Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25
THE SIGNAL CAME
+ ff
A Christmas Day Incident in South
America.
TIE READYHELP fHE BLUEJACKErs
How Uncle Sans Boys Saved Life
-
and Prevented BIoodshed.
A LONG, ANXIOUS NIGHT

By Commander F. W. Dickns, UsN.
Pacing up and down the quarter deck of
the Tan-of-war which I had the honor and
pleasure to command in 1888, beneath the
widespread awnings. the holiday air aboard
the ship alcne gave evidence of its being
Christmas day. Jack, in his mastering
clothes, no drills, no work; almost as quiet
as the scene which met MY eyes as eazed
about upon the broad stretches of the Rio
de la Plata, showing more gold than silver
beneath the hot rays Of the summer sun:
the low-lying, green and fertile banks of
the Uruguay country, their monotony onIy
broken here and there by clumps of trees
or low white house, until enc came to the
quaint gray town GROWING a point that
stood out boldly into the waters. Very old
and picturesque is the quaint little town OF
Colonia del Sacramento and built with
such narrow streets that one wonders If
tne original european settlers were afraid
to transgress the bounds of the Indian
camp which formerly occupied the site
Hoping to celebrate the day in some Way
before noon l went ashore, seeing and
nearing nothing to disturb the serenity OF
the day. until I had walked up the short
stone pier and came to the entrance of the
little stone-paVed plaza.
Scene of Strife.
There found blood everywhere upon the
pavement, and especially near a small cor
ner shop, where it had splashed upon the
walls as well. The iron-work gates of the
police barracks were closed and barred,
with two fully armed men as sentinels
showing within Usually these gates stood
Hospitality wide open, with only a few men
off duty to be seen lounging near them,
resting, or, If busy at all, 1t would be only
in making and drinking mate. An excited
crowd was in nearby street, and l was
soon Informed that men had been killed
ana were In the barracks. Going to the
house of our consul, 1 learned that the two
sons of the jefe politico. or governor of the
province. had, in the absence of their IA
Their, taken the law into their own hands
or rather, made law, as there was none to
cover the injury done their family by the
man who had left his refuge in Argentina
and ventured home. They had attacked
and killed him on the plaza, for which no
one blamed them. but they had also killed
his brother-in-law, who happened to be
with him, ard as this latter was a good
man, father of large family, and popular,
the populace wished to get the two young
men and deal out speedy punishment. When
in the plaza and the police had gathered
them in, as well as numerous weapons
The attacking parties We're only wounded
the other two were dead.
Fear of n Revolution.
The first official who represented the gov
errmeEt was in great fear that he could
rot protect the sons of his chief and all
whom 1 saw feared an outbreak and revo-
luton, as crowds were about, and they
We're painting red crosses on the doors OF
the houses of the young mems friends.
The first official sent. for me and wanted
me to protect lives and property. He
asked for twenty-five men. 1 debated the
matter with him, and urged him to help
himself. IL possible; but he showed me how
few men he had-only enough to patrol
peaceful streets. Finally, after talking the
matter over with our consul 1 went on
board, got twenty-five marines in a boat
and brought them to the wharf. Then,
keeping them still in the boat, 1 again
talked with the gentleman, and finally he
said he would be satisfied if l would prom
Use to send them in case he made signal
the rest of the day walking about the
streets and at our consul's. Things still
looked squally when l went off at dusk,
but dinner was eaten in quiet, and a
group OF US were smoking our cigars on
deck afterward, all seemed so still we
hoped for the best. The men were swing
ing In their hammocks, dreaming, fancy.
CT home or plum duff. and we were about
to follow their example, when the signal
for help came sounding over the waters.
aulcA kteSpOhbes
In fifteen minutes twenty-five marines,
armed and equipped, were in the boats,
and the officer in command had his written
Instructions to keep well within cover, be-
gin nothing, but, If attacked, tc defend the
American consulate and the wounded.
They pulled away in the darkness; then
a Calling gun and ball and cartridges for
company Of bluejackets was prepared,
and we spent the rest of the Christmas
night with open ears, watching and wait
ing. In the morning news came that
a crowd had filled the plaza during the
night and alarmed the town. They held
sway until our men were seen landing on
the wharf. Then silence reigned, and as
the little body who looked so like business
marched along nothing was heard but
their tramp and the few necessary orders
to direct their course. They disappeared
within the building, and the crowd grad
side the town and staying there until the
next day, when a steamer came from
Montevideo, bearing Uruguayan troops.
My men came back, with the thanks of the
officials, martial law was proclaimed, and
the wounded men sent to Montevideo for
treatment. Thus were lives saved, peace
kept and a sister republic helped over a
ships being at hard. No one could have
foreseen the difficulty, and the Uruguay
ans, like ourselves, kept small regular
force which cannot always be everywhere.
To save life, to keep the peace, to be
strong arm to aid the civil law, has always
seemed to me the greatest privilege of a
trained military force, and this is why I
gave my aid that Christmas day long ago.