The Washington times., 1910-06-05

mother Of the young colonel of the revo-
luuonists. hoping against hope that
some power unknown 10 her might in
'terVene that she may see her son once
more
With this in mind the mother dictated
10 her son the letter to President Taft.
a letter Of simple appeal without beg
Slhg, between the lines of which might
De read the faint hope and faith In the
President Of the United States.
Through her son, she wired this APP
peal TO the Secretary of State and Sen
ator Lodge.
AS the brother of William Pittman.
who Is reported captured as an insur-
gent at Nicaragua, and in behalf of his
aged mother and another brother and
sister here, J would ask the Intervention
OF the United States Government as an
American citizen that the trial be de-
layed If necessary 10 the fair and hui
name treatment which IS my brothers
DlrthriSht, and that he be accorded the
treatment of a prisoner Of war accord
ing to the modern usages Of warfare of
the most enlightened nations
Life Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger than fiction has been the life
Of William p. Pittman-adVenturer sol
der Of fortune. For in his twenty-seven
years he has cran,med lifetime Of
strange and varied experience in all
parts OF the world
Just before the Roer war broke out.
story appeared in the Boston papers
o. the disappearance of a boy of sixteen
from his home in East Cambridge. That
boy was Willie Fittman. For wears he
was given up as dead. Then one day
his father was notified 70 come 10 New
York to meet him during a short leave
of absence His mother went along too.
Then for the first time rhe parents
learned where the wanderer had been.
ON the day he left home. he went to
the water front in Boston. hoping to
shin or some vessel sailing for South
Africa. FPlmOrs OF war were spreading
fast and Great Britain and the Beers
were due for the struggle. which now is
Because of his youth and especially
his size-he was very small for his age.
albeit he stands more than, s feet now
he was refused passage.
Picks CranberrieS for Passage.
He had no money, and so with the
desire to go to war UppermOst in his
mind, he went down on the cape and
picked cranberries until he had saved
SIS With this money he tramped back
TO Boston and again tried to ship to
South Africa.
But the fates were against him and
again being refused. he went to New
York in the hope of finding some more
kindly captain who would listen to his
request. A part Of his ambition was
realized when he was given a place as
cabin boy on a tramp steamer bound
for Valparaiso.
From there the ship sailed for Glas-
gov, where he was given shore leave.
After four days tramping about the
country. all the time hearing the stories
from the seat of war. he came back TO
his ship. where good news awaited him.
The vessel had been sold 10 the Brit
ism government as a supply and trans
port steamer. and Pittman was allowed
to serve as mess boy for the officers.
Arriving in South Africa he was allowed
TO join the army.
To be sure he was not an enlisted man
he was TOO young But he was made a
water boy and spent much of the time
driving mules. And, though this was
not exactly what he had hoped for, he
was in the army. and that was in part
Of his ambition.