The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-09-08
EATEN ALIVE BY ANTS.
HOW COLONEL PERLOTTE WAS
PUT TO DEATH.
Herbert l.. Brummer's Career In Central
America-Doo,ned to Die in Cave
A Revenge Unknown in History-A
Feud Caused by Love.

Among the news brought to the
San Francisco Examiner from Pana-
ma by the ST. Paul is tale of love,
war and revenge that reads more
like dime novel story than plain
statement of fact.
Herbert L. Drummer, a Russian by
birth but an American citizen by
adoption, left his desk in the Office
of New York merchant about three
years ago to try his luck in Spanish
Spanish language, and soon after
reaching Nicaragua he drifted into
the army.
His first commission was that OF
lieutenant and he held that posi-
ton for about year, when he re-
signed and took up a plantation. He
raised coffee and pineapples until the
revolution broke out few months
ago, when he again entered the army.
This time he entered as a colonel
in the forces of the insurgents under
General Savablas, who was one OF
Brummer's best friends. The dash
ing young colonel soon won consid-
cradle fame as warrior, and he also
attracted the attention of General
Santagua, who invited him to his
house and introduced him to his
daughter. The young lady was the
belle of the country and had hosts of
admirers, who naturally looked upon
Drummer as an intruder.
Among the young lady's admirers
was thu colonel of cavalry regi-
ment, who swore to kill Drummer
the first chance he got. Colonel
Perlotte openly boasted of his inten-
ton of putting his rival out of the
way and Drummer was advised to be
on his guard, but he only laughed
and said he could take care of him
SELF
The first trouble came when the
pair met at dinner in a hotel and
were given seats opposite each other.
Drummer, who had been drinking
rather heavily. made some remark
that the hot-headed Nicaraguan con-
strued as an insult and struck Brum-
mer ON the face with his open hand.
The next instant Drummer sprang to
his feet, and before the astonished
guests could realize what was up he
seized Perlotte, dragged him from
the room and beat him until he was
almost dead.
One night soon after the attack on
Rivas, where Drummer had won high
praise for his daring and bravery, he
was on his way back to his quarters
after spending the evening with
friends. Suddenly he was surrounded
by armed troopers, thrown on a horse
and hurried up into the mountains.
He was closely guarded for two
days, when Colonel Perlotte appeared
and he informed Drummer that the
time had come when he would have
his revenge for the terrible beating
he had received, and he wanted Brum-
mer to know that slow, lingering
death was to be his fate Perlotte
then spat in his victims face and Or
dered him placed in a small cave,
where he was laid ON the floor with
his hands and feet securely bound.
Rocks were then piled in front of the
entrance and Drummer left to his
fate.
Perlotte feigned 10 be as much sur
prised as anybody over his rivals
disappearance, and spread the report
that he had been killed. Drummer
would never have been heard OF
again had not one of the troopers
who hated Perlotte given informa
ton that led General Vagues to send
a squad of men to the cave, where,
on rolling back tine stones, they
found Drummer m ore dead than alive.
One night while going his rounds
of the sentinels Perlotte was sudden
ly seized, bound, gagged and thrown
into cart driven by Drummer, and
by daylight the following morning
was dozen miles from his quarters
and in very sparsely settled part
of the country.
Drummer dragged his victim out oi
the cart and sat him against the wheel
until the party had eaten breakfast,
when he informed Perlotte of the
fate he had In store for him
This section of the country is in
tested with a species of tiny black
ants which build large mounds and
are as vindictive an insect as can be
found anywhere in the world.
81 am going to stake you down and
let the ants eat you," said Drummer,
as he cut the cords on bis victims
legs. Four stout stakes were taken
from the wagon and driven into the
ground around one of the largest ant
hills, and then the victim was
stripped to the skin.
Perlotte screamed, cursed and
prayed, but he had shown no mercy
when he had left Drummer to die in
the cave, and he received none now.
Ten poems dragged him to the stakes,
tied his feet securely to two of them,
kicked the ant hill to pieces and then
threw Perlotte on his back and
quickly bound his wrists to the other
two stakes.
In an instant the writhing victim
was covered with the terrible ants
and was being literally eaten alive.
Drummer remained long enough to
make sure that his enemy was dead,
and then, leaping on horse, he
made his way to the coast and es-
capped on sailing vessel.