The Republican journal., 1897-10-28
sightseeing in Costa Rica's Capital.

y
ia the Street de Artillera, two blocks
from the national palace. Four square
t9wcrs, one at each angle, defend the
uemiSes, the walls are perforated for
niskets, and the quadrangular court in
~de is spacious enough for drilling 800
men at once. Under a shed at one side
Ae a couple of 13-pounders, and several
1tld- pieces of smaller calibre. Most of
tAese old fashioned guns were cast in
ugland, shipped way around Cape
II, IT'D and hauled up the hills from Punta
4fanas by herds of oxen. The infantry
tracks thanking the cathedral on the
zlt is long, white building, two
ries high, with heavy balcony over
auSing the street and red tiled roof
~uBting several feet beyond the front
wall The balcony is broken by lofty,
uhed gateway, before which hungry
king sentinels are pacing up and down,
ht and day. They are clad in ragged
ION and sandals of untanned ox-hide,
anife or pistol in his belt, and rusty
sword bangles by his side. Notwith-
uding its somewhat imposing exterior,
.t,tything inside the barracks looks cheap
faded, its one redeeming feature be-
he sala de Banderas, Hall of Flags. y
tle latter apartment the most interest
ii 10
naturally the relics and trophies of
famous Fillibuster war. large glass
l>e, handsomely gilded and paneled,
ltains the torn and sooty fragment of
lie flag that waved over Fort Castillo
uAen held by the brave little band of
STA Ricans. On one of the panels the
flowing inscription appeared in golden
tiers: ''On the 10th of February, 1857,
tae National Flag which tloated over the
wills of Fort Castillo during the siege,
4ether with the name of the superior
acers who defended it, were deposited
this urn, by order of His Excellencv,
.e President of the Republic. Don Jose
ltael Mora. Eternal honor to the heroes
liza defended the castle Of San Juan
The opposite panel bears these words:
IN the 18th of February, 1857, four
anled Fillibusters, under command of
so-called Colonel Titus, attacked the
isrie of San Carlos, which was in a
apldated state and garrisoned only by
men. But, animated by the brave
-ouel Don George F. Cauty, and the
Ithy Commandment of the fort, Colonel
p>tine Montez de Vica, the little garri-
heroically resisted the enemy until the
of the month, on which date ~
Atmen, under command OF Captain
esus Alyarado, and Don Joaquin Ortiz,
"au had been sent to the relief of the
Il. fell upon the Fillibusters with so
eh bravery that they dispersed them in
instant, compelling them to throw
Way their clothes that they might fly
rA greater ease. This brilliant feat of
MS, planned SO admirably by General
'an Josa Joaquin Mora, decided the
pPy issue of the Holy War, which was
-rained by the Central American Re
.ies against their invaders. -
fortunately, history does not cor
earate all this surprising statement, as
school-boy knows, though vein of
th runs through it. Everywhere along
ese coasts traces may be found of the
Hccaneers Of the Sixteenth and Seven
zenith Centuries, who ravished the land
.- robbed the treasure ships of Spain.
"" little port is SO insignificant that
LAS not some traditional tale of
nor pertaining to those stormy times;
.ad in this portion of Central America
aujnders of modern fillibusters from the
led States are quite as common. This
a7 the fayorite tramping ground of that
9rious young adyenturer, William
tlker, who created such sensation here
'out 40 years ago. Every Indian here
Nuts has some tale to tell of hair breadth
apes from Los Americanos malos-
hose bad Americans" Walker and his
lowers. Poor Walker, who met with a
lent death so early in his career, was
lbtless more of a crank than villain.
ooyish imagination was first fired bv
epicious literature of the 'sWild Vest
ler and his mental balance became un-
nged with desire to rival his favorite
4'roes, from Ivanhoe down to ''Billy. the
sid" He was a Tennesseean by birth.
4Id while yet in his twenties, organized
a armed expedition for the conquest of
Tue Mexican State, Sonora. For a long
me he was unable to evade the vigilance
! the local authorities, who were deter
-iined to enforce the neutrality laws of the
nted States; but in October of 1853, he
managed to sail with small band of fell
@w spirits, and landed at LaPaz, on the
sootheastern shore of the Mexican Terri
ory known as Baja, Nower) California.
Tough he received considerable re-en-
fcements from time to time. and for
sayeral months kept up an immense furore
mong the restless element which is al
Ways ready for any expedition that prom
Ses loot and excitement, lack of funds
'mpelled him to disperse his party be-
4r., ~ hi, g L. !