The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
AMERICANS FIGHT
AGAINST zELAYA
Soldiers of Fortune Go Through
Thrilling Encounters
ALBANIAN IN THE RANKS
Half a Dozen Americans, All Fighters,
Serve With General Estrada
and Do Valiant Service
In Battle.
ALBANIAN IN THE RANKS

B1uenelds. Nicaragua, December 20
fyia New Orleans, January LOT real
Americans there have been handful
in the ranks of the PROFESSIONALS SO 1ar
and these have acquitted themselves with
credit. Many in the fight have claimed
American citizenship for the protection
II affords, but investigation has shown
that this claim is too remote to be seri-
ously considered.
So far as at present ascertained there
were but six who came from the United
States to Bluehelds for the purpose OF
aiding the revolt against zelaya- These
were Ralph Lees of New Orleans, Mat
thew Tinnegan of Denver, a Philippine
veteran; q. r. Fowler of Texas, and
also late of the Philippines; Pat Do
Ian, who halls many years ago from Ne
Braska; Phil Craven, a trick pistol shot,
who for IS years was a demonstrator 1or
one of the worlds best known arms man
ufaeturers, and Gabriel Conrad of Now
Iberia, La, who has q medal for aid
ing the English against the Beers, and
who before tina chased the Apache KID
with the western regulars some u or ID
years ago. To these may be added James
Bransfeld, said to have been MEM
Der of the Panama constabulary. and
the only foreigner wounded at Recree,
and James Edwards, an American, who
has been SO long in Central America
that he pronounces the letter "a as
though It was short 90, the same being
a distinguishing mark in the various
ha
guage on this coast.
Nature of Wounds.
Bransheld Is of the opinion that ne
was shot first by excited natives among
his own men, but at the hospital estap-
lished by Captain Shipley where Brans-
field was successfully cared for, 1t Is
believed from the nature of his wounds
that he was in the line of small cal
iber automatic. Three flesh wounds all
close together In his right leg, SEEM
ingly indicate that he stood in the line
of the guns sweep and received three
bullets before the sweep of the gun
passed him. His own idea, is, however,
that he was shot accidentally from be-
hind and that the other two wounds were
received, curiously in the Same place.
from zelayans. However that may be,
he now has the best cot in the hos
pital and by lying on his left side Is
able to play endless solitaire with
pack of cards furnished by Finnegan.
While the combat generally seems to
have been. proportionately to the men
engaged, one of the most bloody In MS
tory, scattered squads Of enemies met
each other without engaging. Brans-
field, for instance, was passed py mum
Der of Zelayans, who seemed content 10
spare his life, seeing that he was IN
capacitated.
Plea for Water.
.Dami Aqua" pleaded Bransheld,
whose wounds made him feverish Tor
water. to one of the Zelayans.
Para one peso, said the Zelayan,
who wanted the money for the food II
would buy some time.
The peso was not forthcoming, nor was
the water as a consequence, but 1t Is
10 be noted that the Zelayan did not
rob the helpless man who was complete
~ at his mercy.
AS for Finnegan, he has been In the
Philippines Small blue eyes that show
keeness of sight, short cropped parity
gray moustache, shoulders like wrest-
ler and a mouth that is grim except
when he smiles-tnats flnheean' AS
story is simple. He lugged rifle with
some so natives through eight miles OF
lznee-deep blue clay, bushes, over fallen
trees and under them, flea bitten, ant
bitten. MOSQUITO bitten, foodless and
tired. only to miss the battle. The ma
tive guide mistook a creek running into
the sequia river for one running INTO
the Mico, very easy error to fall Into,
and missed the fight. which was aiohs
tho Mico. When night fell In retractng
their steps. Finnegan and the others be-
come separated in the Jungle. The Dem
yer adventurer. however, captured 2
zelayan. who in his starving condition
was glad to be prisoner, and made q
guide of him back to tho base at Rama
The Zelayan IL q good Estrada man now
and Finncgan has promised to get aim
a Job. They are the best OF friends.
The Trick Shooter.
Craven Is prematurely gray but his eye
Il an anachronism. 1t II young and