Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-04-22

of Foreign Investment in Central
American Republics.
Brigadier General E. A. Lever of the
army Of Honduras is at the Grand
Central Hotel. General Lever is a SOL
der OF fortune-one OF the rare type
developed by the civil war in the Unit
ed states Like the knights of old, he
has followed war as a vocation. cham
plohing causes and helping to oyerturn
governments in various lands.
During his thirty years Of service
General Lever has participates in wars
In the United States. Mexico. Perm Co
ioninia' venezuela, and Hepduras, and
IN all but one of these wars he was
on the winning side. From the GOV
mage OF many battles he has emerged
wearing the scars of seven wonnds
and eight decorations from +ba CO..
ernments he has served. He still boIds
MS commission in the army ~ H.
duras, but with advancing wears he i
turning his attention to mora naoaa
aoie pursuits, and is at present enea
ed 10 trying to develop the grast
rlches OF which he saws Hondrras -
possessed. -
General Lever is a native Of Non,
YORK, and saw his first service as
captain in the army of tbe po+o,,,oa
during the civil war. He was wonndaS
IN the battle of Antietam. but recoy-
cred, and by the end of the war he
nad grown to enjoy the life of a soldier
with many other veterans of the civil
war, he Joined the Mexicans in their
opposition to the rule of MaximiIian
IN 1856, serving as a colonel in tho
Mexican army. For his services ba
received a decoration from the victor
lous government.
Peru was the next battle-ground of
| the soldier of fortune, and the war Of
the Liberal party to end the DONNA
ton of the church over the affairs of
the republic was the cause which at
tracted him. The war was fierce and
bloody. That was in 1868. and Lever
served with distinction as a Brigadier
General. The revolt of the liberals
against clerical rule spread through
out South America, and Lever follow
ed the wave Of war In 1872 he served
as division commander in the army
OF Colombia, and in 1874 as a division
commander in the army of Venezuela.
In all three of these wars the Lib
their governments, and the wars were
not child's play Often from 10000 to
70, 900 soldiers were lighting on each
side, and in one notable engagement,
which turned the tide of the Vene2ue-
Ian war. $4,000 Liberals defeated o.
600 clericals in a bloody battle. These
rebellions against church domination
constitute a thrilling epoch in the his
Of
America.
In 1876 Lever went again to Mexico
to join in the war brought about to
restore President Lerdo to power.
Lerdo had been deposed by President
Diaz, who still fills the Presidential
chair of Mexico, and rebellion against
the Diaz government was started along
the Texan border under the leadership
of General Manano. Lever served as
colonel, but Manano was defeated
and captured by Diaz, and his army
was driven across the border. Lever
and several other officers were arrest
ed by the Federal authorities for rails
ing troops in the United States for
the Mexican rebellion, but they escap-
ed prosecution.
Lever then went to New Orleans,
where he became the foreign
editor of the Times-Democrat and
was sent by the management
of the New Orleans centennial
exposition to Central America to
obtain exhibits from those republics
War; however, soon claimed him
again. When General Barrios attempt
ed to bring about a confederation OF
five South American republics by force
of arms, Lever Joined the army of
Honduras as colonel on the staff OF
General BogTan. At the end of the
war he was made Brigadier Geenral
of the regular army.
Honduras is a splepdid country for
young Americans who have little
money" said Geenral Lever yesterday.
There is no country where they can
do better. General Terrencio Sierra,
the President is man of fine educa-
ton and broad ideas, and is especial
ly to Americans"
Honduras has the richest gold
fields in the world, and all that is
needed to develop them is capital.
Under the 300 years of Spanish occu-
patton Honduras produced 1926. 900, 900
in gold, but since the establishment of
independence in 1921 the industry has
been neglected. With the improved
mining methods of to-day Honduras is
capable of producing more gold than
Alaska"
General Lever has written five books
during his life. OF these three were in
Spanish, political works concerning
the Mexican government. The other
two were in English. One, "Ysabelita.
or a Trip to the Land of the Maya"
the other was novel. but the founda-
ton of the work was the prehistoric
cities of the State of Yucatan. Mexico
The title was Central America, or the
Land of the CLUTCHES and Chontales'
The general said. while in New Or
leans, in 1884. he received a telegram
from President Rufno Barrios, of
Guatemala, requesting him to go to
Guatemala Immediately. Within
twelve days time he was in the capital
city aud the President, after saluting
him. told him he wished him TO write
a book, statistical and descriptive, of
the Central American republics. He
also asked that when the work was
published the General would give a
copy to the President of the United
States, at that time Grover Cleveland.
and to each member Of the cabinet.
President Barrios gave as his reason
for the request that he wanted them
TO know the truth of Central America
MY principal object in travelling