Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-03

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cosssishs. - Ha<pss "a HresAsss
Certain histories Of the Cuban War
Tor Independence speak Of 1.-THE Bat
lie Of San Antonio dc los Banos." It
ID quite stirring story to read and 1t
Inns but one fault, a fault. by the way.
mot uncommon In histories It is main
" untrue.
In the first place, the engagement
was In no sense battle, but merely a
raid. The number Of troops engaged
was. perhaps. one-fifth Of the generous
total ascribed BY tho hjstofians, and
asia military maneuver 1t served no
kpurposs whatsoever. Nevertheless.
6inco the affair had . direct bearing
upon the fortunes Of several people
CONNECTED with this story, It Il. Per.
AapA worth relating.
Lopss and his troop approached the
town IN the early morning. Az they
|dsployed tot the attack the colonial IL
sued private instructions to certain
|smembers q his command.
A0Reilly, you ana Senior Branch viii
entee one grocery store After another.
Ye1 Win purchase that Jam. those sar-
dinea and whatever else you think
Aiss MANS would like. Captain Jud-
son, tou and Major Ramos viii 90 to
tho apothecary shop--I understand
there IS q very good ona-and look for
tooth powder and candy and the like. I
shall Gee that the streets are cleared,
s then ! shall endeayor to discover some
pickles: but % God il my judge. !
doubt II there Il such 4 thing this side
sof Habana.
Leslie Branch. whose temper had not
improved with the long night ride, In
Quired. caustically: 'Do you expect us
TO buy the groceriesi Well. I'm broke,
and 50 IL 0'Reilly. II you don't give us
some change, colonel. wen have to
open Q charge account in your name.
'.Caramba |" muttered Lopez. II Id
tended to borrow from you gentlemen!
Well, never mind ,-we1l commander
what we wish In the name OF the re-
public. =
Lopex' attack proved u complete
surprise. both to the citizens and to the
garrison OF the town. The rebel bugle
gave the first warning Of what was
afoot and before the Castilian troops
who were lettering of duty could re-
gain their quarters, before the citizens
4 could take cover or the shopkeepers
close and bar their heavy wooden shut
.ters, two hundred ragged horsemen
were yelling down the streets.
There followed typical Cuban en-
gagement-ten shouts to one shot.
There was a mad charge on the heels
Of the sNrrying populace, a scattering
pop-pop Of rifles, cheers, cries, shrieks
of defiance and .far.flung insults direct
led at the fottinas.
o 'Reilly, with Branch and Jacket
close at his heels, whirled his horse
into the first bodega he came to. The
store was stocked with general mer-
chandise, but its owner, evidently a
Spaniard, did not tarry to set price
Supon any Of it. AS the three horsemen
came gathering In at the front he went
flying out at the rear, and, although
O'Reilly called reassuringly after him,
his only answer was the slamming Of a
back door, followed by swiftly dimin-
ishing cries Of fright.
There was no time to waste. John
ME dismounted and, walking to the
|sshelves where Some imported canned
goods were displayed, he began to So
lect those delicacies for which he had
been sent. The devoted Jacket was at
his side. The little Cuban exercised no
restraint; he seized whatever was most
handy, meanwhile cursing ferociously,
MS beftted bloodthirsty bandit. Boys
are natural robbers, and at this oppor-
tunity for loot Jackets soul famed
| sayagely and he swept the shelves bare
as he went.
"Hey. Lesliei, Get something to carry
this stuff In" o'Reilly directed over
his shoulder.
Spurred by O'Reilly's tone and by a
lively rattle Of rife-shots outside, Les
Z lie disappeared into the living quarters
at the back Of the store. A moment
later he emerged with a huge armful
OF bed4othes, evidently snatched at
random. Trailing behind him, like a
bridal veil, was mosquito-net, which
In his haste he had torn from its fas-
Jennings.
" guess this Is poor!" he exulted.
'.Beddingi Pillows! Mosquito-net! I'll
sleep comfortable after this"
Dumping his burden of sheets, blank
cts. and brilliantly colored cotton quilts
upon the floor. Branch selected two Of