The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-04-22
nounced as insurrectos. and nroceede

1t was something of a comic opera
war, resulting in two or three Skin
mishes wherein ill-equipped and poorly
differed paisanOs were pitted against
regular troops of the line, and as we
received from Bolivia no more sub
stantial aid than vague promises. our
resistance, though rather stubborn
was soon overcome. When the final
wild stampede for safety came | dis
covered myself, as quartermaster gen
eral of the late revolutionary forces.
still in possession OF a considerable
sum Of money, to which no one else
possessed any better claim, the I'm.
healed scar Of Chilean bullet in my
shoulder, and an exceedingly catering
chance of being summarily shot b.
drumhead cOurt-martial if Causht. All
opportunity for retreat across the Ro-
livian frontier was already effectively
blocked, but. after several weeks Of
excessive hardship, skulkiug amid the
dark recesses of Indian huts in the
mountains, I succeeded in stealing I'M
observed into Valparaiso. feeling con
fident that, as a sailor, I should be
able to discover in that busy seaport
some early opportunity for escape.
This confidence was doomed to bit
ter disappointment The Chilean an
thorities were especially DESTROYS of
experimenting me, inspired doubtless
by visions of the war-chest, rumored
to be of far greater value than truth
could justify. They were both alert
and suspicious. The American consul
was obdurate to pleading, refusing
peremptOrily to become involved in
the affair. while no war vessel floating
the flag of the United States. to which
the harbor. Manifestly it was impos,
sible for me to depart on any foreign
vessel as a passenger without possess
ing the necessary papers properly
yised, nor could I even ship as sea
man before the mast without running
the gantlet of numerous suspicious
officials especially warned to appre-
bend me In brief, though possessing
ample means. was a helpless pris-
oner, my only safety the keeping out
of sight from all in authority within
the narrow confines of the hotel
Sitting there in solitude that even
ing I thought it ont all over again for
the hundredth time, bitterly cursing
myself for a stupid fool. yet utterly
unable to discover any venturesOme
Of nj -, &c
trapped as securely as though the
hand of actual arrest was about to be
placed upon my shoulder. I might
by thus continuing TO skulk in the
dark. delay the result. yet the final
ending was inevitable. Beyond doubt
l was cornered, and the time was ripe
for the eager acceptance of any reck
less opportunity. Yet desperate as
was, | could perceive none; every
where arose the same blank wall of
Chilean power impossible, unassail-
able, insurmOuntable. Saint Andrew!
mine was a situation to chill the blood
The stars began TO CLEAN in the
black void of sky overhead those bril-
liant scintilating stars of the south
in their unfamiliar consultations. for
ever reminding me that | was an alien
and a stranger. The city itself
wrapped within the deepening folds of
this early night mantle. appeared uu-
usually noisy and demOnstrative
dimly wondered at it. There was a
ceaSeless blare OF bands, medley Of
i'm rti to Nrtn Ainc lad N
continuous disorder Of shutting feet
along the roughly paved streets
could distinguish nothing definite as
J hung curiously over the bal
cony rail. staring idly down, yet
it was plainly evident that the entire
population was astir with some in
creasing excitement. Far out toward
the distant mouth of the harbor fort
ress battery was firing salvos of ar
tillery the swift flames of discharge
cleaving the black shadows in vicious
spurts of .yellowish red, the sullen re
yerberatiOns of sound shaking the no
tel easements. Some Holy Saints day
| imagined wondering idly what spe
cial devotion of the church could be
responsible for so much of uproar. so
general an outpouring OF enthusiasm
Still, the thought held me barely for
a moment; my own personal affairs
were far too serious and insistent for
any wasted attention upon the saints
| turned back from the rail and
glanced carelessly within The great
dining hall was already brilliantly IL.
Illuminated, and a number OF the tables
were surrounded by guests. II formed
a cosmopolitan scene. the grouped
faces being representative Of a wide
variety OF races, the scraps of CONVEX.
sation which noated to me through the
open window revealing half the Ian.
guages Of Europe. Swarthy Spaniards.
volatile Frenchmen. silent sons OF AL
bioR, laxative Yankees. bewhiskered
and bespectscisd Germans, blonde.
rOsy-cheeked Swedes, together with
representatives from half a dozen
South American countries. were indis-
criminately mingled in sudden broth
erhood. This motley interesting com.
pany was composed principally Of
men, exhibiting here and there the
glitter OF military uniforms, or some
popularity Of attire attesting the pres
ence OF the inevitable globe-trotter al
though the majority were plainly