The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-05-16

K---V efallOnS OF placlN pTOpTlely vi
eA--=.---S as result OF some freak Of pre-
natal suggestion, the love Of ad.
venture was born in me, deep planted and long.
rooted Excitement is as essential to my ex.
istence as air and food. Through It my life
mas been prolonged In activity and my soul has
been perpetuated in youth when I can no
longer enjoy its electrifcation, DEATH | hope,
will come quickly,
have served all told under eighteen flags.
and to each | gave the best that was in me.
In following my natural bent It perhaps will
he considered by some people that have gone
outside of written laws. To such my answer
is that have always been true to my own Con
science and to my country.
Red.blooded love OF adventure free from any
wanton spirit and with the prospect OF finan.
.cial reward always subordnated has been the
driving force in all my encounters with good
men and bad, with the latter class much in
,he majority The name by which am known
is one of the contradictions Of my life. Save
only for my father, who sympahzed with my
adventurous disposition at the same time that
he tried 10 curb 1t, | was at war with my fam
lily almost from the time could talk When
| left home to become an adventurer around
the globe buried my real name and do not
propose TO uncover IT, here or hereafter.
In the course of my activities | have used
many names in many lands but that of Boyn.
ton, which had been in the family for years,
stuck to me until finally adopted IT, prefix
ing a George and b.. which really stands
for Boynton.
was born May /. 1912. on Fifth avenue,
New York, not a long way north of Washing.
ton Square. My father was distinguished
surgeon and owned large estate on Lake
Champlain, where most Of my youthful sum
mers were spent
After n somewhat scattered series OF esca.
pades, which increased the ire of the family
and intensified my dislike OF their prosaic
protestations my father solemny declared his
intention of sending me to the United States
Naval Academy. | delighted The ma
chinery to procure my appointment had been
set In motion and I was ready to take the
examination when the opening gun Of the Civil
war was fred at Fort Sumter, April IL, 1861
was Immediately seized with a wild desire
to be In the fight My father would not con
sent to it, on account of my age but promised
that II | would wait year. he would try to
get me a commission. My symnathies were
with the South, but 1t was more convenient to
take the other side and at that moment was
not particular about principles The family
were duly Mortified one evening when | went
home and told them had enlisted. The next
day my father bought my discharge and hus-
tied me out TO Woodstock ILL.,, where was
placed in charge of an uncle.
He prevented my joining an infantry regl.
ment hut got away with a cavalry regiment
some months later and was made one OF It's
officers We went TO Cairo, Ill.,, and from
there by transport to Pttsburg Landing where
we arrived just in time to take part in the
battle fought on April and 7. 1862. was Sc
verely wounded In that engagement
When | was discharged from the hospital
was sent into the Tennessee mountains in
Of dot oh n
band which was being sent into the south from
Cincinnati.
Soon after my return to headquarters | con
tracted bad case of malaria and was sent
home, which meant back to Woodstock where
had elS,ed with q bankers daughter Just
before going to the front. | was disguised
with the war and expressed byself 80 freely
and was so outspoken in my sympathy for the
South. that made myself unpopular in very
short time.
At any rate the people set their hearts or
hanging me for being "a copperhead
and they might have done II II old man Well
burn, the proprietor of the hotel at which ny
wife and | were staying, had not helped mi
to stand of mob that came after me-
That experience intensified by dssatlsfac
ton with the whole business and sent In m!
resignation II was accepted, and when hat
thought IL all over I considered that | wa
lucky to have escaped court.martial.
had heard that Carlos Manuel de Cespede
was fomenting a revolt in Cuba. which after
ward was known as the Ten Years War;" an
had conceived the idea of taking a hand In II
While was wondering how could get int
communication with Cespedes by interest wa
aroused by a newspaper story OF the new bloch
ade.runner Letter p. There was so muc
money In Notwithstanding that the owner
could well afford to lose her after she ha
made three successful trips.
In five minutes decided to become blocl
ade.runner and to buy the new and alread
famous ship. II she was to be had ut any pric
within reason. bought a letter Of credit an
took the next ship for Bermuda. On my a
rival there found that the Letter had bee
expected in for several days from her secon
trip and that there was considerable anxiet
about her I also learned that her owner wa
building n second ship on the same lines an
for the same trade. A fresh cargo OF nun
lions of war was awaiting the Letter B. and
ship was ready to take to Ems Gland the cotto
she would bring.
got acquainted with the agent for II