davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

wears ago. Both men nave passeo 1lle
three score-and-ten-year mark, but, de-
spite their age. are as full of the vigor
ana fire Of adventure as though the nan
century since their exploits among the
Latin Americans was but close neigh
bor in time.
The first man. Col. C. W. Doubleday. is
2 retired officer of the United States
Army, with a long and enviable career
in the service of the nation, both during
the civil war and later in the western
campaigns among the American Indians.
Col. Doubleday was Walkers personal
aid and one of his chief advisers during
nearly all the hard campaigns that pecu-
liar genius guided in Nicaragua.
The second member OF Walkers force is
Capt f. F. Ruffin. a member of the rank
and file in the Nicaragua forces. who
struggled valiantly under Walkers diff
ferent detachment commanders in the
DAYS Immediately preceding his downfall.
Capt. Ruffin later joined the Confederate
forces at the outbreak of the civil war
and fought alternately in the Confederate
army and navy. He closed his active
military career as a volunteer in the Ital-
ian armies in their struggles against the
Austrians.
Col Doubleday lives the typical life of
a retired army officer, surrounded by his
family at his country home, The Cedars.
near Rosslyn. Va. Capt Ruffin alone in
the world except for the companionsnip
OF other Confederate veterans in the city.
makes "A living by proof reading and ap-
pears content with life in modest bach
elor quarters.
do j recollect Walker-Gen. Walker
as we used to call him?" said Col. Dou-
bleday repeating the question OF the IN
terviewer. why, | should say ] do.
have written a book telling of our al
ventures down in Nicaragua. 1t all seems
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

like dream now. Those were wonder
full days. Almost each one of them was
characterized by courage, foolhardy BRAY
cry or questionable diplomacy. 1t all end
ed in one thing-a fight, and Walker S
fights were fights indeed.
Walker, in my opinion, was one of the
most remarkable men this continent ever
produced. He was the bravest, the most
sagacious and the most crafty soldier
If I may use the term-I have ever seen.
His greatest fault was his contempt for
his adversaries and his utter disregard
of danger. 1t was the first fault that led
to needless loss of life among his fol-
lowers and eventually opened the way to
his downfall.
He was the most ambitious man l
ever saw-he seemed to think he had a
destiny-and sometimes I instinctively
compared the visible results of his
thoughts to the ambitions of Napoleon.
His ambition, his avowed declarations for
slavery and his lack of diplomacy in deal
ing with Central Americans and others
were directly responsible for his death"
Col. Doubleday joined the gold rush
to California in the latter forties, and
after knocking about the far west for
several years wandered into San Fran
cisco in the spring of 1854. 1t was while
loafing about the water front there that
he decided ION the spur of the moment,
as he describes it.. to cast his fortunes
along the Pacific coast of Central Ameri-
ca He accordingly sailed for San Juan
del Sur i'm Nicaragua, where he found a
revolution I'm progress between Chamorra
and Castellon. rival aspfrants for the
presidency. Chamorra represented the
Nicaraguan ''aristocracy" and was back
ed by the church. Castellon was the
choice OF the Nicaraguan democracy and
proclaimed himself as lighting for his
rfghtful place and needed reforms" Col.
Doubleday organized company OF
American and British adventures and
allied himself with Castellon.
He jumped into the thick of the fray
and fought side by side for number Of
months with Gen. Don Maxine JereZ a
Castellon lieutenant afterward the
Nicaraguan minister to the United States.
He served with the Castellon forces
about a year before the coming of Wal
ker and his fifty-six fighting men from
California.
Il was delegated by Castellon to meet
Walker and his command at the Goa st
and escort them inland" said Col. Dou-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21
NAP
or
NlcARkGUA

and Guatemala if they let this thing pre-
vail. Let them come quickly if they
would meet auxiliaries," he wrote.
All good and patriotic had it not been
for the treaty he had signed and the
pledges he had entered into.
Walker got wind of Corrai's duplicity
and laid proof Of the generals guilt be-
fore the president and cabinet. A court
martial was convened. Corral threw him
self upon the mercy of the judges, but 1t
was useless He was condemned to die
by the fusillade. The leading citizens
pleaded for clemency, but Walker, who
was the government, refused. Corral died
and Nicaragua Wept.
In the four months following the for
nation Of the new government, Walkers
force of Americans and other foreigners
increased to 200. They came from all
parts of the Union, but principally from
California and the southern states.
Among the adventures were many idle
and desperate characters, who looked for
booty and the utmost license In living.
They had shocking surprise. Instead
of debauchery and free living, they found
the most rigid of military discipline. Any
one caught selling liquor to a soldier was
subject to $3.50 fine. A soldier caught in
toxicated was put in jail for ten days.
Never before were f1libusters held 80
strongly in leash as by this little man.
Crimes against the natives he punished
with a severity that was appalling. There
was no forgiveness for an offender When
the class of men he had to deal with Is
considered, there can be no doubt Of his
ability to control men:
~ - $50 I'D e. y - -
= SssfBut whhA Wahser Yves master of af-
fairs in Ni2araeaaia and the whole repub-
Ne. was enjoying assbsace and content
.rnent such as It had hM known for sew
::eral years, troubles uHre developing on
the outside for the .filibuster leader.
England was alarmed. If the United
States got control of Nicaragua and built
a Nicaragua canal, Great Britain's COM
mercial supremacy was endangered.
England had held possession of various
places on the gulf coast OF Nicaragua
for century or more. and saw, or pre-
tended to see, their safety threatened by
the Walker influence in Nicaragua. II
Walker ruled Nicaragua it was inevitable
might embrace all Central America. Mel
Their England, France nor Spain wanted
any extension of American influence in
Central American countries.
Walker might have handled the Euro
pean opposition without much trouble,
but he had more serious antagonists in
the United States. He was avOwedly an
advocate of slavery, and he had the sup
port of people in the slave states. Will
liam l.. Marcy, Secretary of State, had
no sympathy with Walker or his project.
He looked Upon him as little less than Ar
outlaw, and his plans as criminal He
saw, too, that if Walkers undertaking
succeeded. there would be stimulus to
filibusterinS and freebooting such as
would stir the world. There were some
men in Wall street, too. connected with
the Transit Company, who saw no good
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

that his ship was wrecked on reef ana
he. with probably fifty companions was
marooned on an island until rescueo y! :"
British warship.
The following year he again returned 10
Nicaragua after the forces or all Tue
other Central American states Were
leagued against Walker and he mad gam.
ed both the enmity of America ana Ireal
britain. He was a member of an expeoi-
ton which made it's way up the san san
Juan river in an effort TO coiinect WIN
Walkers forces in Granada An expo
sion of the boiler OF the boat on Whicl,
the party Travelled broke up the trip ana
those who survived sought succor on
British warship and were iaeeI eoii-
veyed to New Orleans. In the explosion
Col Doubleday was so badly injured that
he Law for several months at the home or
a German on the Honduras coast unoer
the care of a native physician. About
twenty men out of the sixty that COM
posed the expedition los. .ns n.;,, nV eenr.c
tion with Walker" Col. Doubleday con-
Guided. He insisted upon organizing an
other expedition, which lanoeu IN 1ru,
jillo Honduras. He was de1eatea, and
subsequently shot after trial Derore a
fT,m-head court-martial. Ny service
was long and hard in Central America,
but the experience was worth the trials.
I am now carrying three bullet wounds
still another in my thigh-as mementos."
4
r AM the man who marched fOrty-siX
j men from the Mosquito coast into
the interior of Nicaragua to join Walker
near Granada in the summer of 1885,
said Capt. Ruffin, when asked to tell of
his experiences as a member of the
.'Filibuster army Il had previously
been in the Panama railroad survey and
later joined a party of men from the
states under Kinney on the Mosquito
coast to engage in agriculture. The work
didn't appeal to us, and hearing of Wal
ker's exploits across the mountains, We
decided to join him.
Capt. ~Ruffin described his march over
the tropical country as one of great hard
ship and privation. He and his compan-
ions travelled on foot and lived best
they could for period of a little over
eight weeks, until they finally reached
Granada and enrolled themselves under
Walkers banner.
He was glad to get u.s. remarked
Ruffin. reminiscently. HE wanted all
the able-bodied Americans he could find.
1t made him i'm q way feel at home and
gave him confidence for greater under
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

ASHINGTON has
among its varied
a n d picturesque
veteran military
population two for
mer members of
"F1libuster" Walk
er's armies, which
first struggled and
battled for an ideal
and then a mans
ambition in Mica
ragua fifty = four
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

day. remarked the Walker veteran. BE
fore we could close the door the enemy
swarmed about 1t like bees, and it was
terrific struggle to repulse them. Every
one realized it was a case of death if
the enemy succeeded in gaining an en-
trance, and if ever men fought like de-
mons they did in those five or ten min
utes about the door Of our temporary
fortress. It was a hand-tO-hand struggle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

Walker went to Washington az prison
err of war. He preferred charges against
the commodore. and that officer was sus-
pended from active service. AS for Walk
er. he was turned loose.
For two years Walker made various ef
forts to lead expeditions to Nicaragua,
but it was no use, the United States au-
thorities watching him too closely. Mean
while, the British and American govern
ments kept fleet of warships In Nicara
guam waters ready to pounce on him any
time he appeared.
Unable to get to Nicaragua direct. he
determined to try to get there by way OF
Honduras. In August. 1850. he sailed
from Mobile in the schooner Clifton with
100 men, bound for the Island Of Ruatan.
He landed at Ruatan August 10. and a
few days later captured Tru.illo on the
mainland. Scarcely had he captured the
peared and the captain, Salmon. de-
manded that he surrender. A force OF
Hondurans, 700 strong. led by Gen. AL
vareZ, meanwhile assembled to hem him
in. Walker evacuated the town and with
seventy men retreated down the coast.
The Icarus. with Alvarez and some of his
force on board. followed, and at the Rio
Negro Capt. Salmon and Gen. Alvarez cor
nered Walker. The filibuster surrendered
to the British captain. but when the
Ioarus returned to Trujillo Capt Salmon
turned him over to the Hondurans for
trial. Capt. Salmon offered to plead for
Walker IL the president would ask. as an
American citizen, for intercession. Walk
er declined. September II he was ar
raigned before a court-martial and con-
demned to die the next morning by the
fusillade.
At 1880 am. September IL. 1860. he walk
ed calmly and with firm tread to the place
Of execution. If he had any fear of death
he did not show the slightest sign. He
was unfettered. He folded his arms and
looked without emotion at the three SOL
diers who were assigned to the grim work
of carrying out the sentence of the court.
They approached within twenty feet. took
deliberate aim and. at the signal. fired.
All three shots took effect, but Walker
stood like statue. A fourth soldier ap-
preached. put his rife close TO Walkers
head pulled the trigger and the last and
greatest of all the filibusters was dead at
the age of thirty seven.
Copyright. 1909. by Richard spillaneJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

cabinet positions and made excellent prog
ress toward reforming the affairs of the
country, but he was not to go far undls-
turbed. On the north the Hopdurans
were massing and on the south the Costa
Ricans. Both had aid. financial and 9TH
erwise, from Europe. The Hondurans and
the disaffected Leonese overran Leon and
finally took up position on the heights
OF Masaya, fifteen miles from Granada.
In October. 1885, Walker, with 800 men,
attacked them and had victory in sight
when he learned from courier that an
other force was marching on Granada
He had to postone the crushing Of the
Masaya force to return and protect Ora
NADIA. He was just in time to save the
city and rout the allies. This put an end
to hostilities for time.
i
Nicaragua was not to have peace for
long. however. Soon the Costa Ricans
were over the border again and new
levies were coming from the north. The
Costa Ricans were menacing the Transit
road between Virgin bay and San Juan de
Sur. Above all things, Walker had to
keep open his communication with Sar
Francisco for this was his only source OF
supplies from the outside world, the At
lantic side of the route being closed. Inc
menace on the Transit road from the
Costa Rican army became so serious tina
Walker. whose force was not sufficient II
defend Granada and the road, had tt
give up one or the other. He decided &c
give I'D Granada, but in doing so he also
decided on an act for which he never car
he excused. He determined to destroy the
city-the largest and most imposing III
all Central America-so that 1T would mol
fall into his enemy's hands.
The work of destruction was assigned
to Col. Henningsen, his chief Of artillery
While Henningsen went destroying era.
NADIA, nv flames and shot, Walker set out
for Rivas. where he set up new capi-
tai. The destruction of Granada was ho'
ACCOMPLISHED without desperate ngntlns
for the Hondurans and Leonese. 10 the
number of 5000, battled \aliantly to get
into the city and save it. For three
weeks the struggle lasted, and at last
Henningsen withdrew and the city was a
ruin. When the allies entered the capital
If was a wilderness of destruction. In
the plaza Henningsen left sign reddils'
"Aol,i fue Granada" CHere was Granada
Meanwhile, eight British men-o1-"af
were at San Juan del Norte (Greytown)'
on the Atlantic side of the Nicaragua
route. Walker made several eHorts 70
omen communication between the lake and
San Juan del Norte, but failed, all the
noints along the San Juan river Delne
held nv his enemies. He got recruits and
supplies by every steamer from San Fran
cisco but every day his position became
more desperate. Through the winter OF
1856 he was besieged IN RlEas py tne ai,
lied armies of Costa Rica, Honduras and
northern Nicaragua. His ammunition be-
pan to run short Early in FEBRUARY,
1877 the United States man-of-War ot
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

for their interests in Nicaragua If a mar
tinet such as Walker controlled the gov
eminent. They preferred to deal with
Nicaragua.
The minister Walkers provisional gov
eminent sent to the United States was
not received, and Spanish America gave
evidence of it's feelings toward the fill
busters by two acts. Costa Rica declared
war against Nicaragua. and Peru sub
scribed $780, 900 to aid Costa Rica. Hon
arms. Both Honduras and Costa Rica got
war supplies, If not financial support,
from the British.
Walker was down with fever when the
Costa Ricans crossed the border. and Col.
Schlessinger had command of the fill
buster force. He was utterly incompe-
tent. and his little force was routed, being
surprised through gross carelessness. Inc
Costa Rican army was commanded by the
Prussian general, Won Bulow.
The unexpected defeat of the f1libusters
stirred the opposition in the north into
revolt, Guardiola raising a mixed force
Of Leonese and Hondurans. What was
more serious, the Transit Company sus-
pended business. This cut off Walker s
supplies and achievements from the east.
Walker retaliated by appointing COM
mittee to audit the Transit Company S
books. The commission reported that the
government had been defrauded for years
and that S25OO0O was due to it. Com
edge or liquidate the debt. Walker there
upon seized the Transit Company's prop
srty as security, revoked Vanderbilt S
charter and granted new one to rival
company.
i
On April 0. 1856, Walker rode out of
Granada with 800 men, four-fifths Of them
Americans, to give battle to the Costa
Ricans, who had captured Rivas. The
Costa Rican army was $500 strong and
had some English, German and French
mercenaries in it, In a general assault
Walker practically was defeated. but he
inflicted such loss on the Costa Ricans
that they were glad to see him withdraw.
The cholera breaking out among the Costa
Rcans, only a remnant of the army sur
vived. This rid Walker of one trouble,
but the invasion from the north still men,
aced him. BY quick work he overcame
this. and then he turned to a new field of
activity. He became candidate for the
presidency, and in the June election he
received twice as many votes as all his
rivals. On July L. 1885, he was inaugu-
rated president. 1t is noteworthy that
for candidate in the republic up to that
time, and that his administration lasted
longer than any other president, with
but two exceptions. But although Walker
was elected legally the nations of the
earth refused to recognize him.
Walker was at the top of his fame. The
filibuster, the mining camp editor had be-
come the lawful ruler of a nation as big
as all New England and as rich in re-
sources as almost any in the western
world.
Walker selected natives for most of his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

There were numerous engagements be-
tween Walkers army and the allies, and
hundreds and hundreds Of lives were sac
rifced Then a new LANCER confronted
Walker. 1t was famine When this came
his men deserted in droves. Soon there
was not ounce Of bread in the city.
The men lived on horse or mule meat for
few weeks. but there had to be an end
to 1t. On the 10th of April the allies
made a general assault and were re-
pulsed, but April q. when Commander
Davis offered safe convoy to Walker and
all his force to San Juan del Sur II he
would evacuate Rivas Walker accepted.
Previously Davis had demanded that
Walker surrender to him.
The filibusters walked out of the city
with Walker at their head. At San Juan
del Sur Walker and sixteen of his officers
boarded the st. Marys and were taken to
Panama. The others Of the force were
taken TO San Francisco. From Panama
Walker made his way to New York
where he was received as a hero, Broad
way being decked with banners and there
being many public gatherings TO bid him
welcome. He went to Washington to COM
plain as lawful President Of Nicaragua OF
the treatment accorded him, but he got
no satisfaction. In the south he was re-
ceived with the widest enthusiasm.
Immediately Walker began making plans
to return to Nicaragua and renew hostili-
ties. He was arrested on a charge OF
organizing an unlawful expedition, but
was acquitted. Thirteen days after his
acquttal he arrived at San Juan del Norte
on the steamer Fashion with 100 men. He
landed cargo OF war material and estab
lished a camp. In few days he had cap
tured Castle Viejo and was in possession
of several lake steamers, but December 9
Commodore Paulding arrived In the
United States frigate Wabash and landed
$50 men. and. training the guns of the
frigate on the camp. demanded Walker Z
surrender.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

8 queer a genius as
America ever has
produced was ed
itor Of the San
Francisco G o m
mercial in 1 8 5 f.
His name was Will
liam Walker. He
was small and
slender, beardless
and light haired, a
runt of a human
among the tens OF
nI
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

Il was delegated by Castellon to meet
Walker and his command at the coast
and escort them inland" said Col. Dou-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

Safety in the building was brief. In
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-03-31
Lone Trial At Edgefele.

Edgefeld, March 25.-Special: After +
a trial consuming thirteen days the
case of J. T. Patterson against the
Farmers Bank, of Edgefeld, was er:-
ded this afternoon by the jury return
ing a verdict for the defendant, there
by completely exonorating MIR Harl-
ing, the defendants cashier, of the
charge made by the plaintiff that he
had defrauded him of So, 200, for which
sum the suit was brought. 1t was the
longest and most sensational case
ever tried here and was heard through
out by packed Court House, the audi
ence being lare eely composed of ladies.
There is general relief that the end
has been reached. At the end of the
trial photograph of the jury was
taken, the presiding Judge at Their
request composing one of the g CUP.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-03-31

viduality of its o"r, but this same
territory as part of Kichland would
mean nothing, or worse. My friends,
before You decide to secede from this
Dutch Fork union remember J our
mother, Lexington, would gather you
as hen doth her BROOD" and then
those "howery beds Of ease" Well!
He should have told US about flight
ing to win the prize" and sailing
through bloody seas, in the shape OF
higher levies on our property. Why,
certainly, we have been home sick,
and no one who has been away from
home for any length of time would
be foolish enough to deny it. But we
have that other human feeling which
you may call unrest, Giscontent, or
what name you may, which comes to
every one who desires to better his
G ,ndition in life. That is to max
the most OF every opportunity that
presents itself. Following out the
line OF thought presented by Anti
Anne1ationist every boy would stay
tied to his mothers apron string, and
the hen would never lay again for try
ing to get away from her full grown
brood who dare not leave their moth
er's sheltering care.
Just one more thought and I have
finished and that 10 in regard to the
people Of Richland not caring for the
Fork to annex to RichlanG. I have
talked with good many business
men of Columbia about the matter
and have yet to find man who is not
anxious for Us to come, and have told
me to call on them if any financial
aid was needed for Us to get
FAIR PLAY.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-03-31
Truthful Reports.
Lexington Reads Them With
Uncommon Interest.

A Lexington citizen tells his expert
ence in the following statement. No
better evidence than this can be had.
The truthful reports of friends and
neighbors is the best proof in the
world. Read and be convinced.
A. Marks, Depot street, Lexington,
S. g., says: 81 suffered from severe
pains through my back and sides for
months and felt miserable in every
way. My kidneys did not act proper
ly and I knew that they required a
tonic. I procured Doan's Kidney
Pills at The Kaufman Drug Co., and
since taking the contents OF one box,
I am able to do my work without any
trouble. The pains in my back and
81 les have greatly diminished and MY
kidneys give me no annoyance. L
recommend Doan's Kidney Pills to
others IN return for the great benefit
| have obtained from their use."
For sale by all dealers. Price so
cents. Eos = r-Milburn Co., Buffalo.
New York, sole agents for the Unit d
States.
Remember the rame-Doar's--and
take no other.