Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-12-07
FOUGHT ALL HIS LIFE.
Soldier of Fortune Who Served Under
Eighteen Flags

Ef9nteen Flags
Henry Ronald Douglas MacIver, a
real soldier of fortune who had fought
under Is flags in his lifetime, escaped
the perils of thousand battles, skirN
mishes and sieges, only to die peace
fully in his bed. He was found dead
in his room at his home in New York
city recently. He was sc years old.
Probably no other man in the world
had had SO adventurous career or
had seen war in so many of it's phases,
for his sword had been drawn in Eu-
rope, the United States, Asia, Central
America, and South America He had
held almost every rank, from ensign
to major general, and he had been
wounded SO many times that he boast
ed that he couldn't count the scars
MacIver's earliest dreams were of
battles. Born on shipboard in Ameri-
can waters OFF the Virginia coast of
American parents, he began his ca.
reer of adventure at the age of II
years, when he was sent to his uncle,
Donald Graham, in Scotland. This
uncle was retired general officer,
who drilled him severely and gave
him a military education. 1t was in
should secure an appointment to West
Point, but when the time came Mac
liver was anxious to see real fighting
at once, and friends of his family sue
ceeded in securing him an appoint
ment as ensign in the East India serv-
ice of the Sepoys. This was at the
time of the mutiny, and the young en-
sign was an eye witness of many of
the friahtful atrocities committed by
the natives.
Every soldier in the Service saw
hard fighting, and MacIver had his
share. His career came near ending
at that early age. During a skirmish
at the siege of Jhansi MacIver became
separated from his troop, and while
attempting to rejoin his companions
he was attacked by two Sowars- His
perfect mastery of the sword saved
him. With cut of his saber he slew
one of the natives and then fought
hand-to-hand fight with the other,
whom he quickly killed The next
minute seven Sowars attacked him.
One of the natives hit at him with a
tulwar, cutting through the young
officers topee and into his skull. His
companions found him lying on the
battlefield among the dead and wound
ed He was so near death that they
thought it scarcely worth while to
take him to the hospital. But, al
though he suffered for months, his
youth and his strong constitution
pulled him through.
When MacIver was able to get
about the East India company was at
an end and the mutiny suppressed
The tales of the deeds of valor done
by Garibaldi and his soldiers in the
war for Italy's independence filed
him with a desire to fight under the
patriot. With several other young
sters, the young man went to Italy
and found the red-shirted army at
Calabria. He was made a lieutenant
and served until Garibaldi's victories
were won. For his service he was
decorated with the cross of Savoy
MacIver's next service was with the
confederate army. His parents were
Virginians and he easily obtained
1ieutenant's commission He fought
under Stonewall Jackson in all the
early fighting in Virginia, was in the
battles of Fort Royal, Cross Keys,
Fort Republic. and Gaines mill He
was wounded three times in the seven
days fighting around Richmond,
WHICH 0nQSQ A1COlSlidA QSlCdl-
He was wounded and captured at the
battle of Manassas.
After his exchange he returned to
the confederate army to remain I'M
til the end Then he fed to Mexico
and took service under Macmillan as
a lieutenant colonel
At the close of the war MacIver re-
turned to Scotland, where he learned
of the revolution of the Cretans
against the Turks, this being one of
the many that had been in progress
before that in which Greece aided the
island in securing its Independence
MacIver ran the blockade, reached
Crete, fought in the rebel ranks, and
received a commission as colonel of
the rebels, with permission to organ
ize a regiment in Scotland There
were many Cretan sympathizers in
Scotland, and he had no trouble get
ting together a body of men, but the
Turkish ambassador succeeded in pre-
venting their departure MacIver and
two others went to Greece, intending
to capture a Turkish gunboat in the
harbor of Piraeus. But on their ar
rival they learned that the revolution
had been crushed
MacIver's next service was with the
Cubans, in the ten years war When
the rebellion was crushed he escaped
from Cuba in an open boat, without
sail or provisions He was picked up