The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-07-21

eral of the late revolutionary forces,
/ still in possession OF a considerable
/ sum of money, to which no one else
| possessed any better claim, the un-
healed scar of a Chilean bullet in my
| shoulder and an exceedingly hattering
| chance Of being sumnarily shot by
/ drumhead courtmartial If caught. All
| opportunity for retreat across the Bo-
/ livian frontier was already effectively
blocked. but, after several weeks of
| excessive hardship, skulking amid the
dark recesses of Indian huts in the
mountains, I succeeded in stealing un-
observed into Valparaiso, feeling con-
fdent that, as a sailor, l should be
able to discover in that busy seaport
some early opportunity for escape.
This confidence was doomed to bit
ter disappointment The Chilean au-
thorities were especially desirous of
apprehending me, inspired doubtless
by visions of the war-chest, rumored
to be Of far greater value than truth
could justify. They were both alert
and suspicious. The American consul
was obdurate to pleading, refusing
peremptorily to become involved in
the affair while no war vessel floating
the flag Of the United States, to which
might fee for protection, entered
the harbor Manifestly it was impos-
sible for me to depart on any foreign
vessel as a passenger without possess
ing the necessary papers properly
vised, nor could 1 even ship as sea
man before the mast without running
the gantlet of numerous suspicious
officials especially warned to appre-
hend me. In brief, though possessing
ample means | was a helpless pris-
oner my only safety the keeping out
of sight from all in authority within
the narrow confines of the hotel
Sitting there in solitude that even
ing / thought it out all over again for
the hundredth time, bitterly cursing
myself for a stupid fool yet utterly
unable to discover any venturesome
prospect of ultimate escape. | was
trapped as securely as though the
hand of actual arrest was about to be
placed upon my shoulder. l might,
by thus continuing to skulk in the
dark, delay the result, yet the final
ending was inevitable. Beyond doubt
l was cornered, and the time was ripe
for the eager acceptance Of any reck'
less opportunity Yet desperate as ]
was, / could perceive none; every
where arose the same blank wall of
Chilean power, impossible, unassail-
able, insurmountable. Saint Andrew!
mine was a situation to chill the blood.
The stars began to CLEAN in the
black void of sky overhead, those bril-
liant, scintilating stars of the south
in their unfamiliar consultations, for
ever reminding me that | was an alien
and stranger. The city itself, |
wrapped within the deepening folds Of
this early night mantle, appeared un-
usually noisy and demonstrative
dimly wondered at 1t. There was
ceaseless blare Of bands, a medley OF |
inarticulate cries, mingled with the i
continuous disorder of shutting feet |
along the roughly paved streets. |
could distinguish nothing definite as
l hung curiously over the bal
oony rail, staring idly down, yet
it was plainly evident that the entire
population was astir with some in
creasing excitement. Far out toward
the distant mouth Of the harbor fort
ress battery was firing salvos of ar
tillery, the swift flames of discharge
the black shadows in vicious
spurts Of yellowish red, the sullen re-
Of sound shaking the ho-
tel easements. Some Holy Saints day,
imagined, wondering idly what spe
cial devotion Of the church could be