The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02

shoots sparks. AS a pistol salesman for
years 1t was his business to how what
could be done with the short arm, from
shooting off the ashes of cigar to do
ing other tricks common to the stage. BY
preference he uses a big six-shooter more
common a generation ago than now. He
was given charge of a rapid firer. but
being unable to keep the bearers of the
various parts, barrel, tripod and cart
ridges, anywhere near each other, he
gave up the artillery Job and went to
work with his pistol. It is related to his
credit that although he handled this arm
with an expertness seldom seen, he never
killed his man.
Most of them he shot in the trigger
hand as generally that was all that was
visible above the cover taken.
Does Not Want To Kill.
my life work has been the handling of
pistols" said Craven before going to the
front IT can do all the tricks but
don't believe too much in myself at that.
A mans arm and eye are good with
target; shooting at man who Is gun
ming for you is a different thing. don't
want to kill anybody, but 1 do want to
help these people because I think they
need It II prove true to target form
won't have to. These poor Indians that
Zelaya has sent out only want peace
they are forced into the fight, and I
don't want to take their lives. Zelaya
| personally would be a different matter"
Craven does not use the trigger of his
pistol, but shoots on the draw from his
hip by swapping back the hammer. This
accounts for his use Of the old style
gun, the big hammer Of which lends itself
to the manipulation.
Lees and Dolan came down together.
Lees because he saw a chance under
new government of working out min
ing claim. and Do1an, ex-cow boy and
ex-sailor. because nothing better was en-
gaging his attention at the time. Lees
and Dolan became separated during the
fight, Dolan attaching himself to Craven
with whom he stayed through thick and
thin, while Lees fell in with natives, fir
ing his rifle with an accuracy taught him
years ago at the University of Alabama,
at which school he was captain Of his
| company of cadets
soldIerIy Figures.
| Conrad and Fowler are two of the most
| soldierly figures who Joined the Estrada
| forces. Both had seen fighting in the
| Philippines and went into the brush
| without illusions Both were in charge
| of quick firers and according to General
| Chamorro, handled them with quick
| skill which went far in attaining victory.
according to DR.. Pugh, surgeon of the U.
| s. s. Des Moines, practically every wound
| dressed in the American hospital among
| the first batch of Zelayan wounded
| brought here, was due to automatic gun
| IRE.
| Conrad, however, has another distinc-
| ton. and greater one, for it was he who
acted as General Chamorro's messenger to
| General Mena. who is admitted every
where to have turned impending defeat
/ to victory for the PROFESSIONALS
UndecisIve Battle.
Az has been cabled, and as is now con-
ceded by Estrada, Chamorro, Fornas-
! Diaz, Matuity and others, the fighting of
| December 20 and 21st, had been undecis-
| sive. The Zelayans had been driven into
their main entertainments at Recree, on
| the Rio NIco river, where their resist
ance was Of desperation scarcely justi-
| fled by their cause as viewed from the
| east coast. However, they were battling
| In self-defense which probably explains
| that Mena, known otherwise as Montana
| Tigre," '(mountain lion) with 600 men,
| had been sent from point down the Ra-
| ma river to cut off retreat to the west.
| AS planned on the first day he captured
| Tatumbla Hill and tne telegraph station
there. On the next and final day of the
battle. however. he encountered roads,
| counted on. His arrival in the rear of
| Recres, therefore, was delayed. and the
| other generals. outnumbered, were mere
| ly able to hold thir own.
Find Mena and tell him we are beaten
unless he can get here within two hours.
| He can't be more than a mile or two In
the bush now said General Chamorro
| to Conrad.
| Struggle Through Jungle.
| In some way Conrad forced his way
| through the jungle with it's boys and
| tough intsrlaced vines and trees His
message threw Mena and his men into
| frenzy of energy. Brush which it had
| been deemed necessary for the macheteros
| to cut were ignored--the men simply
| swasmed over them. Not even waist-deep
| bog halted them. They were nearly ex-
hausted and perspiring from every pore
when the sight of Recree lent them fresh
| energy and enthusiasm.
| They gave vent to their cry, viva Es-
| trada,' and swept up the hills, and from
the thickets came the answering cry of
the other companies This assault quickly
| brought the battle to a close. Finding
| themselves surrounded Gonzales and his
! men surrendered.
J Chamorro left the boat at Bluenelds
today with his arm about Conrad's broad
shoulders and later told the story.
Challenge to Duel.
Surgeon Pugh of the Des Moines was
| also in the 1imelight for a short period
yesterday. having been challenged to
| duel by local Spanish physician. The
| 6paniard, who had been celebrating the
victory rather freely, passed the guard
on duty at the hospital and began con-
versing with patients whom DR.. Pugh de-
sired to remain undisturbed. Pugh, who
| did not know the visitors identity, re-
| Quested him to keep quiet but as neither
| understood the others language, the in
| truder continued talking, whereupon DR..
Pugh gently but firmly elected him from
| the hospital Later Pugh was waited on
| by the Spaniards seconds. who formally
proposed duel. Pugh, still ignorant OF
tho offended mans identity. declared that
he was busy operating at the time. but
| when he had concluded he would take
great pleasure in knocking the Spaniard's
head or" Today the matter was cleared
up by the spaniard's apologizing. DR..
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