The state herald., 1894-06-08
JAKE TO THE RESCUE.
QUEER EPISODE OF THE WAR IN
~. HONDURAS.

~
4 Pet Jocko Steals the Guns and Arms =
Company OF Monksys-They Fired Like
Veterans and Saved the Day-Jaks Gave
the Motions Of Command.
left New Orleans for Honduras
about six months ago. was living
on St Andrew street. which 10 In the
Immediate vicinity OF Annunciation
square and contiguous to the cotton
presses. The captain Of one Of the
vessels engaged In tho fruitlng trade
between New Orleans and the Con-
trial American countries made me an
offer to 20 with him to Honduras. 1
was employed at the time as cook
In the kitchen Of the Pickwick club,
which, by tho way, l am sorry to
hear, has been burned.
Now, to make what follows suf-
ficicntly clear. must tell you that I
have always entertained fondness
for animals, and have for years had
a pet monkey Of remarkable intelli-
gence. He was trained TO execute
military movements with as much
precision as veteran Of many years
standing. / had him as q rule ar.
rayed In o tasteful costume, with
gold lace and epaulettes. and little
toy gun was given him whenever he
was wanted to drill. He seemed to
admire himself greatly, and still
docs when adorned with his military
array.
naturally did not want 10 leave
this pct behind. ana he formed not
uncomfortable portion Of my bag
gage. The ships crew took kindly
to him and he speedily became q
great favorite among the mon. Tho
monkey, OF course, was up to no end
OF tricks. and proved constant
source OF amusement to all.
On arriving at Puerto Cortez I
found it profitable to exchange my
berth with the captain for place on
shore, which was offered me by q
gentleman connected with club
In Ceiba
among those who belonged to
the club was Senior Vasquez, at that
time president OF Honduras. had
the honor Of cooking meal Of which
his excellency partook. 1t pleased
him. and received request to
come up to tho capital, where was
appointed chief cook OF tho presi-
dents establishment This was a
high post and responsible ono, and
was too hattered at the offer to re-
fuse. l therefore set out at onco,
and after q difficult journey over the
mountain roads arrived safely at my
destination. During all these ex-
changes my monkey. Jake by name,
accompanied me faithfully.
al was still serving In the house,
hold OF his excellency when tho old
troubles between Generals Vasquez
and Bonilla revived. about the be-
ginning OF tho year. When General
Vasquez started for the frontier l &C.
companied him as one OF his military
menage, but did not SEQ fighting.
was principally connected with the
supply train and only occasionally
was ut tho front. was in Teguci-
galpa when news OF serious en-
gagemcnt was received In the inter-
Tor. near Olanchito
Vasquez got tho worst in the bat
tie, and it was reported at tho time
that no had been defeated. and q
body Of troops were hastily assembled
and sent to his holp, myself forming
Iart OF 1t. Jake, tho monkey. went
it'll the column.
Between Tegucigalpa and Olan-
|Ghito we reached hamlet called
Hanta Maria do Flores, where tho
ascent OF the mountains had to bo
undertaken. A very dense UNDER
brush clothes ali this section OF
country. and tho animals there arc
very numerous.
At this place tho column was d.
vidod. and while portion pushed on
at once. small squad. numbering
eighty men. was left undor my COM
mand with instructions to press on
as rapidly as the country permitted.
but by another route, which led
through tho lower spurs OF tho
range, and while not so direct was
not so likely to lead into tho foo.
This was done In order that II ono
section OF the force was demoralizcd
by meeting tho rcbol forcos tho
other might roach Vasqucz in good
time.
After leaving Santa Maria tho
party under my command pushed
forward. We bivouacked In the
evening In u pretty glade. with the
Siorras Just In front On awaking In
the morning failed to find Jake.
and on further search also failed to
find tho riaes with which tho SOL
diers had been armed. ] did not
connect these losses with each other.
but concluded that tho monkey had
dccampcd with his friends. and that
the villagers from Santa Maria must
have followed and robbed us under
cover OF darkness
On tho morning OF tho fourth day
following. wc wore awakened by
tho sound OF heavy bring some dis
tnnco away, and as We had been mp.
preaching tho army, judged. and
rightly. that second engagement
was taking place.
II was clearly going against tho
loyal soldiers. and. us wc watched.
they were driven back. and evcntu.
ally made stand within loss than
100 yards Of our position. Almost
before wo wcro aware Of what was
taking place. found myself and my
command mixed In tho fight. and
forgetting entirely that my men wore
unarmcd. ] gave tho word TO fire.
Tho artillcrymon wcro ut tho mo.
mont preparing tbclr guns for gen.
crai discharge. and on our sido there
was general lull IN tho uproar
but ms ! uttered tho word, Fret n
rapid discharge OF muskotry broke
from tho trcctops. and with telling
effect, docimating tho onomy's ranks.