The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-22
A DAREDEVIL
 FROM NEW YORK
O. JEFFRIEs, PANAMA,s NAVAL CHIEF, A BORN
 FIGHTER.
Has Been Engaged in Central Amer acan Revolutions for Seventeen Years--Narrow Escapes From Death-How He Avenged
 A Friend.


 New York Sun.
 lf is is ever written, the story of the life or Herbert O. Jeffries. commander of the Pacific fotilia of the new Panama Republic, will make the iurid tales of our Western scouts seem 1t only for the nursery said member Of the Geological Survey, who has spent con- siderable time in Central America. Tt was my privilege to be on terms of good Fellowship for several months with this dare devil soldier of fortune, and gathered suf- ueient information concerning his remarkable career in the turbulent Central American re- puhiics to satisfy me that he has not had q surfeit of the commonplace. Very little of this information was obtainahie from him, for, like many men of his peculiar type he was not given to talking about his own deeds.
 'Jeffries is New Yorker by birth. . gradu- ate of West Point and . natural born fighter He is an athletic blond. about feet Q in height. of calm and quiet temperament.
 In his seventen years in Central America he has been prominent factor in every impor- tant revolution in Guatemala. Salvador, Hon. duras and the United States of Colombia, lead ing the forces of the Government or the revo- iufionists with equal courage. and usually with success. It cannot be said that his rewards were ever commensurate with his works the adage. Republics are unsratefui.' proving true in his case
 "yeffries had stormy career in Guatemala under the first Basrios, . tyrant and despot. Several of the battles which he directed were Nt,s noN " No~s11 " uctulrfis huu Wefo xukt of slaughter.
 'In those fights. as in all others, Jeffries led his forces, a custom which, perhaps it is unnecesary to remark is uncommon in thoss countries. where craftsmanship Is not q strong point, and where the machete has mora prom inent placs in battle than the musket. You sec. your average Central American. being afraid of his gun. shuts his eyes as he pulls the trigger, and the commander in front stands . good chance of being perforated in the back
 lac fAfl ans ~~RkA ran< lied and price put on his head. He ned to Guatemala with Gen. P. P. Branncu, q I'd. doubtabie Pennsyivanian fighter.
 ''Both were welcomed by Don Luis Bogran, known as the Diax of Central America. then President. They planned the ambuscade whieh resulted in the daughter of nearly four hundred Guatemaian invaders.
 Under President Bogran's administration, Americans were strictly in it. Concessions were granted them for nearly everything they asked. and peace prevailed throughout the land.
 ''An American named Cecil was made admin. istrator of the telegraph lines; a virginian built the waterworks and wagon road to the Pacinc coast; a Louisianian was Chief of 20 lice. and Major Burke. once State Treasurer of Louisiana. managed the mineral resources.
 Among the Americans who focked to the capital at Tegucigaipa was . New Yorker named Palmer. polished gentleman, and the possessor of . magnificent barytone voice. Palmer and Ieffriss became chummy at once. and for months were inseparabie. Both were in demand at social functions Jeffries being ane tenor singer and passionately fond of music.
 'aThsir popularity reused the jealousy and envy of Cecil. who. while carefully avoiding Jeffrieg, constantly sought Q quarrel with Palmer. On the night of Presidential ball. Cecil. drunk and noisy. met Palmer In the barroom of the Picadiily Hotel. grossly insult- cd him, and then shot him dead. So powerful was cecirs influence that he was not even arrested
 "Jeffries was at Yuscaran. two days distant by the usual mode of travel, but he made the journey in twenty-four hours, killing two mules en route. He wired Cecil that he was coming to kill him.
 'when Jef1ries rode up to the hotel, fully twelve hours before he was expected. he found Cecil in the barroonn. surrounded by e number of native officers. boasting of what he would do to Palmers friend. Jeffries's entrance was the occasion of a stampede on the part of the natives. many of whom threw themselves head long out of the windows in their frantic ef- forts to escape the calm, determined looking man in the doorway. whose big revolver seemed to cover every man in the room.
 Two shots rang out almost together. Jeff fries strode into the yard, quietly mounted his mule and, without a look backward. rode away
 Cecil was found a few minutes later dead with a bullet in his heart. Just over the panel of the door through which Jeffries en- tered, on a line with his head, was the mark of Cecils bullet. It was duel to the death, and Palmer was avenged. There was no trial
 Peace proving tiresome, >Jeffrles and Bran non wandered over Into Salvador, where they engaged in railroad building. When Brannor presented a bill of 200. 900 pesos President Ezeta, Lion of the Frontier and the biggest robber that ever went unhung. promptly ar- rested them and sentenced both to bo shot.
 They were chained to a stake in the quartet yard, and doomed to die at sunrise. In some manner, which neither would ever explain, they extricated themselves and clambered over the wall.
 ''on stolen mules, they started in the dark ness for the Honduras border. Before daylight in hot pursuit.
 ''Near the border Brannon's mule was killed. and he received a bullet in the thigh. Jeffriei strapped him to his own mule, and in the darkness they crossed tho line Into Honduras, where they were safe. It was i've days before Brannon received proper medical care.
 ''In 1898. under the rule of the benevolent old Don Ponciano Leiva. his nephew. Nuiiia, started a revolution at TruAiilo. and Jeffries was sent out with a small party to capture the rebel. The task proved an easy one. and Nullla was captured in a narrow mountain pass in less than a week. losing only a few men.
 From Honduras to the United States of Co., lon1bia was only a short step for Jeffries His work in behalf of the Government last year is quite well known.
 He came to New York two years ago end