Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-04
SOLDIERS OF MISFORTUNE
Activities Of American and Other Ad-
venturers in South America.
MAKERS GET IN BAD
Native "PatrIOts" Get the Measure
of Alien Soldiers and Some
Very Painful and Profit
less Experience.

With General Lee Christmas who as
sisted Manuel Bonilla in an unsuccessful
attempt to overthrow the government of
President Davila of Honduras enjoying the
hospitality OF the prison authorities in
Guatemala, and William p. Pittman i'm
INJURED in Nicaraguan dungeon as a re-
suit of his activities against the govern
ment of Nicaragua, the romance of recent
American soldiers OF fortune may be writ
ten only In terms Of failure From view
point purely artistic, however, this en-
hances their story.
Americans remember longest the men
whose romance as we'll as their lives,
ended with wall at their back and firing
squad In front OF them-those Of the Vir-
ginIus, for instance-and they cannot forget
Winchester Dana Osgood, the old Penn
sylvania halfback. lying dead across
machine gun he had so calamity served on
Cuban hillside.
bounty or concession from the new presl-
dent or dictator, as the case may be, and
life thereafter OF plutocrauc ease-which,
after all, is the motive OF most soldiers OF
fortune; although there are enough OF the
other sort-men who fight and stir up
trouble for the pure love of fighting and
intrigue and unrest-to leaven the guild
with that swashbuckling devil-may- care
ardor for strife and boodshed under what
ever flag or leader.
The story OF Pittman Is typical OF this
class. He is a native of Boston where his
family still lives About five years ago he
entered the government service on the 18TH
mus Of Panama When the present revo-
luton started in Nicaragua he hurried from
Colon to Bluenelds and offered his services
TO the insurgent chief General Estrada.
He was accepted and received a commits
sion as colonel of the signal corps.
Caught Among His Mines.
When IL became known that the com
mander OF the government forces intended
to storm Bluefields, Pittman laid mines
around decoy Notifications. Tho charge
was made by some 400 OF the government
troops, and Pittman, standing by his
switches, exploded his mines under their
feet. Many were killed and the attack
was checked. This was on May "a. Pitt
man believing that after the enerIy had
recovered courage another attack would
be made, remained at his switches, and
was there cut off and captured by soldiers
sent out for that purpose by General Lara.
PhlIAnder Knox, secretary of % state Of
the United States, acted promptly. He sent
instructions to the American consul at
Managua and TO Commander Gimer Of the
gunboat PadUcah TO investigate and make
certain that the prisoner was treated in
accordance with the modern understanding
among nations as 10 soldiers captured In
war
Pttman was last heard OF AT Managua
where he was confined TO a filthy cell,
six feet by five, fed only by charitable
strangers, The man was slowly starving
Consul olIvares who found him. after
some weeks OF search Immediately pro-
tested 10 General Madrlz, In the name OF
the United States, to secure from that
officer a promise TO remove Plttman to
better cell and 10 see that no was
properly fed This promise, IL is said. was
kept. Mr.. olivArss, Getting under instruc-
lions from Washington. is keeping his eye
on Pittman, and his jailers. and. while
the government leaders admittedly desire
to put the American TO death, It is re-