Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-11-15
CAPTAIN KrDos OF TO-DAY.
Pirates More Daring and Fierce
Than Buccaneers of Old.

Pirates More Daring and FierCS
Than Buccaneers Of Old.
Nothing could be more erroneous than
10 suppose that romantic crime was at
an end when pirates and buccaneers,
who swore frightful oaths, wore stolen
gold lace and carried daggers between
their teeth, were driven off the seas.
There are thousands OF Captain Kidds
living and thriving today. If anything,
they are cleverer and braver than ne.
Carrying rifles to a tribe at war with
the British, over mountains or along
marshy rivers in a tropical country, is
every bit as trying work as was run
ming down a merchantmen and board
ing her when you had all the advan-
tages of arms and numbers on your
side
In Manila we shall have the modern
pirate in the full flower of his perfec-
ton; for Manila is near Hong Kong,
and Hong Kong is a sort Of general
headquarters for all the pirates of the
far east There they can live be-
tween times when they are not on the
warpath, and, enjoying the luxuries
of white mans hotel, hatch out new
schemes of adventure.
Though he fiourishes best in the
countries where white men govern saw
age races, we have the pirate at home.
There is a suggestion of him in every
cowboy, and he still flourishes grandly
in the neighborhood of the Mexican
border. In most of the revolutions IN
the South American republics he has
played a star part. If he is paid well
he will serve under the banner of law
and order, though he prefers the other
side He has been a paid employe of
the governments of the great European
powers again and again, and we may
have use for him in the Philippines.
You will find groveling towards in
Hong Kong who have ever false word
on their lying tongues. They are the
agents and go-betweens. The real pi-
rates who have physical courage do the
work and take the risks.
In all, it is estimated that OF the
population of the great civilized ceun-
tries five millions live as parasites, pure
and simple. These are poachers, and
thieves, smugglers, burglars and the
like. Those who take great physical
risks are comparatively few. They are
the gentlemen of the calling. They
play for big game, and. as a rule. they
would no more be guilty of petty crime
than a banker.
FORTUNES FOR ADVENTURES.
Like the pirates of old, they may
bury their treasure, but they seldom
retire. Their life is as fascinating to
them as the stage to an actor One OF
the exceptions is man living in Paris
today on the increment of the money
be earned by fomenting rebellion
against the French in China. He is
most patriotic Frenchman. He holds
many government bonds, and he be-
leves in the army and in hanging
Dreyfusards. The wonder OF it is that
he is not a member of the chamber
Of Deputies.
eff l were poor again I could make a
fortune in two years" is one OF his
little sayings. "All it requires is a
little spirit
LIE Clerc, who recently died, was a
good example of the European adven-
turer who is up to date. Captain Kidd
led a humdrum life beside his. 1t was
amazing that he lived to be so, and that
he carried only four bullet wounds al
the time Of his death. BY birth he was
4 Belgian In his early voyages with
his father, a travelling salesman, he
learned most of the languages of Eu-
rope, and developed the tastes OF the
wanderer His career as a grand ad-
venturer was begun as a spy for the
Germans in the FrancO-Prussian war.
Toward the last he came near being
shot on the charge of playing both
sides for what they would pay him.
Str" he said to Won Moltke, 81 have
been the victim of an unfortunate chain
of circumstances. 1t can easily be
proved if 1 am false to you. l will
show you the weakest points in the
Notifications of paris which have been
constructed since Sedan. If what
say turns out TO be untrue after you
have made an assault. l submit" His
information turned out to be correct.
During the war La Clerc met half
Drained Russian who had plan with
millions in it. He proposed to fit out
an expedition for gold mining in north
ern China, where rich placer deposits
are known TO exist. The pair got a
ship in Hong Kong and disembarked
at vladivcstock. in Russia. The Rus
sian officials winked at their endeavors.
They gathered up another hundred ad-
venturers, with the hundred they al
ready had, and started on their way.
La Clerc had great gift of talk. and
he made friends with mandarin. who
told him to go ahead on the basis that
80 per cent of whatever he got was to
be turred in to the government, the
government being the mandarin. Of
course. The mandarin had a great
deal of gold and great many precious
stones in his palace. and Le Clerc' s
1t, ~ ,@rScn T-CNlN