Fought Bravely At Manila

Fought Bravely at Manila.

Francis G. Anspach Had His Jaw Shot Away and is Now in the Hospital at Corregidor.

During the recent war with Spain Ann Arbor sent something like 170 of her men to the front. Some were sent to Cuba, and were among the first to leave for that country, and since then ehe also sent there one of the best companies in the volunteer service, and which has but recently returned. She sent her representatives in blue to Porto Rico and to the Philippines and among these but one one has died, Gilbert S. Perrine, who died of sickness. But two were wounded: Don Stark, whose likeness is printed on our eighth page, who lost his arm in Cuba, and Francis G. Anspach, who was shot in the face in battle a Manila, and who is now confined in the hospital at Corregidor, about 31 miles from Manila at the entrance to the bay, awaiting the time when he may sail for home.

Anspach left this city nearly two years ago at the close of the university going west to seek whatever dame Fortune placed in his way and while at Great Falls, Montana, he heard the first call for volunteers to fight against Spain. Being patriotic and also of an adventurous disposition and desirous of seeing more of this world, he immediately offered himself to go to the Philippines. He enlisted with Co. A. First Montana Volunteers, and after a few days in that city left with his company for San Francisco. After spending over two months in the Golden City, his regiment received orders to proceed to Manila and on July 19, 1898, they embarked on the Transport Pennsylvania to the scene of action. Nine days out from the Golden Gate saw him at Honululu, where he was allowed one day of recreation and after 36 days of hardship on a crowded transport he sailed into Manila Bay, Aug. 24, late in the afternoon. At dawn the next day, they were landed at Cavite, where his company went into camp. War in the Philippines at that time was almost unknown. Yet occasionally a skirmish with the insurgents was reported and there being nothing of a startling nature happening the boys began to despair, life in that hot and sultry climate grew to be monotonus with the same old dull routine day after day, a drill of a few minutes morning and evening and it is no wonder that the men were taken with a sudden longing to return to their homes.

Time went slowly on without excitement until one day war came upon them with a vengeance and each man had to hustle for himself. After seeing and coming in contact with the real article Frank changed his mind about returning to the states. Co. A. was brought into action and took a promnent part in all the battles fought by the First Montana and distinguished itself as second to none on the Islands.

About the first of February Co. A was brought into action for the first time since their arrival at Manila and after a running fight of some hours duration came out of the battle with one killed and several wounded. This was the first real fighting Frank had seen and they piled the insurgents up three and four deep, which was not a bad record for the first time on the firing line.

After a day or two of fighting they proceeded toward Caloocan, where Co. A. was entrenched and did some good work and killed many Filipinos.

Anspach was placed on picket duty on the arrival of his company and got in a shot at a Filipinos sharp shooter and stopped him from making a target out of one of Uncle Sam's volunteers. In putting the insurgent out of the way, he was forced to retreat to the trenches on account of stirring them up too badly. From Caloocan his company received orders to advance and was kept under fire for three days and nights before an opportunity was offered to rest.

A few days later, he with a sharp shooter of his company, had (Feb. 24.) been sent out on a skirmish for insurgents, and after using all their ammunition, he returned for more to his quarters and while sitting in front of his captain's tent waiting for cartridges to be issued, a Filipinos sharp shooter was on the lookout for him. He had waited but a few moments when something struck him and when he came to, it was to find that he had been shot in the left jaw.

The bullet struck him near the corner of his mouth tearing away all the teeth and jaw bone. It went down his neck and came out at the right shoulder. He was placed in the hospital where he has since remained.

It has been reported several times that Anspach was on his way home but a letter received here Saturday states that he is yet in the hospital at Corregidor. He says in his letter that the U. S. hospital ship "Relief" is due to leave there in a week, his letter being written on April 15, so if he was able to leave on that ship he is now near or in San Francisco.

He says in his last letter dated April 15, that he is improving but cannot use his jaws as the lower one is drawn sidewise, not striking the upper one and making mastication an utter impossibility. The cavity where the teeth and bone were taken out has pushed downward drawing the two ends of the jaw closer together. When he left this city he weighed about 160 pounds but since he was wounded his weight has been reduced to nearly 100 pounds. He has been unable to eat other than liquid foods. However he expects to be more like himself after a short time in San Francisco, where he will perhaps remain for some months in order to have a silver plate made to replace the bone which was shot away.

Mr. Anspach is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Anspach, of 519 Lawrence st., and is well known among the people of this city. He was born in Wauseon, Ohio, 27 years ago, and carne to Michigan in 1889. Later his parents carne to Ann Arbor to reside permanently. He is a graduate of the Ann Arbor high school, graduating from that institution in 1895. He entered the law department the following year. He is a young man of moderate habits, ambitious, and well liked by all who know him. His many friends will be surprised to learn that he was still in the hospital, when last heard from and regret that his wound is of so serious a nature.