Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
A KING AMONG INDIANS.
A Central American Story That Rivals That
of Capt John Smith.

of Capt John Smith.
A correspondent. Of the New York Sun at
San Jose, Costa Rica, writes: few days ago
there died at the hospital in this city an Amer
lean who came from Baltimore more than
thirty years ago to seek his fortune, and
who had never revisited the United
States This was John E. Lyon, who, dur
ing these thirty long years, was the first and
for time the only white man in Talamanca,
that marvellous and as vet little known coun-
try. Lyon was originally sea captain. He
drifted into the harbor q Bocas del Toro, saw
the magnificent virgin forests Of the coasts,
and dreamed Of enchanting, untrodden re-
gions awaiting him further inland. He went
up the rivers a little distance and decided
that be had not been mistaken. There was
small sign OF human life. He resolved
to locate and create a habitation in the new
paradise. But he was not permitted to remain
long undisturbed. From their palenques up
the head OF the Sixola and the Uren and Chi
riquen there swooped down upon him a rum
Der Of dueky warriors, bronze -imbed. supple,
fierce Of aspect. They made him prisoner. and
their king, whose name was Lapiz (Peucil in
a bad way. Hecould not speak their language
and what Spanish he had acquired in touching
as a mariner at Spanish ports WAS Of no use.
He was bound to a tree, and there, in passive
despair, awaited the poisoned arrow which was
to put an end to him. Something in his very
quietude and calmness caused the Indians to
pause and hold conference. He was certainly
brave. His bravery affected these children Of
a nation that had held its own for centuries in
spite of the invading Spanish forces 1t is
uncertain whether any TaIamanca maiden
not. but at all events the prisoner was
united and led away to sort of prison.
After awhile he was liberated, and as he seemed
to be amiable and friendly the Indians took a
fancy to him. As the years went by he became
their friend and adviser, married ono OF their
women and had a couple Of children. The
Costa Rica government appreciated his services
as a civilizer and appointed him jefe politico
for the region. giving him large tract Of land.
Here he lived year after year in two-roomed
house Of cana, with comfortable beds, a table,
q clock, couple OF good htmmocks and
curious sort Of calendar. consisting Of o board
with pegs, one of which he moved every morn
ing and SO kept account Of the flight Of time.
visited him last July with . party Of other
explorers aud slept for several nights In his
| cana house, built high above the ground to
shelter the cattle that crept underneath at
night and lowed mysteriously IN ones very
ears. His house was half mile distant from
| the San Bernardo settlement, surrounded on
all sides by lush grasses and with . mysterious
| woodland path leading of toward the spark
| ling Uren river. All the Talamanca Indians
| of the present generation regarded him as
| tneh iatner. he SPOKE 10 tnem IN their own
tongue, and his slightest request was law. He
had beautiful fields Of cacao, and the beginning
OF tobacco plantation and q good deal Of live
stock, and fine large canoes to go up and down
the river; but he had not the sign OF . modern
implement, such as one would look for on hear
| ing the word American"
| He appeared to exist dreamfully from day
TO day, happy in simply existing in those
| splendid and remote forests, with their small
clearing, their mysterious palenques, and in
the distance the alluring mountains where the
gold is hidden. One OF the highest peaks in
| the southern Cordillera is named for him, Mt
Lyon. He was . curious-looking man, thin
and delicate, perhaps sixty years of age
gentle and courteous in an old-fashioned way
and utterly out Of the world of the north .hai
had been his childhoods home. The Cost
Ricans gave him . fine funeral, With military
honors and speeches, and buried him in thu
Pauteon, the beautiful cemetery Of this CAPT
tai