Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-09-26

the ship. He wrote an order and Tor feax
OF treachery. It was read BY one Of our
me- and pronounced it right. We then
put the orderly aehore. He waste b back
with the men In SIX hours or the Oflccr WA
to die. This may seem harsh but you
must remember that we were outlaws. and
the case demanded desperate measures. We
could not leave our companions 70 certain
death IS long as we had the means In our
hands ~ release them. We could soe the
troops quite plainly with our glasses, and
We saw that the news the orderly brought
created q considerable stir among them.
Our prisoner wa furnished with 4 glass
through which he watched the proceedings
very sharply. Indications Ut 4 storm Was
now observed and the navigator urged that
we put to sea for safety, hut We would
not consent until We had our men. We
had steam up, and the anchor ssh0rn short"
and everything IN READINGS to put 10 sea In
. hurry. The excitement began TO get
high ~ the storm assumed q more threat
enine appearance. There vas no shelter
from the storm whore we were, and Il was
more safe out at sea. Upon the repre-
sensations of the navigator We had about
concluded to 60. when we saw our people
coming down to the shore. Boats were ct
sent for them and the exchange was
soon made I can tell you the officer wasA
happy mar. We at once started 10 run
out to sea, and had hardly gone q mile
when we ran upOna hidden rock. FOrtu-
nately we did not hit IL hard, and after
humping . few times we slipped OIL. The
experience was not very pleasant, for II We
had been obliged to have gone ashore we
would have run into the hands Of those
who would have hung every n Of rs.
Our men told us that at least three thous-
and Mexlcans, and they were sent 10 take
US II they could, dead or alive.
When they missed their commanding
officer there was a good deal of excitement
and wonder, for they did not know he had
been captured, but when the orderly came
with the commanders orders, ana they
he wa Oh board of our ship, and
in danger of being hung, they were just
wild. and no time was lost In getting the
prisoners down to the shore. In my 0pin-
ion that commanding officer did not let the
company of beautiful wOmen make him
his duty for sometime afterward; the
party who captured him Informed US that
officer WA being very pleasantly enter
tanned by the ladies of the HacindA. when
they were surprised and taken In. We
rode out the storm without accident and /
think 1t wa near this point the .Callma"
sunk. After this experience we concluded
had better keep away from Mexico, and
to try our fortune with Capt. VIM.
Walker. who wal invading Niaranga with
his fllibustering expedition. but finding he
had been defeated and expelled from the
we proceeded to Panama and
crossed over. Then the organization ! %
disbanded and peoame scattered. I never
many of them afterward. l suppose
the most OF them like myself made their
way back to the states. There was Q big
lot of plumber IN the crowd which before
Panama was divided among the
members of the band. do not know how
It was with the rest, but my share was
never Of any benefit to me. and although We
eluded tina authoritie., and wa never
punished for the crimes we committed. yet
would give all l have In the world to have
the remembrance OF this d~isreputeable
affair bl0tted out of my mind. The MEM
Dry of this Is a burden upon me, and /
shall carry it to my grave" As the old
man read this he dropped his head upon
his bands. and with his long gray hair and
beard covering his face, his frame shook
with emotion: and we withouta word sadly
out OF the room, leaving him to his
e elections.