"
See if the fellow is alive. Who is
his lieutenant"
J am, sir; my names Kelly"
Well get your damn crew of scoun-
aFeis out Of here, what's left OF them.
DO you hear! This is soldier worn.
and ! want you fellows outside"
You used US all right when thar
"as hghtin' ter do"
That's enough. Kelly. didn't use
fou-Moran did; ard you can go to
sin with your com plants. / know
ooT you treat prisoners, and would
aaog the whole Of you. if had my
say Now get out. and don't answer
Ae-those are your orders. Lieuten-
hrt RAYMOND %