The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-01-28

whilst opposing the advance OF the
government troops The news come
from Managua, Nicaragua, via Gal
weston. Texas, and was signed by the
Nicaraguan president, for the time,
Dr. Madriz 1t was this dispatch that
was flashed by wireless. from ship to
ship across the Gulf. until one OF them
could speak to land. The news spread
through New Orleans. and on every
hand it was, did you bear the lates.l
Gabe's dead"
"Gabe Conrad dead2 You don't
mean it,"
Read this, it's in all the morning
papers, signed by the president Of
Nicaragua. Must be true
Poor Gabe. | am sorry. A prince
OF good fellows. ] was only talking
20 him on this very spot a couple Of
months ago, and now he is dead. I'm
very sorry
$50 am l. Nice boy, Gabe, and
bet he gave a good account of him
self before he went down and out
He died with his boots on, you bet"
Up and down Canal street the news
hew and Gabe Conrad, a young favor
ite OF the town, the friend of every
one. was mourned as dead A crowd
of adventurous spirits gathered at the
Cosmopolitan Hotel, the meeting
place of revoluiionists and ilibuster-
ers, and drew up a message Of con-
dolence which was dispatched to
Gabe's people.
Unfortunately for the president of
Nicaragua. Colonel Gabc Conrad was
not killed, Notwithstanding that he
should be was the dearest wish OF
that gentleman's heart, SO dear 10 his
heart, in fact, that he killed Conrad
on paper once month while the hos
tilities were in progress.
)The nearest the government troops
ever Came TO putting Gabc Conrad on
real deatlr'lst was at the battle Of
Santa Glare Mountain, where he was
shot plumb Though the middle by a
bullet from 4 Maxim machine gun.
Nhsn Madriz heard this he jumped
in the air with delight and cried,
"Now we'll win That dogs example
was keeping g--the rebels in the field
Perhaps the dogs example was ex-
aggerated by the eXcitable president,
but there is no doubt about the
dogs" work in helping 10 chase Dr.
Madriz and the rest OF Zelaya's gov
CInllcUt out OF NlNdldEUdt anu Nidut
Conrad instead OF being buried in a
trench at the foot of Santa Clara
Mountain, is down in the history of
Nicaragua. as one of the republics
saviours with the title OF general.
No, he was not declared general
at the caprice of a temporary presi-
dent. He won his title on a blood
stained battlefield The winning of
=. oil IL
durance unequalled in the turbulent
history Of the .scrapping republics OF
Central America. and unsurpassed
any where.
SColonel Gabriel Conrad was in COM
mand Of General Estrada's artillery,
and being the only man able to COM
mand artillery in Nicaragua. his serv-
ices were in demand everywhere that
the imminency OF battle was evil
dent. IL was Conrad's artillery here,
and Conrad's artillery there. Before
the guns were cool from one action
they were in another. Every victory
OF the revolutiOnists was made de-
cisive by the tell-tae effectiveness Of
the machine guns under the command
OF the young American. In fact, it
was his work that prevented the vastly
superior forces Of General Zelaya
from crushing the revolution at its in
ception. When Zelaya heard OF the
splendid work OF the Americans in
Estrada's army, he sent out special
spies and scouts under all sorts Of
inducements TO effect their assassina-
ton or capture.
SOne Of the results of this method
Sf wiping out the Americans in the
Of Cannon and Groce, who were lured
by a traitor into an ambush from
which there was no escape. These
TWO young men were shot by the
orders of President Zelaya, whose act
nearly caused the intervention of the
United States, and went a great way
towards keeping the American yolun-
leers with the revolutionary forces, in
the field 10 the bitter end, ultimately
causing the complete defeat Of the
governments army.
Fortunately for .Gabe Conrad al
though he had many narrow escapes,
he always succeeded in eluding cap
ture in the many traps that were laid
for him.
His big deed in the war was the
holding back, practically single hand
ed, all OF the forces Of President
Madriz, which were pressing on the
army OF General Chamorro The gov
ernment troops were entrenched in a
strong position at Garita on hill five
miles from Santa Clara Mountain.
They were six hundred strong, with
artillery. On Tuesday afternoon
orders come from General Chamorro
by courier TO General Luis Mena, say
ing, Keep back the enemy's forces
till ! take up position at Juigalpa.
shall cut off the enemy from land
route from Acoyapo to Managua.
Wait orders" This was large order