OatAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE. August ( i , i8l ! ) > .
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Photo by I/nncnHtcr.
COMPANY L. OMAHA THUUSTON RIFLES STARTING FOR THE WAR FROM THE ARMORY , APRIL 27 , 1SUS.
The Fighting First
Nebraska Regiment
( Continued from Third Pago. )
a ridiculously small Island sticking up out
of the waves , and by firing a salute. On
the Senator a program of speeches and
music was given. Major Stolaonborg , Lieu
tenant Colonel Colton and Lieutenant Rich
ards were among the speakers and Captain
Leo Forby recited same humorous pieces.
The End of the Voyage
Early Thursday , July IB , Luzon was flrst
sighted. The Hoot -was soon mot by this
United States cruiser Boston , from which
the men learned of the destruction of the
llcot at Santiago. They put lo the entire
day wig-wagging with the crow of the Bos
ton and thus exchanging nows.
Thrco days , later the Senator outored the
bay of Manila and a few of the moro lor-
tunato were allowed to land and examine
the ruins at Cavlte. July 20 the regiment
landed and -went into camp about three
miles from the outskirts of Manila. At thai
tlmo the Insurgents hold a line of trenches
almost entirely about the city and the noise
of the Spanish and Insurgent firing was con
stantly reaching the Nobraskans.
Under Their First Fire
From that tlmo until the assault on the
city the Nohraskans alternated between tlio
camp and outpost duty. In camp It rained
continually. August 2 the regiment
relieved the First Colorado on out
post duty. Everything was quiet during
iho day. hut before 10 o'clock the
lines were attacked by the Spaniards. There
Is no doubt as to the manner In which the
First Nebraska conducted Itself under lire
for the ilrst tlmo. Tholr olllcers and
superiors u ill to In the declaration that they
were perfectly cool , oboycd orders and flro'J
with care and deliberation. After thirty-five
minutes of heavy llrlng from the trenches
the Spaniards were repulsed , and the next
day the Nebraskaus were relieved from the
trendies and returned to their camp for a
much-needed rest. They carried one of their
number back dead , Private Lewis. Ho was
burled In the American cemetery near Camp
Dewey , on ground purchased from the
Filipinos.
The assault upon the defenses of Manila
and entry Into the city were made August
IS. The part assigned to the Nehraskaus waste
to wudo through the water of the bay up
to tholr nocks and take the Erml-a district , a
residence portion of Iho city. There was
considerable desultory llrlng , but no real
struggle. That night the First slept on n
cobbreetouo pavement under a pouring rain.
The City of Manilla
The Nebraskans [ found an Interesting city
built up In and about a walled space , which
'Is known by the name of Intramural. There
are three walls , with as many moats. The
lumsea are close together and most of them
built after the style of the houses In Mex
ico. Within the walled city are now the
headquarters of the Eighth army corps and
barracks for several regiments , the latter
these formerly used by the Spaniards , Along
the bay and outside the walls are the Er-
mltft and Malnto residence- districts , both
thickly populated. Hero all the houses are
built with the living apartments entirely on
the second floor. Delow are the servants'
quarters and places for horses and carriages ,
Another residence district , San Mlgull , Is
about three miles from these.
There are several pleasant drives and
boulevards about the city. At about 5:30 :
In 1 the evening all of the better class of the
1i
residents go driving on the Luneta and pay
evening < calls.
The churches of the city are grand In
PRIVATE GRAYSON FIRING THE SHOT
THAT PRECIPITATED THE WAR WITH
WITH THE FILIPINOS AT BLOCK
HOUSE ON THE HILL.
architecture and beautifully decorated. The
appearance of the city is further improved
by the many palms , mango and banana
trees growing In all parts of It.
The Colonel of
the First Nebraska
Colonel II. B. Mulford , who Is returning
In command of the First Nebraska volun
teers from the Philippines , Is perhaps bettor
known to the people of Omaha and the state
as the captain of the Omaha Guards , which
ho commanded for many years prior to the
outbreak of the Spanish-American war ,
leading the company through six successful
competitive drills and earning the reputa
tion of an able tactician and capable com
ma nder.
Colonel Mulford was born at Salem , N , J- ,
tnlri-seven yems ago ana livin earliest in-
lauuy UiBiiiuj'UU ' u buuiit ; uioiiuauou lor a
buiiui a me. \ \ aen lie nuu ruuuucu Ins lutli
year ills nopesvero ruwuiuuu wltii an ap
pointment. 10 thu uavul academy tu Auuupjils
aim alter parsing a auceessiui euiruuco ex
amination lie uus duly inauuieu m tile His
toric institution. Alter tne uaiiul lour years
course m the academy hoas graduated wUh
tne class ot lt > i > u. Tne navy at taut lime ,
However , was Hut capable ot buppiymg place. *
tor all the graduates ol the navai academy
aim as u consequence the young cadet luunu
himself uuassigued. Ills heaitli not being
of tne bust , he caiuo west and spent tne
summer on the ranch if .Mat Patrick at
Waterloo , In tula county , and was su lavor-
ably Impressed with the outlook that he
determined to make his home here. In the
spring of 1S8G ho outored the employ of the
First National bank and remained with
It until the opening or the Union Stock
Yards National bank at Suuth Omaha two
years later , when he was tendered a position
as recolvlnc teller In that Institution. For
four years ho remained with the South
Omaha establishment and then went into
'business ' for himself , opening a box factory
In East Omaha.
Colonel Mulford was one of the charter
members of tuo Omaha Guards and was
elected third lieutenant of the company at
its organization. After the resignation of
Captain Bamford ho was elected captain of
the Guards and held that rank in the Na
tional Guard of the state until the call for
volunteers In April , 189S , when , as ranking
captain of the brigade , ho was appointed
major and transferred to the First Nebraska
regiment. Ho was with the regiment at the
fall and capture of Manila and throughout
the campaign which began -with the attack
on the water works at Manila last February.
At the death of Colonel Stotscnberg he was
appointed colonel of the regiment , the place
having been declined by Lieutenant Colonel
Colton , and as colonel he Is now bringing
the regiment homo.
It Is reported from San Francisco that
Colonel Mulford was tendered a position as
lieutenant colonel of one of the two regi
ments being formed in the Philippines by
General Otis , but declined the appointment
on the ground that Nebraska was entitled
to greater recognition. When the president
decided to add ten regiments to the force
now In the Philippines , under the new army
bill , Senator Thurston presented the name of
Colonel 'Mulford ' for a captaincy in one of
the regiments and he was appointed to the
Thirty-second regiment. His friends feel ,
MEMBERS OF COMPANY C ATTENDING A
WOUNDED COMRADE PHOTO
LOANED BY PRIVATE CHARLES C.
JONES. ,
however , that he is entitled to a higher rank
than this and efforts are being made to se
cure him a Held appointment.
Grayson's Story
of His First Shot
The man who fired the first shot In the
Filipino war Is Private W. W. Grayeon of
Company D. Ho enlisted with the Nebraska
regiment at Lincoln , but his home wns In St.
Louis , Mo. Ho Is a tall , straight , bright-
looking young fellow , and was born In Man
chester , England , twenty-three years ago.
When ho was but n year-old Infant his
parents came to the United States , so ho has
naturally became thoroughly American In
spirit and actlcn. His story of the historic
first shot supports Agulnaldo's declaration
that the Americans really commenced the
firing , but it shows that the Filipinos were
the threatening aggressors sneaking to at
tack and drive In the American outposts.
"At 8 o'clock on the morning of Feb-
FIHST NEBRASKA VOLUNTEERS FROM THE NEBRASKA STATE UNIVERSITY.
ruaiy 4 , " said Grayscn , "I went on
duty at outpost 2 , which was about
100 yards from .block house 7 , at
that time In the possession of the Filipinos
pines and a half a mile from our head
quarters In Santa Ana. Half an hour
later our lieutenant and sergeant of the
guard were reconnoltering along our line
when several Filiolnos , with a lieutenant ,
.followed and called for a halt. They approached
preached and ( began proclaiming that that
was their territory. Our ofllcers pretended
not to understand their lingo and soon went
on their way. I was relieved at 10 o'clock
and rested until 2 o'clock , but no demon
stration had been made In the meantime.
All day the Filipinos wore occasionally call
ing out vile names addressed to us
Americans. They would vary this with
Spanish to the effect that 'One Filipino
Is eaual to five Americans , ' and 'To
night we'll drive the Americans In a
long way. ' One of thorn had earlier
called Stotsenberg the worst kind of a
name , and It was only to avoid a conflict
that the colonel did not yield to the tempta
tion to clear every Insurgent from our front.
They had no 'business ' on that side of the
river anyway.
"That night , about 8 o'clock , Miller and
I there were two of us were cautiously
pacing our district. We came to a fence
and were trying to see what the Filipinos
were up to. Suddenly , near at hand on
our left , there was a low "but " unmistakable
Filipino outpcst signal whistle. It was
Immediately answered toy a similar whis
tle about twenty-flve yards to the right.
Then the red lantern flashed Its signal from
blockhouse 7. AVe had never scon such a
sign used before. In a moment something
rose slowly up , not twenty feet In front of
us. It was a Filipino. They were evi
dently moving dangerously near.
"I yelled 'Halt ! ' and I made it pretty loud ,
for I was accustomed to challenging the
officer of the guard In approved military
style , The man moved. I challenged him
with another loud 'Halt ! ' Then he Impu
dently shouted'Halto'at ! me. Well , I thought
the best thing to do was to shoot him. Ho
dropped. If I didn't kill him , I guess ho died
of fright. Then two Filipinos sprang out of
the gateway about fifteen feet from us. I
called 'Halt ! ' and Miller flred and dropped
one. I saw that another was left. Well , I
think I got my second Filipino that time.
Wo retreated to where our six other fellows
were , and I said : 'Lino up , fellows , the
"niggers" are In hero all through these
yards. ' Wo then retreated to the pipe line
and got behind the water main and stayed
there all night. It was some minutes after
our second shots before the Filipinos began
firing , but then they made up for It by a
fusillade that showed they had been prepare. !
for their boasted advance. "
Story of Lafayette
Harper's Magazine : An old lady , a resi
dent of Baltimore , one of tha school children
who sang odes to Lafayette upon his ar
rival In Norfolk In 1821 , tells the following
story , Illustrative of the complacence which
was so salient a characteristic of his con
duct during his progress through the states ;
Locks of hair Instead of autographs wore
then fashionable as souvenirs , and as the
pupils of a certain fcmafo seminary passed
In review before him a little girl ventured
timidly to say : "General Lafayette , will
you please give mo a pleco of your hair ? "
In an Instant the auburn wig was In his
hand , but the terrified suppHant to whom
he would have presented It , alarmed for
the safety of her own scalp , had escaped
In the crowd ,