Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-08-09
A Boy of War.

formerly in the revenue marine
service and who now owns a large
coffee plantation in Nicaragua. He
thus recounts his experiences:
81 left my home for New York
some two weeks before the revolu-
tion broke out.
MY business affairs demanded
the journey and | knew perfectly
well that if delayed my departure
until the revolution broke out, my
chances of reaching the coast at all
were poor.
ut was early in the morning not
many weeks ago when | bade lot
of my neighboring planters good
bye and started on horseback to the
southwark.
my plan was to strike in at the
head of Lake Nicaragua and then
run down to the east coast on some
one of the numerous steamers al
ways to be found on Lake Nicara-
qua.
"The two hundred and fifty miles
of my journey were safely accom-
plished, and one evening found
myself stopping for the night at a
little station on the headwaters of
the lake.
"To my disappointment | found
that not only had the revolution
broken out in force, but that every
steamer on the lake had been seized
by the government forces.
81 was in quanday. | half de-
cided to go back, but on reflection
determined to remain a short time
and await developments. BY good
Use of my eyes and ears, particular
ly my ears, | learned of a small tug
secreted near by.
81 determined to possess that tug
and | succeeded. | found it was
necessary to store her for the trip,
and for the purpose brought her
round near the station.
II had almost concluded that |
had removed all difficulties, when
suddenly there sprang aboard my
little craft a young Spanish lad
dressed in the uniform of lieuten-
ant of the Nicaraguan army.
"Close behind him came some
thirty big fellows, all splendidly
armed and each carrying a couple
of well-flled cartridge belts.
"The young Spaniard with a
smile demanded the surrender of
my craft.
There was nothing left to do.
"The boat was his.
"At first fancied | was in the
hands of government troops, until
close observation apprised me that
the boy was a rebel, as were also
his men.
"He was extremely anxious to
get under way, but it was apparent
that no one in the party understood
the working of engines. con-
cluded | might as well be one Of the
party as remain behind at the sta
tion, and so volunteered my SER
vices.
"The youngster was delighted.
He directed that we proceed to
Gorilla.
"At the mention of Gorilla l
looked at him in amazement. Cor
lila is the strongest fortress in Nj
caragua. 1t is armed with modern
riAed ordnance. 1t is situated on
a high bluff overlooking the river
of Lake Nicaragua, and it is capa-
bic of delivering terrific plunging
fire on an approaching craft.
"The young Spaniard was about
sisteen years Of age. He certainly
was not over seventeen. He was a
handsome chap, with skin as soft
and with eyes as tender as those of
a girl.
HE had 1.-the, active form, and
time and again it puzzled me to be-
lieve that he was boy. | got to
know him quite well on that run to
Gorilla.
His manner was always the
same, the mouth with one continual
smile playing around it. His men
fairly revered him.
III quickly made up my mind
that either this youngster was a
giant in courage and ability or else
an idiot.
"The former proved to be the
case. As for his men, they were
fighters, every one of them.
81 have had opportunity in my
life to see a good many soldiers. !
had also the honor to be member
of one of our own best national
guard regiments, but l have yet to
see thirty men with the word busi-