The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-12

SNAPPED HIS FINGER N HIS FACE.
mics and traitors. He wrote to his gov
ernment in reply to Hoaston's charges: II
am accused of fitting out piratical expe-
dition when, in fact, l was using every
means and straining every nerve TO get the
vessels to sea in fghting condition"
There was but one way to solve the diff
fculty and that was to whip the Mexican
feet single handed. On the 18th of May,
favored by good breeze. he went out with
the Austin and Wharton and attacked the
steamers Montezuma and Guadalupe.
His seamanship was mastery and it was
to that that he owed his selection from
among all the officers of the United States
navy to command the Texas marine. In
two hours time he compelled the Mexi-
cans to ask for mercy and leisure for re-
pairs. About half their crews were killed
or wounded. Moore's flagship, the Austin,
had received fifteen shots and her crew had
suffered heavily. The wind died away, and
the Austin, becalmed, drifted into the har-
Dor, the enemy hauling off toward Vera
Cruz.
A few days after this battle the Texan
secretary of war revoked the orders of the
commodore and demanded that he return
to the capital in arrest. Taking advantage
of this the people Of Yucatan turned
against him, hoping, of course, to avoid
paying their debt for his services. The
Yucatan commissioners were already treat
ing with Santa Anna, fighting was over,
and the Mexican fleet iisbaHding by rea-
son of desertion and want of funds Moore
turned over his vessels to the next in com
mand and took refuge in an English ship
lying in the waters Before leaving the
coast, however, he succeeded by daring
effort in literally swapping his fingers in
the face of the braggart Santa Anna, who
was plotting right and left to get the
plucky Texan into his clutches.
The old dictator was himself down to his
final card. He had met his last payment
on the United States indemnity by forced
levy on private wealth. His people hated
him and he was in terror for his life, keep
ing bodyguard of 5000 men. To ward off
the coming storm a new constitution was
framed, and on his birthday he ordered q
grand fete in honor Of the two events. It
was held at Vera Cruz and ended with a
masked ball, to which the officers of the
friendly vessels in the harbor were invited
None of Moore's associates suspected that
he would risk his life on Mexican soil, but
he managed TO secure aid and leave the
ship in private yawl and reach the bali
room unobseTved A friend, who was in
the plot, had domino exactly like the
commodore's, and kept 1t hidden for On
emergency.
Moore enjoyed the ball, but all strangers
were under espionage, and as his short,
stout figure was well known 70 many pres
ent, he soon found himself watched Now
was his time At signal his confederate
retired 70 an anteroom and Moore went
up 70 the dictator, who was on the floor,
and touched him rudely on the shoulder
Santa Anna turned when Moore snapped
his finger audsciously IN his faoe and
danced away with tanIAiizJng, catch
who-can" gesture and hurried 70 the ante
room In an instant his domino was OF,
disclosing a second disguise entirely differ
ent. The confederate was ready 70 20 out
as his double, and while Moore went away
TO his ship the other ssuntsred around the
ballroom to be nabbed AID unmasked IN
the course of . few moments b. Santa An
mas henchmen.
Of course, the mistake was discovered as
soon IS the domino WIS torn OF. and then
the dictator ordered al nssks OF The
place was searched and the CITY also. and
70 no purpose, for Moore had gained tine
by the trick and YVES rowing sway 20 the
ship ere tie alarm had fairly spread There
w6S left one menace 70 the eoE1EodOTes
peace, and that was the hostility OF Hous-
ton and his cabinet With Characteristic
bolcress Moore sailed straight fer CALVES
ton, reported 70 the navy department IL
arrest, and vent before he congress With
petition stating MS CASE WITH simplicity
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