Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1899 — A Voluntary Target. [ARTICLE]

A Voluntary Target.

James Collls was a gunner of the Six-ty-sixth Regiineut in the Afghan war of 1890. During the retreat from Maiwand the troops toiled on through the black night, the Afghans continually charging upon them. The gunners were frequently obliged to unlimbur the guns and stand to them to check these furious assaults, which they did as coolly as if at drill on Woolwich Common, Many of the guns bad been turned into temporary ambulances, and were loaded with wounded and dying men. Collis had all day been carrying water to the wounded through the sharpest of the deadly firing, and came up to his gun just as a hot fire opened upon it from two sides. With one glance he saw that unless this fire could be diverted, there was no possibility of saving the lives of the wounded men. Collis was unwounded, and borrowing a rifle, he deliberately opened fire on the enemy, making himself the target for their guns. There he stood, until he had fired tliirty-two rounds, the bullets failing thick and fast around him. but not a hair of his head was harmed. The tired horses made an extra effort, the gun thundered oat of range, the ranks closed up and the weary? march went on.—Youth’s Companion.