Bourne High School - Canal Currents Yearbook (Bourne, MA)

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THE HIGH SCHOOL EHCO. GENERAL WOOD’S SUCCESS IN CUBA. In order to give you, readers, a good understanding of General Wood’s success in Cuba, I will give you a glimpse of his early life. General Leonard Wood, a Cape Cod boy, lived in Hoc asset during his youth. Here he was very fond of sailing during rough weather and of doing other perilous things. In 1881-82 he went through Harvard Medical School and began to practice in Boston, but such a quiet life did not satisfy Gen. Wood, for he loved adventure. He soon joined the army as cantract surgeon, and was sent out West with Gen. Miles’ army. Here he had to contend with the terrible Apache Indians. In order to follow the Indians, the soldiers mu t possess great powers ot endurance and great courage. Gen. Miles soon found out that (ien. Wood possessed these requisites, and that few of the whites, either sol liers or frontiers- men, could last with him. He could even equal the fiiendly Indian trailers. In campaigns of this kind it was necessary to select the man best fitted to command, and WMod, though only a contract surgeon, won deserved fame as commanding officer of a certain detachment sent out to capture the Indian chief, Geronimo. In these cam- paigns, Cren. NV ' ood displayed such extra- ordinary powers of endurance and unusual courage, such excellent judgment and trust- worthiness, he was awarded a medal of honor. Henceforth he held a foremost place in the regard of his superior officers. General Wood was made Colonel of the “Rough Riders” in 1898, his firm friend, Theodore Roosevelt, being Lieutenant- Colonel. The excellent service rendered in Cuba caused his appointment as Brigadier- General — and the fame of the Rough Riders and their brave commanders will long live in history. ' When Santiago surrendered, Gen. Wood was given charge of the city and later of the entire province. Here he worked wonders. His previous medical and military training were of great service to him. He surely could not have accomplished what he did without them. Those who saw him in Cuba ever found him attending to numerous duties — faithfully inspecting hospitals — superintending cleaning of the extremely filthy streets — planning a system of sewerage and endeavoring to secure the return of land tillers — furnishing employment to many an idle person, yet never losing his own place in mere detail but delegating to others what could be safely delegated. ' To General Wood has fallen the duty of preserving order, of seeing the best Cubans begin to administer the government, of pro- tecting the lives and property of the Span- iards, and of securing the best hygienic conditions possible in the city, of opening the schools, of re-establishing agriculture and commerce in Cuba General VVood by his energy, firmness, common sense and moderation has done wonders in preventing an out-break among the Cubans, Spaniards and Americans, as every condition was ripe for anarchy ; but he won the friendship of the citizens and thus prevented it. He has always attended faithfully to the duties confided to him, never by word or act forfeiting the confidence of the government, or seeking political preferment. Now you often hear these words : — “If we only had a few more General Woods to put in command of our new possessions.” Five little pigs came one day. Outside the school-house door. Which made the scholars laugh and play, For their tails out of curl they wore. ’d vas on a stormy, foggy day. Which made us scholars think, ' That the fog accounted for the way These pigs’ tails had no kink. M. E. P. “F ' or two weeks,” said the returned ex- plorer, “I was without food; but one day I found a calendar.” “What good did that do you?” asked the skeptical listener. “I immediately ate the dates,” was the unblushing rejily. — [Philadelphia Record.

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THE HIGH SCHOOL ECHO. THE WAR IN THE TRANSVAAL. The South African Rey)ublic, or ' I’ransvaal, is situated in the southern part of Africa, Its area is 112,700 square miles. This republic was formed in 18 8 by Dutch farmers who emigrated from Cape Colony. In 1854 its independence was re- cognized by Creat Britain ; but in 1877 it was annexed, causing much opposition from the Boers, who, in December, 1879, declared independence, proclaiming the Transvaal a republic in December, 1880; in 1881 the British renounced all right to the direction of its internal affairs. In a president and a council ut five mem- bers is vested the executive power, the legis- lative in a parliament of two chambers hav- ing twenty-four members each. The country is very hilly and the scenery is not attractive. The principal products are gold, silver, coal, iron, w(»ol, cattle, grain, ivory, etc. The exports are valued at about $37,000,000, and the imports at over $32,- 000,000. ' I ' here are over 800 miles of rail- way and nearly 2.000 miles of telegraph line. There are many English schools, besides over 400 village schools. The natives, for the most part farmers and wool-growers, are a quiet, honest, religious people, having a great love of home ; the greater part of them are sai l to have a fair educat ion. The rights of the foreigners, or Outlanders (principally English), living in the Transvaal, were considered by the British most arbi- trary, and they, claiming suzerainty over the people, demanded better rights for these Outlanders, although this was simply a sub- terfuge, their real object being to gain pos- session of the country’s wealth. Kruger, the president of the republic, offered some con- cessions which the British refused to accept, and hostilities commenced. The Boers were well prepared for this. Preparations had been going on, on both sides, for some time. It is understood that the Boers had been training under the best military instructors whom they could pro- cure, and that they were in excellent con- dition for carrying on the war. They are using French arms and have ammunition and food supplies in abundance. d ' he British much underrated their abilities and also their numbers, and thought at first that it would not take many men to whip them ; but they soon discovered their mis- take. They have sent many of their best men for services in the Transvaal. The Boers seem to know beforehand the moves which the British idan and are gen- erally prepared to meet them. ' They tore down a number of bridges which would have been of advantage to the British, and have interrupted communication by telegraph be- tween towns held by them. d ' hey are fol- lowing tactics which they learned from Ger- man military instructors. It was from a knowledge of these that they could surprise Fuller when he attempted to cross the 1 u- gela river, and thought that he was going to do it so easily. But he found that the Boers knew a thing or two, and he was forced to retreat with his army so ciippled, that he was able to do nothing until he was rein- forced. At the beginning of the war the Boers took the defensive attitude, but they have since assumed the offensive. After they had settled a few things their own way in the northern part of Cape Colony, they began very unexpectedly to close in upon Gen. White at Ladysmith. They dug trenches about the town, which in places came very close to the fortifications of the British. From these they can fire upon it with very little danger to themselves. The news of the capitulation of Vhite will, we think, be a surprise to very few. England is continually sending reinforce- ments to the Transvaal, and Kruger has ordered all burghers to the front. At first the British thought that they were only going to have a little boar (Boer) hunt but the “boars” soon got on the track of the English, and about all they have got out of it are reverses, caused by what their rej:)ort- ers call “accidents.” H. E. C. There are but thirty-seven scholars in the High School. It is the fewest for some time.

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THE HIGH SCHOOL ECHO. THE SKA-(;ULL. One morn, as 1 sat by my window O’er looking the dark blue sea, I fancied I saw a sea-gull Come over the water to me. He brought me a message from far off shores, Of lands beyond my reach. And told me of ship-wrecks and storms he had seen. While flitting along the beach. He told me of people from distant climes. And the rocky capes he had found ; But said, “The best places for sea-gulls On Cape Cod do abound. “There are rocky capes and ridges Stretching from shore to shore : There are sandy beaches and sheltered bays And islands by the score. “The gunners never molest us, And our nests can never be found ; So that is why the sea-gull On Cape Cod flits around.” G. F. H. GENERAL WOOD, ALIAS FIGHTING DOCTOR. Do you wish for a story of war, boys ? A story of war and chase ? Then draw your chairs up to mine, boys, And keep quiet a little space. ’Twas in the wilds of Arizona, boys. Where some of our soldiers were sent. To quiet the tribe of Apaches, boys, Who on bloodshed and mischief were bent. There was one of our little party, boys. Who was meant for a soldier’s life. And though he came as surgeon, boys. Had a place in all battle and strife. They called him “Fighting Doctor,” boys. And well he deserved the name ; For he would fight like a fiend or demon, boys While a trace of the foe remained. And when one of the Indian braves, boys. The most fearless one in the tribe. Escaped from the reservation, boys. And spread havoc on every side. Why, what did our soldier do, boys, Hut fearlessly say he’d go ; And though no one else could have done it, boys. He would bring back Geronimo. So across the United States, boys. To the mountains of Mexico, Went one little party of six, boys. On the track of (ieronimo. O ' er i erilous steeps and passes, boys, The temperature, one hundred and ten. Still went our “Fighting Doctor,” boys. And his plucky party of men. And when the journey was ended, boys. They had gone two thousand miles ; But Geronimo was taken, boys With all his tricks and wiles. You ask who this hero was, boys? Was that what I heard you say? Why, he’s Gov’nor of Santiago, boys, A hero still to-day. He was bred on the Pocasset shore, boys. As poor as any of you, Vet this only goes to show, boys. What Cape Cod sand can do. E. F. H. A Voice in the Dark. — “Mamma, please gimme a drink of water; I’m so thirsty.” “No ; you’re not thirsty. Turn over and go to sleep.” A pause. “Mam- ma, won’t you please give me a drink? I’m so thirsty.” “If you don’t turn over and go to sleep. I’ll get up and whip you !” Another pause. “Mamma, won’t you please gimme a drink when you get up to whip me?” — Tit-Bits. The Worm vvas up Late. — A father was lecturing his son on the evils of staying out late nights and rising late in the morning. “You will never succeed,” he said, “unless you mend your ways. Remember the early bird catches the worm.” “And what about the worm, father?” said the young man, sneeringly, “Wasn’t he rather foolish in get- ting up so early?” “My son,” said the old man, “that worm hadn’t been to bed at all ; he was only getting home.” T he young man coughed.