Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-11-21
Aw ONDERFUL LIFE.

Brilliant Career of an Amer can Named
Ward.
The remarkable career of Ward, the
American soldier OF fortune who pre-
coded Gordon III command of the foreign
legion in China, was related to New
York Tribune reporter recently by a
friend of the soldier, who knew him
from boyhood. He said: "Ward was
most remarkable mana greater man,
in my opinion, than Gordon, though the
hero of Khartoum commands my deep
admiration. Ward was born in Salem,
Mass. and when he was boy went to
sea with his father, who was a shlpmas-
ter. When the Crimean war broke out
Young Ward enlisted in the French
army. and became a sub lieutenant. Un-
fortunately he became involved In q
Quarrel with his captain, and, resigning
his commission, he challenged that off,
cer to a duel. The challenge was &C
cepted, and Ward killed the captain.
Years after, when fortune smiled on
him. Ward sent large sum OF money to
Paris to be invested for the support OF
the widow and child of his former cap
tain. Wards next venture was COM
mercial one to Vera Cruz. 1t proved I'M
successful, and he was then sent by me
tn the west coast of Mexico to buy lot
of brass cannon which had been con.
demned. He embarked on this enter.
prise in a vessel which took down to
Central America lot of Walkers I'LL.
busters. The adventurous char ,cter OF
Walkers enterprise appealed to Wards
fancy. but he saw in it 80 much to con-
denim and so much that was repugnant
to him in the character of large part OF
those who made up the flibustering
party that he did not join the expedition.
"Haying completed his work on the
west coast of Mexico, Ward went to San
Francisco and got a berth as an officer OF
a shin going to China. He received his
discharge in China and entered there
the service of the emperor. he rose
RAPIDLY in favor and rank, and organized
the foreign legion to fight for the en-
peror against the Tapping rebels. He
married a Chinese lady of high rank,
and was made mandarin OF their most
exalted order. In order to marry
woman of the rank which he did ne was
told that he must renounce Christianity.
He declined to do this, and the matter
was finally settled by his marrying her
by proxy. He became citizen of China
and a subject of the emperor. Once ne
was seized by the English and French
admirals and kept for some time prison.
err He was told that if he would claim
American citizenship he would be liber-
ated. This he refused to do, saying:
".I was born in America, and love my
native land, but have sworn allegiance
to the emperor and am Chinese.
SIZE was finally released, and con-
tinued his most successful and brilliant
military career. He ordered three gun.
boats built in America, which were to 60
up the Pekin river and the canal, and ny
his mandarin flag before the gates OF
Pekin. Twas building the boats for him
when he was killed. He was the most
powerful man in China, and had ne liveo
I believe he had the genius ana the oar.
inp to have made himself absolute mas.
ter of the Chinese empire. When our
civil war broke out he wrote to me;
INV heart is with my native land IN he1
STRUGGLE against rebellion. Were free
would return at once to offer my life and
INV sword to nv country. But my woIk
ia here He was killed while rashly
exposing himself in q reconnaissance be-
fore some city which he was besieglng.
He was one of the bravest, most temper.
ate, upright, and honorable OF men! o.
honndless ambition and dazzling genius
He was q young man, only 80 or 81 AZ
the time of his death. Though ne never
received a literal education he was one
of the best informed men | ever saw;
constant student, a good linguist. and
great reader of books of all kinds.