The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-02

MOST FAMOUS OF SWORDSMEN
Romantic Career of an Aged Visitor to
the City of Mexico.

Romantic Career of an Aged Visitor to
the City Of Mexico.
A celebrated parsonage in the history
of Mexico has arrived in this city in
the person of Colonel Thomas M. Mon
stery, who has figured the principal
events that have taken place In this
country since as far back as 1859.
| Colonel Monastery Is an American by
birth. having been born in the city of
Baltimore, of Danish and Irish parents.
He bears the honor OF being the cham
pion swordsman of the continent, and
wears medal awarded by the Mexican
government on the 1st of March, 1868,
Tor haxing defeated the famous French
Captain, Poupard, who was at that time
instructor In fencing and foiling In the
| army of Mexico. On the same day he
won laurels by defeating all the cham
pions of the army with sabres, knives,
knives against sabres and bayonets.
that at the time We're shining lights In
the handling Of the above weapons.
Captain Monastery entertained Gene
raj Diaz at the Palmer House some six
teen years ago in Chicago, the only
visit paid by the president of this re-
public to the United States, and when
word came that the colonel was In the
city Herald reporter called on him to
get short account Of his experiences.
AS above stated, he first came to
Mexica in 1859, at that time having the
command of cavalry under General
Jose Maria Melo Of the liberal party, at
variance with the church faction.
England since 1855 in Guatemala and
San Salvador in the many ups and
downs of the stormy events of those
days, he crossed the frontier to the
state of Chiapas with General Melo, and
was made commander of the cavalry Of
that state About this time the state
was invaded and ravaged by the church
party, under General Juan Ortega and
on the 1st of June, 1860, Melo was taken
prisoner and executed by General Or
tega, Colonel Monastery escaping over
the border into Guatemala The latter
returned Immediately afterward to EN-
gage in a fight of revenge and retribu-
ton. but was badly wounded by lance
thrust and sword cut, his horse being
killed under him. While lying on the
ground an attempt was made by one of
the other side to stab him to death, but
he varded the blow off with his right
hand. which now bears the scar of the
knife cut received at the time.
Colonel Monastery Is eighty-seven
Years of age. but does not look day
over fifty and is still wonderfully ath-
lotto and. with the exception of slight
w failing eyesight, is just about as
podo a swordsman as he ever was. He
is peculiarly modest about his achieve
ments, but when drawn out by congo
NAL company can relate stories that
would form the basis of volumes of ro- |
mantle history.
After the Cbiapas affair he started !
from the mouth of the Gri1alva river in |
the schooner Tallahassee, intending to !
sail to Vera Cruz and there join the |
liberal party of Mexico, but storms that |
could not be successfully commended
against drifted the vessel off her |
course, and a landing was made on the |
coast of Texas, just about the time the |
agitation was beginning over the civil |
war question. Monastery had at this |
time some ten thousand dollars in gold, |
out all was appropriated by the Off
7ials with the exception of two hun
lred dollars, under the then existing
avs relating to persons leaving Next
20 without the proper kind of papers.
However, he went on to New Orleans,
,ut almost Immediately drifted down
o South America, and from there, via
to the port of Acapulco,
where an attempt was made to reach
Mexico City to join the liberal forces,