The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-03
REAL AMERICANS.
There Are Only Six of These
Fighting in Nicaragua.
Many Claim Citizenship to Sc
cure Protection.
MEN WITH HISTORIES.
Some of Them Have Fought in
Other Wars.
Two Saw Service in the Philip
pines and One in Africa.
MEN WITH HISTORIES

Bluefields, Jan. 3.-Of real Ameri-
cans there have been a handful in the
ranks of the PROFESSIONALS so far and
these have acquitted themselves with
credit. Many IN the fight have claim
ed American citizenship for the pro-
lection it affords, but investigation has
shown that this claim is too remote to
be seriously considered.
So far as present ascertained there
were but six who came from the
United States to Bluefelds for the pur-
pose of aiding the revolt against Ze-
laya. These were: Ralph Lees OF New
Orleans; Matthew Finnegan of Dem
yer, a Philippine veteran; G. r. FoW-
Ter of Texas. and also late of the phil
ippines; Pat" Dolan, who hailed many
years ago from Nebraska; Phil craven,
a trick pistol shot, who for 10 years
was a demonstration for one or the
worlds best known arms manu1actur-
ers, and Gabriel Conrad of New
Iberia La. who has a medal for aiding
the English against the Beers, and
who before that chased the Apache
Kid" with the western regulars some
IL or Is years ago.
To these may be added James Brans-
field, said to have been member Oh
the Panama constabulary. and the
only foreigner wounded at Recreo, ana
James Edwards, an American, VINO
has been 50 long in Central America
That
though it were short CO., the same
being a distinguishing mark In the
various methods of handling the Eng
lish language on this coast.
Shot by Comrades.
Bransheld is of the opinion that he
was shot first by excited natives
amongst his own men, but at the hos
pital established by Captain SIMPLIFY,
where Bransfield was successfully
cared for, It is believed from the ma
ture of his wounds that he was IN the
line of a small caliber automatic.
Three flesh wounds, all close together
in his right leg, seemingly Indicate
that he stood in the line of the guns
sweep and received three bullets Derore
the sweep Of the gun passed him. HIS
own idea is, however, that he was shot
accidentally from behind and that the
other two wounds were received, Curl
Ously in the same place, from Zelayans.
However that may be. he now mas the
best cot in the hospital and by lying
on his left side is able to play endless
solitaire with a pack OF cards FURNISH
ed by Finnegan.
while the combat generally seems
to have been, proportionately to the
men engaged, one of the most bloody
in history scattered squads of enemies
met each other without engaging.
Bransfield, for instance, was passed by
q number of Zelayans who seemed
content to spare his life, seeing that ne
was incapacitated.
''Demi Aqua" pleaded Brans1eld,
whose wounds made him feverish for
water. to one of the Zelayas.
Para ono; para ono peso" said the
Zelayan, who wanted the money for
the food it would buy some time.
No Peso; No Water.
The peso was not forthcoming, and
neither was the water as a conse-
quence but it is to noted that the
Zelayan did not rob the helpless man,
who was completely at his mercy.
AS for Finnegan, he has been in the
show keenness of sight. short
cropped partly gray moustache Shout
ders like a wrestler, and a mouth that
is grim except when he SmileS-thatS
lugged a rifle with some fifty natives
through miles of knee deep clay,
bushes, over fallen trees and under
them, flea bitten. ant bitten, mosquito
bitten, foodless and tired, only to miss
the battle. The native guide mistook
q creek running into the Sequia river
for one running into the Mico, a very
easy error to fall into, and missed the
fight which was along the Mico.
When night fell, in retracing their
steps, Finnegan and the others be-
came separated in the jungle. The
Denver adventurer, however, captured
a Zelayan who, in his starving condi-
ton was glad to be prisoner, and
I1dOe Il Bulue VI MIN DICK TO the DdSe
at Rame. The Zelayan is good Es-
trada man now, and Finnegan has
promised to get him a job. They are
the best of friends.
Craven is prematurely gray but his
eve is an anachoriSm. 1t is young and
shoots sparks. AS a pistol salesman
for years it was his business to show
what could be done with the short arm
from shooting off the ashes of a cigar
to doing other tricks common to the
u TTafoT6rnn hn
shooter more common a generation age
than now. He was given charge of q
rapid firer, but being unable to keer