Newspaper Page Text
Deserter's Story
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
could be saved. Our lntrenchments would
bo curried -at the first charge. I was
sure. The Tagalos in town would riso.
and It would mean a wholesale massacre.
Of course you know now all about the
battle, for tTie night of February 4,
1899, Is sfuTTol book history by this
time.’ I doubt if there was any actual
date set by Aguinaldo for rushing Ma
nila. though he had considerable trouble
keeping his cocky little niggers in order.
If there was a time set, it wasn’t that
night, anyway. Tit* Filipinos were
Filipinos back, when the Utah light ar
tillery got Into action. Then, just like a
thunder storm, the noise slowly swept
round to the south, and the Springfields
took up the chorus down through An
derson's division; first the California
boys and the Idahos of the first brigade,
till about 3 o’clock In tho morning the
regulars were engaged.
I waited for the Springfield fire to
weaken, dreading that we would be
driven In, but when It kept up as if it
never would stop I was sure that we
had whipped them. The Filipinos began
to retreat past the hut In disorder, the
Filipino fire died away and the insurgents
scurried out of the zuilding like rats. I
was pulled back with them as they re
treated, but as we crossed a dry creek
bed 1 stumbled and fell. Just then a
detachment of my own company came
up. skirmishing, and saw me. I threw
up my hands and a corporal covered me
I knew him well; lie used to drive in the
liltle donkey cart with me in Manila
when I marketed.
lie dropped his rifle and said: "Good
God! It's Roberts."
I tried to explain how I had been
knocked out and captured, but they
getting more InsufTTng every day, and
I suppose it was only a question of a
week or so at least. But I didn’t know
It then. Everybody has heard by this
time how the row opened, with a Ne
braska private shooting at four Tagalos
who tried to pass block house No. 6.
But all I knew was what Aguilar had
told me. and from what I saw, it looked
nasty enough to be true. I could see
that the niggers were prepared to go
Into action at a minute's notice.
I fet about the way you feel when a
tempest is coming up, and 1 was just
waiting for rbe first clap of thunder.
Along about 8:30 o’clock, I should say,
I heard a single shot ring out, and right
off, as if it had been a signal, the mau-
sers began to crack over by the river.
The fire increased steadily till they were
shooting all over to the north in the
Tondo district. Company after company
of Filipinos ran past the nut. the offi
cers yelling like mad. Still, there was
nothing but mausers going, popping like
firecrackers, and it seemed hours before
■the fire was returned. I was sure they
had carried the town. At last I heard a
\ oliey of Springfields—I knew them hy
tin' heavy boom, and I knew then that
the Nebraska boys had formed and had
gone into action. I had been with the
legulnrs long enough to look down on
the volunteers, hut when I heard that
firing, 1 just stood up and yelled. It
didn’t die down, but kept up steadily,
and I was sure the boys were holding the
i FQ^TEna
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Baby can’t get out
r stick Its hut through
“I Threw Up 2tt-y Hands and a Corporal Coveted Me.
officers as uadly scared as the privates.
I was watching them, laughing when
four niggers broke Into the hut, tied my
arms, packed me on a mule and rushed
me off.
For four dr five days I was carried
back and forth behind the Filipino
army, dodging out of every skirmish,
as the Americans pushed Aguinaldo back
all along the circle. One night we spent
in Marlqulna, and left early in the
morning, while white flags were flying
to lure our troops into the town Then
we traveled southwest toward Pasai. I
wondered what they were keeping me
for any why they didn’t either kill me
or let me go. Then I remembered wiiat
I’d heard of Spanish prisons, and I
stopped wondering and began to pray.
We ended finally in a church the in
surgents were trying to hold while our
hoys were getting 'ready to charge. I
was driven up into a bell tower haif bat
tered to pieces from our shells and filled
with smoke. A squad of natives were
fir.'ng from the windows.
There in a corner was Scnor Aguilar,
In the uniform of a Filipino colonel, ana
I knew that my case was to he settled
at last. He looked black. I didn’t
have long to wait this time. The niggers
threw me down and put a Filipino uni
form blouse on me, taking it from a dead
soldier on the floor. I didn’t try to re
sist. What was the use?
Then Aguilar said to me: “I hope you
have enjoyed your journey. Senor Rob
erts. My men took care to make it as
interesting as possible. A man who
has the courage to refuse the hand of
an Aguilar deserves distinguished treat
ment." He got as far as that with his
Spanish sarcasm, and then his native
Filipino savagery got the better of him.
“You fool, did you think for a mo
ment that I’d let an American hound like
you marry my sister? Do you think t
would let a man live who had played with
her? No, by heaven, nor die, either,
except like a dog. I have let you live
long enough to be hanged by your own
countrymen. You’re a deserter, and I’ve
given some interesting information to
your spies. And you'll bo caught fight
ing in our ranks!” Then he drew nls
revolver and pointed to the dead Fili
pino on the lioor. “Take that gun and
go to the window and shoot down your
brother dogs!" he cried.
1 don’t know why I didn’t shoot him
Instead, right there, but I had lost my
nerve. I went to the window and fire.V
at a bare space. And then, if you’ll
believe it. I saw my own regimental flag
coming up with Old Glory, as my own
bunkies formed for the rush. It was
Golonel Knowlton'-s command that was
to take the church. 1 don’t know what
ever became of Aguilar, for I just stood
up In tho window an^ cheered as tho
boys came on. They charged with a yell
that did my heart good to hear, for I
lost myself and my danger watching the
way they did the work.
But I remembered soon enough. The
wouldn't believe me. I had been posted
for a deserter and Aguilar had fixed me.
All I could do was to ask them to shoot
me right there, as If I had been killed
in buttle. But they had cooled down
some while I talked, and they couldn't
do it in cold blood. Finally the cor
poral said:
"See here, boys, I enlisted to fight, and
not to be a hangman. Roberts has
messed with me and I can't do it. Per
haps what he says is true; I don’t know.
If you want to arrest him, go ahead.
But I’ll be darned if I want it said that
the old One Hundred and Fourteenth
fad to shoot a deserter. Come on and
let him take his chances!”
He turned his back on me, and they
followed him. T ripped off my canvas
coat and ran down the creek and hid
till night.
There wasn’t a man on the whole isl
and. nigger or white, who wasn’t my
enemy, and I didn’t expect I’d ever es
cape. But there was a woman. She
wasn’t the kind you'd ever suspect of
having a heart, but she saved my life.
She hid me in a shed outside of the town
and fed me and nursed me till T was able
to get away on a blockade runner and
come to San Francisco. I owe that
nomen something, and if I’m ever llush
again shell get it back.
So it was a woman who sent me to
the Philippines, it was a woman who got
my promotion, a woman who tortured
me like a fiend and a woman who saved
me. And the queer part of it is that
the last one was what most people would
call the worst of the lot!
Admen Drake was seeing his own phan
toms of the Philippines on his cot; the
man with the yellow beard, Maidslow,
alias Roberts, who looking with eyes that
saw beyond the walls of the Hammani,
when the Hero of Pago Bridge brought
himself back wiih a Jerk.
“You’ve told me all except how you
got here,” he said.
"Plain drunk.” said Maidslow, "the first
T dared get after I left the Islands. But
it isn't safe for me to stay in San Fran
cisco, now Colonel Knowlton Is back
here. If Maxie saw through the beard,
he will, and the place Is full of secret
service men.”
Admeh Drake suddenly Jumped from
the couch.
“Wat will you give me If I get that
legacy for you?”
“A thousand dollars.”
"Done,’ cried the Hero. "See here, its
too easy! Colonel Knowlton dont know
ycur real name's Maidslow. does he?”
"No, 1 enlisted as Roberts.”
“Dead to rights. He’ll take Maxie's
word when she Identifies her husband to
him. All right again. Well, let me play
Harry Maidslow. and go with Maxie to
the .colonel. I take my thousand, and
you take the rest and—Maxie. How's
that?”
"If Maxie will stand for It, I’m ready,”
said the deserter.
During the rest of the night the man
who went for a soldier and wished he.
hadn’t, and the man who didn’t go apd
wished that he had, lay in an upper cor
ridor of the Ham mam discussing the d e -
tails of their conspiracy.
(Concluded next week in “The Wards of
Fortune.”)
Strenuous Cowboy Sport
Is “Breaking of Buffalo Bulls
ANOH 101 has a small herd
of buffaloes, purchased at
tho Goodnight ranch, in
the Texas Pan-Handle.
Joe Miller, president of the
ranch company, decided to
break two young buffalo
hulls for driving purposes.
Miller began his buffalo
busting one Sunday not
long ago and nearly every
cowboy on tile ranch
joined in the sport. Two
expert ropers saddled their
ponies and started In pursuit of two
young bulls that were grazing in a near
by pasture. Both bulls were wild and
galloped away at full speed when the
cowboys appeared swinging their lariats.
Over and among the low sand hills of
the Salt Fork of the Arkansas they
raced, the buffaloes turning and dodging
to escape their pursuers. The day was
cold, but the high speed of the cow
ponies told on the buffaloes, and their
black tongues protruded further and fur
ther from their mouths.
One of the bulls was roped around his
neck. Being stronger than a steer, ho
dragged the pony with him. though the
pony furrowed the sand with his feet.
Then, with eyes flaming like two coals
and his tail erect, he gave a bellow and
charged the pony, which cleverly dodged
the onslaught. Another cowboy threw
a lariat over the buffalo's horns and the
horsemen were safe, as they could hold
the buffalo between them.
When the buffalo was drawn up in front
of the cook slunk there were shouts for
Dutch, the cook, to ride him. The buf
falo stood pawing the earth and shaking
his mane. Dutch could not bear the
jibes of the cowboys, who swore that
he was afraid to tackle the buffalo bare-
back. Dutch shed his long apron and
crouched for a spring upon the buffalo’s
shaggy back. His first approach brought
a surprising demonstration of the kick
ing ability of a buffalo, which launched
one of its hind feet seemingly a good 10
feet and narrowly missed the rubicund
face of the cook, who retreated and be
gan fiddling for a safe opening. The
longer he hesitated that less sanguine
lie became, and finally stood jumping
up and down in his uncertainty, while
the cowboys shouted in derision.
INDIAN STUCK ON.
White Buffalo, a Sioux Indian, the best
and pluckiest horseman on the ranch,
pushed Dutch aside, sprang upon the
buffalo, waving his hat and dismounted
almost before the buffalo knew what had
happened. Thfc restored the cook’s con
fidence and a moment later, with both
hands deep in the buffalo's mane, he was
careening across the prairie, with the
frightened buffalo running at full speed.
Dutch could not be shaken from his seat,
to the grief of the cowboys, who had
hoped that he would be thrown.
The prediction was made that the buf
falo could not be tamed to drive. Buf
falo Jones, now a gamekeeper in Yellow
stone park, in the early '90's owned a
large herd near Garden City, Kans., and
killed a number in attempts to tame
them. Jones declared that when too
greatly enraged a buffalo seemed able
to die of Its own volition. It would
stiffen Its limbs and In a moment or so
fall dead. » Miller would not listen to
warning and said that he would have a
driving team if he used up every buffalo
on his ranch.
Another buffalo was roped and the two
were fastened by their heads securely to
a stout corral. There was much bellow
ing and pawing of dirt as the buffaloes
were harnessed. Bridles were slipped
over their heads and harness thrown
from a safe distance over their backs.
The tongue of a heavy freight wagon
was shoved between them and fixed into
the neck yoke. The traces were fas
tened to the singletrees with a long
hooked iron rod. A lariat was fastened
around the horns of each buffalo and
held by mounted cowboys, to prevent a
general smashyp in a stampede.
Once securely harnessed, the buffaloes
were turned loose. They broke, mad and
bellowing, for the open prairie, the wagon
filled with reckless cowboys, who firea
their pistols to increase the speed of the
lumbering team. The buffaloes tried re
peatedly to turn upon each other and
fight, but were held apart by tiie mount
ed cowboys. As the buffaloes grew
wearied their speed decreased, but their
rage grew more furious.
Finally, they balked and trouble began
ir. earnest. Tjje larger bull dropped to
Ills knees, with his forehead in the dust.
.Prodding did not move him. Then tie
rolled over on his side and glared, with
red eyes at Ids tormentors. The other
bull turned sidewise and tried to break
loose from liis harness. A cowboy at
tempted to unfasten the traces. The
hull charged, cornering the cowboy be
tween the wagon tongue and the wagon
box. With an ugly toss of the head the
bull grazed the cowboy's ribs with a
sharp horn, and the cowboy fell back
ward across the tongue and rolled over
the other buffalo to the ground. An
inch nearer and the buffalo would have
killed him.
Remembering the experience of Buffalo
Jones, the prostrate buffalo was un
hitched, ’’tailed" to Its feet and led to
ward the corral. When near the corrai
the buffalo lowered liis head and chargeu
with Its full strength against a heav
corral post. The shock was terrific anl
blood burst from the animal’s nostrils.
Three times the buffalo charged like a
battering rani before the cowboys could
tighten their ropes.
PROVES TOO EXPENSIVE.
The animal was worth easily $500, and
Miller decided to confine it in a box
stall In the ranch stable till its anger
lia<l cooled. When the buffalo was
drawn with ropes Into the stall it fas
tened both horns under the feed box,
stiffened its legs in a desperate attempt
to tear loose the timbers and ro-^ lined
In this attitude for possibly ten seconds.
Then it relaxed as if struck in a vital
spot and fell to the ground and was
dead with scarcely a struggle.
“I’ll have a buffalo team if I have to
buy every buffalo in the country,” said
Miller. ”I’U bet they can be trained
to drive just the same as a steer or a
horse. The trouble is we are not onto
the curves of buffalo ‘bustin’.’ but we'll
Jearn.”
Next day the other bull was roped
again and hitched to a buggy. The
Ponca Indians had heard of what was
going on and came in numbers to see the
fun. In the days when the plains were
covered with buffaloes no Ponca ever
tried to tame one, and they shook their
heads and chattered among themselves,
believing that Miller was attempting the
impossible. By careful handling, to avoid
angering the buffalo too greatly, he was
driven short distances. An Indian
climbed into the buggy with Miller, and
other Ponca men and women slapped
their sides and laughed at the sight. This
buffalo survived the drive, but left Miller
uncertain as to whether or not, without
spending a small fortune, he will be able
to drive a buffalo team along the high
ways ot' Oklahoma by next summer. In
a letter to Miller, Churles Goodnight
said that lie believed It possible to tame
a buffalo to drive if one with the right
temperament can be found, but the losses
In experiment would be too great to
make tho undertaking profitable.
SHE HURT HIS FEELINGS.
“Look here,” said the housewife to the
match peddler, "you were along here two
weeks ago and said you had the best kind
of parlor matches to sell.”
’ You speak the truth, mum.”
"I bought a quarter’s worth of you.”
“I’m saying you did that.”
"But there's not one that will light.
They are positively worthless.”
The man stood for a moment gazing at
her and then a tear rolled down liis cheek.
“Well, what is it?” she asked.
"It’s me feelin's, mum. You’ve hurt
’em to the quick.
"How so?”
“When I sold you them matches I took
you for a real lady, but I sec that you
are not. Had you been you would have
used them for toothpicks and said never
a word to humble my pride.”
WISE MAN.
King Solomon awoke after a few thou
sand years and paid a visit to America.
"It's a great conntry, isn’t it?” re
marked his guide.
“Wonderful. 1 ' exclaimed the ancient
king. is one way it reminds me of my
old kingdom.”
"How so. your highness?”
“Why, there are men with so many
wives.”
And the old man returned to the spirit
world with a knowing smile. Did he
know Hoch?
EDITORIAL PRIDE.
'From The Jewell Republican.)
There were .three wedding notices in
our issue of last week, and the bride
wasn't “the accomplished daughter” and
the groom didn’t wear the “conventional
black” in any of them. It is our guess
that no other paper In the state ever
made a record like that.
How Old Southern Homes
Were Illuminated
CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE.
od with a little Vermillion and made into
a paste with water. The splints were
first dipped into melted brimstone and
then into the paste. When the prepared
end of the match was put into the bot
tle of sulphuric acid It at once took fire.
Well, the "instantaneous light box” was
not much of a success and no one took
■kindly to it for very long. You see, the
sulphuric acid was too dangerous for
people to like to handle it, and besides
that, it absorbed so much moisture from
the air that It soon lost its lighting
powers.
Then by and by there came along the
friction match. That was better, but it
wasn't angelic either. It was not made
at home, like the old brimstones, but
was an article of commerce and was
sometimes wood and sometimes paste
board. Most housekeepers welcomed it.
but some of the old folks were afraid
of it. They said it was dangerous wnen
left lying about or carelessly used. Weil,
that was true, and it is true now, too,
only more so. But for all that, the lucifer
match—that is what it was called—made
its way into the houses all right. The
splints, either wood or pasteboard, were
dipped into melted brimstone like the
others and then into a mixture of chlo
rate of potash and sulphuret of anti
mony with enough powdered gumarabiu
i to make it adhesive when mixed with
water. This match had a black head
and only one end was dipped. The matcli
end was held between the folds of a bent
piece of fine sand paper and drawn out
quickly. That lighted it. It was better
far than the flint and steel and tinder,
but it was a nuisance still. These luci-
fers were bought by the block, which
was sawed through each way so that
the match sticks could be easily broken
off as wanted.
What is that? Tell you about the
candle dins and lantern that we used
to have in the auld lang sayne? Surely
I will, but that must he for the next
time. It is sleepy time now and I am
going up to my room and touch u button
instead of the oil tinder box and the
button will bring a better light with no
bother. Ah, my dears, you young folks
of the new south don't know how we
old folks of the old south used to live.
And, oh. the straits we were put to
while that terrible war lasted. But some
of that will come in the candle-dip
story. So good night, dears.”
r
A Complete Canning Outfit
CLUBBED WITH
THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION
Save Your Fruits, Vegetables and Berries, and Thus
Make ol Them a Surplus Cash C-'op.
The Constitution has made arrangements with the manufacturer
of the Raney fanner to club it with its weekly edition. The Raney
fanner is the best and cheapest canning outfit on the market. A cheap
canning outfit has been long desired by the farmers of the South, and
The Constitution in offering it at a small cost feels that it is placing
within the reach of the farmers a canning outfit that will enable them
to save all of their surplus fruit, berries and vegetables.
I MONEY IS MADE
Ey canning tomatoes, beans, corn, apples, peaches, pears, ber
ries, vegetables, and in fact, everything grown on a farm, garden
or in the truck field. The goods put up by the Raney Canner
are the best, retain their original flavor and command the high
est prices.
A small canning outfit will prove the salvation of this country. By
canning the fruits and vegetables that usually go to waste on the farm
you get a ready money crop of much value. Realizing this and de
siring to assist the farmers everywhere, we have arranged with tiie
manufacturers to furnish a complete canning outfit, as follows:
No. 1, for home use only, $5.00.
No. 2, with a capacity of 400 cans per day, $10.00.
No. 3, with a capacity of 1600 cans per day, $30.00.
T
? I ■ i v. }
;nen^-: e anjmo* :
VWI fifty} Vir"'” : #f !?
%f!
1 JH
ggnmw. IPfi '/ I
FATE.NT APPt'.hPPQ^ » ^
Cut Showing the $10.00 Outfit.
With each outfit we send The Weekly Constitution, free, for one
year. If you are already a subscriber, you may deduct $1 from the
foregoing jirices.
In the past millions of dollars have been lost because the people
have not been able to can tiieir fruit, berries and vegetables for the
market. WRh the Raney Canner these millions of dollars can now be
saved, and the surplus fruit crop can be turned into surplus money.
THE OUTFIT
This outfit consists of a boiler (made of heavy galvanized iron),
with depending receptacle located beneath the bottom and connected
to the boiler by short tubes.
A perforated basket to hold the cans, provided with horizontal bar,
with wooden handles, one pair of soldering coppers, one pair of tongs
for handling hot cans.
The Raney Canner can be. worked on any stove, or. if preferred
on a little furnace of rock or brick. In canning for home use onlv
the cook stove is preferable. This little machine is truly a bonanza
for the farmer The goods put up on this Canner are the best in the land
and always bring 20 to 25 per cent more than the same goods put up in
large factories. The hook of instruction that is put in with each Can
ner is fully up-to-date in every respect, and is written in plain and sim
ple language, and enables persons of the most limited education to can
everything as nicely and successfully as one who had been in the
business all their lives.
We clo not sell the cans, you get them from the American Can Co.
Atlanta, Ga., or Baltimore Md.
Send us your order right away and get tho best canning outfit
in the world. Remember, the prices are $5.00 $10.00 and $30.00. This
includes The Weekly Constitution one year free. If you are alreadv a
subscriber to The Constitution, the prices are $4.00, $9.00 and $29.00
Begin now and within a few years the canning industry will add much
wealth to the South.
THE CONSTITUTION, Atlanta, Ga.