The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-30
Death of an Old Filibuster.

Debtn OI uU Ulu flllUuSteT.
The Louisville Cougier-Journal pub
fishes the following sketch of the adven-
lures of once celebrated character, now
about departing:
A letter announces the impending
death of Colonel Jack Allen, at Bright
Star, Hopkins county, Texas. He was
widely known in the Southwest. In
his young manhood he had the misfor-
tune to slay a man in Shelby county,
but the jury adjudged it clear case of
self-defense, and he was acquitted.
Shortly afterwards he left for Missouri,
and, with single companion, made his
way through the Indian Territory and
thence into Texas. That people were
then at war with the Mexicans. He
was with Sam Houston at the battle of
San Jacinto, which ended the war. He
returned home and engaged in farming
but when the war broke out on the Rio
Grande Allen raised cavalry company,
and was with General Humphrey Mar
shall's regiment at Buena Vista.
The conclusion of the Mexican war
let loose set of restless men eager for
any wsrlike enterprise. The acquisi-
!,
as it did indeed many leading men in
the South. Jack Allen was Of course
among the number. He raised band
of men in Kentucky, and was promi-
nent among those who composed what
may be called the 1" first Cuban expedi-
tion." Sailing from a Southern port in
q small vessel by orders to act in concert
with the creoles of Cuba, who were said
to be ready to revelt, the filibusters,' u
as they were termed, proceeded to the
Island of Contoy, near the cost of Yu-
catsn. A sojourn of three weeks with
| exposure disgusted the men, until orders
were given to leave, when their spirits
revived. The vessel made its way to
Cardenas, on the northern part of the
| island, where they were landed. Their
rebel friends, to their chagrin, informed
them that their force was too small to
throw the island into revolution, and
declined to give any assistance. The
authorities had been advised of the
| plans of the filibusters, and had force
close at hand to meet them. They
charged on the flibusters, who gallantly
repulsed the assault, and, knowing dis
cretion to be the better part Of valor
retired to their little vessel. Allen
fought bravely in this fight. The fiji.
busters then headed for Key West, and
when within few miles of that place
discovered the Spanish man-of-war Piz.
AFRO bearing down on them under a full
head of steam. She approached nea,
enough to fire few shots ct the vessel
but the boys escaped and scattered ovel
the place.
The year following (lS5l,) the filibus
ters were again at work under Lopez
and Jack Allen was with them. H.
raised several hundred men in Kentucky
and took them to New Orleans. Lopez
with the lamented Major VIM. Critten
den, had also left for the island. Theil
fate is known. Crittenden's little bant
of fifty men was captured, and with him.
self shot, and Lopez was garroted. Ii
the meanwhile the Kentuckians in New
Orleans besought the Cuban Aid Socie
ty for transportation, but in vain
When the fate of the expedition wal
known, the filibusters in New Orleans
disbanded, and Allen and others returned
to Kentucky. Sevaral expeditions of {
similar character were projected between
that time and the year 1856 by Genera
Goicouria, with Colonel Allen as one O
the leaders, but all of them failed.
General Walker and his filibusters
however, had met with more success il
Nicaragua, and Jack Allen determined
to join him. He chartered the steamer
Sultana, and left the Portland whar
May 81, 1856, with nearly two hundred
men, for this expedition. Few, alas
were destined to return. Half of tn,
number reached Granada, where Aller
was appointed Colonel of the regiment
He subsequently returned to Kentucky
on the plea of ill-health. He believed
the cause of Walker was lost and while
here he arranged with Goioouria fol
another Cuban expedition, embracing
the enlistment of his own men in Nicara
qua, but who were restrained therefron
by force. Goicouria was to send yes
sci to San Juan del Norte to bring away
the men.
General Lockridge, who was subse'
quently the commander on San Juar
River, was in the secret. Allen returned
to Nicaragua, but successful operation
of the Costa Ricsns, in capturing from
Walker the steamships on Lake Nicsra
qua, defeated the Allen-Goicouria de
scent on Cuba. Colonel Allen left Mica
ragus in October, 1856, and came home
He lived in quiet on his farm in Shelby
county from that time until the inaugur
e.ion of the late civil war, when he es
poused the cause of the Confederates
He was the leader of several hundred
men, who left Kentucky in September
1861. He served in the Confederat,
army for short time and then retired
remaining South, however, until l'hostili
ties ceased, when he again returned
home and resumed his agricultural pur
suits. He went to Texas some month";
since, but with what particular objec
we are not advised.