The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-05
A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.

For months he was unable to lie
down and he finally died sitting in his
chair.
A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
After nine months Imprisonment,
Kissane was pardoned December 8,
1855 under promise to turn state evil
dence against the organized band of
insurance swindlers, said to be the OUT
growth of the Martha Washington con-
spiracy. Governor Myron Fl. Clark
was overwhelmed with petitions in the
prisoners behalf. These petitions make
a voluminous volume They are still
in the possession of the governor and
not the least interesting are the pleas
for clemencv from the pen of Horace
Greeley and Thurlow Weed.
Liberty regained, Kissane lost no
time in seeking q strange land, where
if he did not become a man among
men" he failed not to commit deeds of
prowess that are not without charm
even in this prosaic day.
In the Walker Nicaragua expedition,
made ND for the most part of men Of
strong character, tired Of the hum
drum of common life, and ready for a
career which might bring them the
sweets of adventure or the rewards of
fame" Kissane now threw himself
with all the abandon of his ventursogne
ma ture He arrived at Nicaragua. Feb
ruary /: 1856 He was a fine horse
man.. Under the name of W. K. Rog
ers he was appointed and commits
stoned assistant commanding general,
with rank of major, and ordered TO
take charge of the commissart of the
army. His deliberate mind and crafty
Diplomacy were of invaluable service to
f~Qnc1-o1 XNailrer I1rh do hin,
commanding general and secretary of
Hacindas. His duties We're those of
secretary Of the treasury. In this ca
pacity he had full sway; even species
OF valuable property in the country
were under his control Had it not
been for Colonel Rogers cool. calclllat-
ing deliberation, the flibuster scheme,
it is conceded, would have met an
earlier defeat For eight or nine
Kissane had rhe entire finances
of the country in his hands. When
General Walker marched to Rivas. he
left Grenada in charge of Colonel Rog-
ers. whose military achievements con-
sisted largely in sudden sallies ON,
neighboning haciendas. He was wong
to CAPTURE the wives and daughters of
prominent Nicaraguans and hold them
as hostages. to be exchanged for money
or provisions This bold soldier is re-
puted to have made a fortune in the
sale of confiscated haciendas and
vouchers. under his martial direction
cathedrals and converts and private
dwellings were pillaged of gold. silver
and jewels. This plunder. which filed
SIX large cedar chests. was melted,
packed in small bulk and shipped to
New Orleans. ROBBED in priest1y vest
ments and carrying the holy eucharist,
(N0Tn77nJ TQncraYc I1J +,.;-,
cession through the streets of Grenada.
Altogether his career among the fill
busterers was that of a dashing mill
tary man. chary to brook an insult or
forgive an injury His picturesque.
medieval bravery won him devoted fol-
lowers. Few. if any, of his companions
in arms suspected his early history.
Nevertheless. the trophies did not
shield him wholly from the memory of
the past. Recognizing in one of the
youthful followers of the army, the son
of q man who had testified against him
in the Martha Washington case,
trumped up charge, shot down in cold
blood.
At the collapse of the Nicaragua war
Kissane caused to he published in the
papers accounts of the heroic death OF
Colonel William King Rogers Mean
while he escaped from San Juan del
Sur to Panama on board the United
States sloop.of war St Marys. Captain
Davis. But the taste for carnage was
still unsatisfied.
IN SEARCH OF THE GOLDEN
FLEECE.
On the Frazer river. British Column
bia, 5000 miles from railroad or tele-
graphic communication with the past,
the soldier of fortune now delved into
the bowels of the earth He had the
Midas touch. With bags of gold dust
he soon sought Sacramento, where he
invested in real estate. embarked in
business and was quickly recognized as
a shrewd. spirited and popular citizen.
Then came the Gold hill excitement.
fhe merchant sUccumbed to the adven-
Lurer. Rogers again wooed fortune in
the mines, with his usual luck.
He retired with fortune. Shun-
ming large cities. where the past might
confront him. he purchased a maenifi-
cent country seat in Sonoma county.
SIX miles from the little town of Peta-
una. This was in 1863. Henceforth
t was the object of his life to make
his seat the most beautiful spot in the
and of roses
AISSANE'S SENTIMENTAL WOES.
At the time of the Martha Washing
on exposure Kissane was about to
marry young and beautiful girl. the
laughter of a leading farmer of cen
raj Kentucky. The feast was ready.
he bride in marriage raiment. when a.
etter from the bridegroom was re-
;elVed, pleading unavoidable delay; at
the same time the father was in
ormed of the criminal charges against
lis prospective son-in-law. The young
5irl sunk under the blow. For wears
she was confined in a private SAM
arium. Travel in foreign lands fol-
owed, and when fully restored to
health and interest in life she married
prominent statesman of the north
vest.
Nowhere throughout the career of
his remarkable man is he charged
With dishonorable or unchivalric con
iuct towards women. The brightest
oage in his checkered career opened at
when he became deeply
namored of beautiful southern girl
II accomplishment and birth She re-
ected his advances to wed Edward J.
saunders, fellow companion in arms.
After the war Saunders and hiss bride
vent to California, where in the SOS
lie was prominent lawyer and poll |
lc1an. When Rogers reached the Pa
ific drawn thither, mayhap. by the
memory of the early love, he found his /
Id rival brutalized by drink, and his |
wife and two children impoverished.
he wife was forced to seek a divorce. /
n all her marital woes she found a
ubstantial and loyal friend in her
arly lover. On the death of Saunders.
Rogers married his widow and brought
Ter to his beautiful Sonoma home. !
7here for thirty odd years it has been /
ne study of his life to surround her +
nd their six children with every lux |
ry and happiness and conceal from |
hem al KNOWLEDGE of his mast LC,1-i 4