The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20

ever. the lad was confined with the other
prisoners on shore at Hong-Kong. in what
Hugh Jones describes as "a jail like a
corncrib."
Just what happened TO the other menu
bers Of the crew is not matter OF record.
he removed from the prison. was
taken on board the British man-of-war
again and sailed away on a long journey
around the Horn and up the Atlantic coast
of the Americas 10 the Gulf of Mexico.
The Britisher ha6 been ordered TO the
western Mexican ports to look out for
British interests during the Mexican war.
Just why the captain took the lad along
is not known except that his personal
fancy prompted him to save Hugh Jones
from the fate that seemed surely to await
the crew Of the uncles ship at Hong Kong.
At anv rate it was long. hard journey.
into the Gulf OF Mexico the lad was weary
OF the monotony OF the sea-
| Upon dropping anchor in port the crew.
upon being allowed ashore. found the city
| in possession of the United States troops
under the command of the doughty old
| commander General Zach" Taylor, later
destined to BECOME the President of the
| ficer also destined TO become President
Jefferson Davis. The rattle of drums and
the blare of trumpets. the gay trappings
| of the soldiers and the rumble OF the ar
| tillery all combined TO turn the head or
| the young sailor boy, and without waiting
| for the fornality of leavetaking from the
4
| the and became follower OF the
American army in Mexico.
| His adventures on the sea were still fresh
| in his mind, but the prospect of fierce
| fighting in the interior of the tropical coun-
| try had no terrOrs for the adventurous
| youth. General Taylor's army started out
on its campaign into the interior. and when
| the lad was discovered in camp at night
with the soldiers, he was sent 10 head
quarters. Not knowing what else to do
with him. and being in need of civilian
4 ixprp decided
| him his hostler, and from then until four
| days later the lad cared for the famous
| old gray charger which carried Zach
TO so many victories and was afterwards
picketed to pasture on the White House
| lawn while Its master and owner conducted
the affairs OF state for the growing but
| democratic Nation.
| FRIEND OF JEFF DAVIS.
Jefferson Davis. then a patriotic soldier
of Uncle Sam, took quite an interest in the
boy. and found for him a place In the sad
die of one OF the artillery mules. The
fourth day inland the army was met by a
Mexican officer who wished to negotiate
| for the conditional surrender of the point
which the American army was marching
/ to attack but General Zach" put off hear
| ing the messenger until after going into
camp that night. He was sent back with
out satisfaction. and the next day the army
| under Taylor was suddenly attacked.
At the first fire the mule which Hugh
Jones riding killed under him by
| bursting shell and the lad was sorelv
wounded. a ragged piece of the missile
| struck him in the side and he fell behind
| a huge rock. There he lay in semi-con-
scious condition with two ribs missing
| from his right side, and in great danger OF
| The American troops went to the charge
and in a trice the Mexicans were fleeing
for their lives. The battle was over; JEFF
| Davis was wounded in the shoulder, but
| he was not as solicitous for his own well
| fare as for the fate Of the sturdy little
Welsh lad who was missing. He sent a
| detail TO look for him and the soldiers
| found him behind the rock and carried him
| to camp.
Their wounds dressed. Jefferson Davis
| who WIS of Welsh descent, and Hugh
| Jones placed in the same ambulance
and the trip back TO tho coast began For
! four days the two truRdled over the rough
roads. with holes cut through the sides OF
! the canvas-covered ambulance TO let in
| what little breeze there might be. II was a
terrible trip but at last 1t was over. and
| with other wounded the two were sent TO
| New Orleans on a sailing vessel. From
| there Hugh Jones was sent to Cincinnati
on river steamer with twelve invalided
A temporary hospital until their wounds
had healed.
From that time until he returned to sea
the young adventurer spent his time a. a
1 workman in distilleries and learned the
business. He worked at various places i'm
southwestern Ohio, and later on a distil-
| lery established on a steamer on Lake
| Erie. During this time he saved enough
10 buy the fine farm on which he now
| lives, and finally married happily i'm Mar
ion. o. Leaving the distillery business he
went to live on his farm and but for the
| time he went travelling by sea for his
! health he has remained there very quietly.
| When General Zach Taylor was cam
| paigning for the Presidency OF the United
| States he visited Columbus. and there was
an affecting meeting between the great
candidate and his former hostler boy who
had cared for the old gray"
Mr.. Jones in his old age takes great in
| terest in his family and friends, and enc
! joys his days among them. He has great
sense Of humor and is given to jovial ban
teripg. His 1900 acres of improved land
/ in Kansas form a part OF his estate, but