New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-13
By Guy H. Scu11

lived an American revolution
Isl whose reputation rested chiefly on his
own stories OF ms achievements and his IN
questioned ability 10 shoot straight with al
old fo-tv-flve callber revolver As to whether
g- not this man was q bluff, opinion IN san
lose was divided The stories he told be
rraved such marvellous ingenuity that he was
naturally suspected OF living. On the other
hand. his exhibitions Of urfailing nlarksman-
ship on Sunday afternoons when he used to
SIT On MS doorstep and shoot OF the neCks OF
bottles across the street afforded continual
testimony TO the excellence of his gJ1nplav.
Let the reader decide by the following tale
Il this man was really professional or merely
a boastIul amateur
Circumstances, unfortunately prohibit the
mention OF his name L IS permissible TO say,
however. that he married well 10 do Costa
Rlcan glrl who inherited . large stock ranch
n The neighborhood Of san Jose Thus for
considerable time the American lived a quiet,
cCntented life. telling ms stories and shooting
a bottles. and letting Il be generally under
stood that after decidedly adventurous
career he had now settled down
But one dav he received = message from one
OF his former boon companions Who was then
a Captain n the Nicaragua army. stationed at
Castillo Rapids on the san uan River. Tins
stream affords the only means OF CCnmunlCa-
ton between the Lake OF Nicaragua and the
Caribbean Sea. Also. when the river IS low,
freight must be carried round the bad places,
OF which the rapids Al Castillo Is the worst.
The message stated that certain mail bags
filed with specie could be easily captured Al
the carry Al Castillo. and that the Captain had
planned 70 start revolution 70 lend proper
dignity 70 the theft Herewith he invited
his old cor-ade n arms To JON MIN.
Despite ms prgtestations To the contrary.
the American Of san Cse evidently needed
no further inducerHenC 70 leave his treslde,
and. rllstllng some Of the wilder spirits among
the cowboys 81 his wlte's ranch, he set forth
that same afternoon on his hundred-1llle ride
across the mountains.
A-noon On the third dav, when the American
and his band We're riding down the slope OF
the range INTO the valley OF the san Juan,
they saw coming toward them on foot be
1raggled specimen 81 humanity whose apparel
still indicated plainly that he was 4 soldier N
the Nicaragua army The soldier told the
story q how the plot had been discovered
by the Government representative. no" the
Captain had been captured and thrown INTO
-a-l. and how he. the soldier had managed
10 escape al the risk OF his HE 10 warn the
arr1raacllng American.
jlue 81 the cowboys OF the band relates N
his broken language how their leader sat ms
horse during the soldiers recital. wearing an
expression OF the deepest disappointment and
-hag-ln. Then al At once he was seen 10
smile with the utmost satisfaction. and IN
stead Of returning II haste across the noun
-aI1ls % the utter surprise Of his following
the leader proceeded toward Castillo.
When the American reached the town he
presented himself Immediately 70 the repre-
sentative OF the Government OF Nicaragua
With much language and many gestlcula-
lions he informed that official that he was q
humanitarian at heart and that ms desire 10
maintain the stability of all Governments
amounted nearly % a passion with hIIn- lie
,aiG that having heard OF tins dasJardly plot,
.ad being close At hand IN san Jose, he had
hurried across the mountains with what force
le had been able 70 collect 70 lend whatever
assistance he could 10 the threatened Gov
.rnnent OF the sister Republic
The Official was much affected by the no
,Illrv Of purpose that had actuated the
American TIE Government also was greatly
Effected when II received the Official report
cor ms devotion 70 humanity and ms m
ended services. they voted the American 50
a reward that he was able 10 retire
rom business for the rest Of his HE
General Uubc's Feat
IKE kondratchuillo III the defense Of Port
= Arthur and kodama II the Japanese cam
,aign II Manchuria, General Rafael Tribe
Tr1be chief Of staff 10 General Vargas Santos,
urlng that long last desperate revolt III
'9lornbia was ever regarded As the brains OF
he revolutionary army But II addition 10
IS being the master mind IN control OF the
,1,r..-,- movements Tribe performed sew