Up San Juan Hill

• 1909
• Action & Adventure, Other, Drama

Spanish oppression forever ended on the Western Hemisphere when President McKinley sent Garcia his famous message recognizing the insurgent forces in the field and declaring for American intervention and asking for a consultation of our officers with that leader for freedom's cause. Lieut. Bowen, a young American officer of proven Intelligence, was entrusted with the message, the Spanish secret service men stationed in Washington were able to learn of this and our opening scene shows Valdez and his wife, emissaries of Spain, making a copy of a cipher dispatch which orders them to stop the message at all hazards. We see Bowen arrive at Tampa and meet his sweetheart in the beautiful grounds of the Bay View Hotel, the Spanish spies watch the meeting from their window with field glasses, Bowen is to row across the bay to a U. S. launch where the government vessel Wasp, with steam up, waits to run the gauntlet for the Cuban coast. Bowen's instructions are simple, "after landing on Cuban soil you are to find General Garcia and deliver the President's message." Somewhere in the field fastness of the interior, Garcia lurks, ready to pounce upon the Spanish oppressors of his people. A guerrilla war is always conducted secretly. Bowen fully realizes the difficulties that confront him: several startling scenes occur at Tampa, before Bowen is seen to board the launch, bid good-bye to the woman he loves and leave the chagrined spies behind. They follow, however, and after two weeks we again meet Bowen searching for Garcia. He discovers that he is followed; then our shrewd young officer plays Valdez a Yankee trick. Coming to a deep, narrow stream where the shores are heavily hung with tropical foliage, he boldly plunges his horse into the stream and finds a natural pocket near the opposite shore, turns into it, dismounts and with his sabre soon builds a leafy wall that screens both man and horse from his pursuers. Valdez and a group of Spanish cavalry ride up, swim the stream and disappear. Our hero coolly mounts his horse, takes the back track and renews his quest. Then comes the finding of Garcia, the consultation of the generals, the Rough Riders going into action at El Caney, then four thrilling military scenes, depicting the capture of San Juan Hill. "One week later." Valdez, realizing that the Spanish cause is lost and burning with a desire for vengeance, lures Bowen's sweetheart to an isolated mission in the interior, and coming with a band of hirelings to secure possession of the girl his enemy loves, is surprised by a passing band of American and Cuban soldiers, headed by Lieut. Bowen, and is ignominiously defeated, and coming face to face with our young Lieutenant, Valdez meets a soldier's death. Our closing scene depicts the fortune of war.