The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-03-03
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They were upon us, TANNED In the
narrow doorways. each man fighting
for life. used gun and revolver In
the red mist before me were 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: 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 a fail.
Inch by inch they won through the
door; we could kill, but not stop them,
and they hurled us back, stumbling
over the dead. clambering across over
turned benches. but unable to stem the
increasing tide. We were all together
now-H HARDWOOD. Wharton--the sole
handful left and we made fight OF II,
the best we could. There was mo-
ments pause. the merest instant In
which to breathe. and my eyes met
Harwoods. He was naked to the
waist, hatless, blood dripping from
cut over one eye, the stock of his car
bine shattered
All. gunner OF Staunton," he called
out cheerily. although his voice
cracked with dryness. Didn't | tell
you II you wanted a good time to jine
the cavalry"
Forward. men, forward" 1t was
Fox's voice, although saw nothing of
him. Once more, end it's over with
forward"
Now. lads. meet themi" burst out
Harwood. About me. Third Kentucky
here they comet"
They drove us in so as to enclrcle
US. yet the tumble Of benches served
as some protection 10 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. | have seen battles
yet nothing like that; 1t 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 tel
what occurred to myself In those
GREATNESS moments. | know fought
madly, blindly-again and agar
sweeping space clear with my
weapon; hands gripped my throat my
hair. and tore loose; fingers clutchet
at my legs. but ] kicked free. wal
conscious Of blows. OF wounds;
knew when HARDWOOD FELL and wa.
trampled under foot; heard Others
scream; ! saw the hated face Of Ans,
Cowan in the ruck and leaped fo
him, but whom my mad blow struck
could not tell. Some rush, some quicl
pressure of bodies. hurled me side
wise. caught me in wise; trippet
over dead man, staggered to my fee
again. | got footing on the pulpit
platform. and held It for an instant
my gun-barrel crashing into the mas
OF faces below Wharton joined me
a bull mad with rage; ! saw him rem,
the pulpit stand from the floor an,
hurl II with all his strength into tn,
ruck Then twenty hands gripped him
hauling him down. dubbed muske
descended, and the sergeant pitche,
forward like log of wood. There wa
shot the blow of a rifle barrel, an,
went down. the very breath of III
seemingly knocked out of me,
fell on the platform. back of wher
the pulpit desk had stood, and bod
lay across me. II lost consciousness
1t was for no more than an instant. We
my whole body felt numbed and US,
less. could scarcely move my finger
to unclasp them from the gun barre
and every breath | drew was In pair
Still realized all that happened, dil
tinguished voices, and the shuffling {
feet on the puncheon floor. hear
Fox shouting orders. as the mad hui
hub ceased.
That's enoughl That's enough
menl It's all over with. Here. Sc
geant. round up those prisoners; Go
knows there are few enough of n
poor devils left. Guard those able
walk outside. Now. Herzog. carry Ii
wounded over here. What7 Why.
course, you idiot, we are not savages-
those fellows fought like men. and al
to be treated decently, No distinctio
mind you. Let the dead lie whel
they are till daylight. but don't owe
look wounded man. Where's Cowal
Does anybody known"
Shot. sir; he's here in this pi
somewhere"
See IL the fellow is alive. Who
his lieutenant"
Il am. sir; my names Kelly"
Well get your damn crew OF scou
drels out of here. what's left of the
Do you hearl This is soldier woI
and want you fellows outside"
You used US all right when tn
wus fightin' ter do"
That's enough. Kelly didn't .
you-Moran did; and you can go
him with your complaints. kn'
how you treat prisoners, and wol