Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-06

number of vessels moored to buoys, he
was not observed. But so many peo-
ole were astir along the water front
that he dared not approach any of the
landing-stairs at the foot of the prin-
cipal streets. For as much as an hour
he watched and waited, holding on by
the small hawser of a fishing vessel,
and much pestered all the while by
shark which kept swimming around as
| if much interested in him.
When the sharks patience gave out,
Diaz nerved himself to swim to a cove
below the town, and although the dis
tance was fully two miles, he succeed
ed in reaching it and landing undis.
covered in a swamp. Amidst the tall
marsh grass he passed the first night
of his return to his native land.
Some Indian muleteers chanced to
come that way in the morning, and
feeling sure of the goodwill of these
simple folk, he joined them and jour
neyed with them into the interior of
the country.
The story of General Diaz's subse-
uuent adventures is part of the histo-
ry of Mexico. Strenuous efforts were
made to capture him on the part of
Lerdo's government, and at one time
he was hidden for five days on the
roof of the United States consulate.
As soon, however, as his friends, the
Liberals, were made generally aware
of his return, they rallied to his stand
ard and victory quickly crowned bis
attempt to regain control of public
affairs.
Meantime, content to have done a
good action for its own sake, Sands
the purser continued to hold his posi-
ton on board the City of Havana, and
several years passed before he visited
the City of Mexico, the distance from
Vera Cruz to the capital being an en-
tire days journey by rail. 1t was not
often, indeed, that. he could get away
from the steamer during her brief 30
journ in port.
At length it happened that the ves-
sci was delayed at Vera Cruz for 10 or
12 days; and the purser improved the
opportunity by paying brief visit to
the famous old City of Mexico.
The grand scenery of that journey
by rail up from the coast to the plateau
of Mexico, past the snowy peak of
Orizaba, is a spectacle not soon to he
forgotten, and was not without its
effect on the mind of the purser.
When at length, as evening drew on,
the train reached the capital in the
historic Valley of Tenochtitlan, and
he had driven to the Hotel Iturbide, a
curious sense of lonesomeness oppress-
ed him, for he knew no one In the city.
He even confesses to feeling of home
sickness as he sat alone in his room
that evening.
Suddenly his ear caught the sound
of many footsteps and jingle of
spurs, or scabbards, in the corridor
outside, followed by sharp rap at the
door.
The purser was startled. He had
expected no visitors. Rather cautious
i ly, therefore, he opened the door
little to see who had knocked 80 per-
emptorily.
A group of eight or ten officers in
full uniform, wearing their side.arms,
stood in the passage! For an instant,
fear that he had been mistaken for
some criminal, or conspirator against
the government, flashed across the
purser's mind. Yet, even with his
first glance at the faces of his martial
visitors, he noted that the countenance
of the officer standing in advance Of
the others was not wholly unfamiliar !;
also that a smile, as of recognition
and pleasure, had lighted his features.
-"Senor Sands, you cannot have for
gotten your guest of the little ward
robe!" he exclaimed; and the next
moment, springing through the door
way, he flung both arms about the pur-
ser in q truly fraternal embrace.
Then turning to his officers, he ex'
claimed: "Senores, there stands the
man to whom I owe my life and every
one of US owes his present position !"
1t appears that it was then the Gus.
tom of President Diaz to have intel
ligence brought to him of the arrival
of foreigners in the City of Mexico /;
and in this case he was not slow to
recogize in list of such names that
of his American friendin-need.
1t is a little to say that Sands no
longer felt himself a stranger in Mexi-
co. From that moment he was the
presidents guest.
Something more than hospitality was
included with General Diaz's lgrati-
tude; for the Mexican patriot ruler,
like General Grant, is man who new
er forgets his friends. Before the pur-
ser returned to Vera Cruz, General
Diaz had prevailed upon him to accept
the position of consul-general under
his government, to one of the most
important capitals of Europe.
There and in that capacity, he served
the Mexican republic for many years.
While write he fills the same office in
the city of San Francisco; and his
real name can be learned by any read
er who will examine the consular reg
lister. CHARLES ADAMS.