The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15

had TO wear n uniform Of light gray
lineni coat and trousers, already .lnT,s z v Tosn
need of such things was over, and a greasy cap
with a big black tSsscl. We were armed with
brother, having been an officer in Europe, was
ranked as Lieutenant. and | was attached 70 MS
command, We had two meals a day o re- bn,si
OF Brazilian beans. burned half 81 the Time, q
plate of rice, AMI dried meat boiled, With a Dig
plate of farina. Probably the best way 10 eat
that stun 10 TO put a coat Of the farina in your
plate. then some beans, rico ana meat, ana
hsgs H. .Ff n; d mI1 II eli Sii, t % fare w Sse o1 a"SiS The
same. Army fonts were utterly unknown. anu
I'VE MAD 20 build our own she, nsI,s WIN ,he sH adrdli
was our pillow and mother earth our bed.
one morning about 10 o'clock we reGeiVSu
gents were supposed to be in hiding, and a de-
tachment of fourteen cavalrymen, under my
brother's omman was sent forward. IN those
forests II was necessary to cut our way through
the millions of ltdnes hanging from tree 70 tree,
chance whatever to send out either scout or adj
vanced guard to protect our little force. we
entered the woods and kept TO the rear with
should come we would turn back and try to es.
cape, endeavoring to reach a plantation. and
from there make our way to the nearest consular
station. After half AL hour In the thick wood y
heavy firing opened on us to the right and leftof
as best he could in a ravine a few feet wide and
rode for dear life. About eight OF us got out
joicing over the prospect OF n chance to run
away when down upon us came about nifty In
surRent cavaliers trying to cut of our retreat.
AT ms brothers command all scattered. each
choosing his own direction. l followed my
brother as fast as my horse would carry me-,
Suddenly my horse was shot down and I took q
plunge OF twenty feet. landing in the erase. My
me up. and 1 rode on behind until his horse
also fell. shot In the shoulder. All we had
s 40 d a feRo,vs spr wiaS ssre wis shot, w left. our i relied i%Gr 0a
my brother In that supreme moment to act as
he thought best. and standing shoulder to
ten yards from us one Of them levelled his gun,
and we answered by shooting down two Of
down upon us with drawn ssbres. Ny brother
faced two OF them. All could do was to defend
ceiIved a sWord thrust I" through the right arm.
and we surrendered. They tied our hands
s Ss@ b s5Sngh m,r ps t. %e tive %ers saT 1Bm sfIsr a
little ceremony. we were court martialled.
fortress to be exchanged later, and /. together
with fourteen other unfortunates. was sentenced
did all he could to save me. He told them that
we were forced into the army. that we were
either side; but his pleading was without result.
and he was sent away to his destination with
some other prisoners o%, taken the day before; l
brother. and | managed to write a sad farewell
to my dear mother and gave It to my brother to
mail at the first opportunity. After kissing
once more ono | never expected to see again. we
parted. That being done, l tried to prepare my
self courageously to meet my doom.
the next day, and we were, kept in a small mud
open door. I sat in the mud recalling my past
sad felt l cannot tell. AS ! was silently sob
iry 70 escape: las well be shot TODAY, trying
after hearing his plans, two others and myself
decided to join, him. Nearly, in tho middle Of
small river. running toward the woods. the
border of which was thicky crown with bushes
and abounded In serpents. The man who pro-
and knew the country well. He gave
us. our instructions as follows; He was to get
rid of the sentry at The door. and then we were
to run in different directions toward the river.
II we succeeded in reaching 1t we were to jump
in and hide ourselves in the bushes until dark.
then walk in the water toward the woods. where
we would wait for one another. Full of anxiety
and desperate in tina. bold attempt for freedom,
] addressed to God 6 last prayer and my
thoughts to my mother.
All being settled-it was then about s P. NJ
powered. and all four of US ran the race for life.
] passed right among,a dozen soldiers lying on
| took a desperate leap over the bushes and
went head first into the water with a bullet
s MSu WITH an NM my h sna' a i Goe o on1 OF , i" ' We, eank s aaa
tries with loaded guns were keeping watch on
the border OF the stream and every noise was
followed by a volley of bullets. Luckily ! was
crawled on hands and knees until 1 reached tho
woods and hid myself. Near morning the half
breed joined me, and we were the only ones that
got away. One of our companions was shot be-
fore he reached the water and the other was
wounded ana recaptured.
We started through the woods to reach a
plar'I;."n and It took us four days. We lived
on wild fruits and cocoanuts. and once. pressed
by hunger. we ate some monkey flesh. / shall
never forget those four days and the s!eepless,
wretched nights. beset with venomous insects
and serpents, our clothes In rags. and we hardly
able to walk. AT last we reached q plantation
and were kindly received. They gave US food
and clothes and conveyed US from plantation to
plantation till We reached q city. After getting
Consul. told him OF my adventures and he
was very kind to me. and ] stayed In his house.
Immediately wrote to my mother of my es-
cape and sent a cableeram to my family In
enough to reach home. and. bidding farewell to
the kind old Consul and his family. ! started
for Europe. ! left Santos on the Royal Mail
touched at Rio de Janeiro. Bahia, and Pernam-
buco. where we received news of the surrender
of Admiral de Cana. From there we went TO
ST. Vincent Islands and the Grand Canaries.
We waited half a day In Lisbon, and after TAX
ing the mail at Vieo. Spain. we safely reached
Southam pton. I left tho next day for London,
and in the evening for the Continent. After re-
operating a few days among my relatives / re-
turned to England. and. being anxious to see my
mother and all to whom my mlshaps had given
such anxiety. ] embarked for Boston.
Every mother will understand the welcome
which ava ted me and how the fatted calf was
killed for my reception. am sure there comes
in tho life of every one some moment when tho
perfect charms Of Home. Sweet Home strike
to the heart and fill II too full for words. They
did, mine az saw my dear ones on the wharf,
and knew that | was safely out Of q most un-
lucky adventure.
Ola FLEET