The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-08-17

mates certificate. He took turn IN New York
at the business OF ship brokerage and marine
supplies Thence he disappeared for several
years and heard OF in Central America
where he had Joined Walker. the filibuster.
rowy escaping the fate OF that adventurer. Ru
also associated him with the il-starred
plots OF Wheat and Hennngsen in the
region. He had been heard of also in the Crt
enlisted in the French zouaves. from
which he managed to escape by desertion TO
himself from drum-head court martial after
having slapped his captain in the face
These and other adventures loomed In his
background.
Not disconnected by Tah-ke's cold reception.
he took things into his hands. He had
enough money to hire small force Of rapscal-
lions. native and foreign, the kind that infest
Oriental seaport like rats and among them
a few deserters from the British military and
naval forces, who knew something about drill.
The most important of these acquisitions
James Burgevine, a North Carolinian adventur-
er. who had severed allegiance to the Heavenly
King" Tah-ke had sold to Ward for baga-
telle a batch of condemned muskets and bayo-
nets which armed this ragged and unreliable
battalion. Ward and Burg6yine whipped them
into shape not only by camp drill but by skr-
mishing with the Tatpings at every opportunity.
for from their cities OF Sung Kiang and Sing
Poo only two or three days march from Shang-
hal the rebels made constant irruptions.
Wards primary object to inspire his
men with confidence in him and in themselves.
He lived the country and when he captured
Taipings he converted them into recruits in
stead OF refusing quarter, the habit OF
the imperalists Very soon the exploits OF
Wards irregulars began to make buzz in the
foreign clubs and counting rooms. He had Gre
ated his own standing and when he went again
TO Tah-ke that worthy received him with low
salaams
He went straight to his mark like a bullet
with the manner OF one debating not accept
ing terms. He proposed formal contract.
which Tahke to negotiate with the Futai
Shanghai to
the government for every city he captured of
which $4,000 to go to the Chinese part
ners. He was to have the first days looting
after which the captured place would be turned
to the imperialiss,
Tah-ke pledged to finance Ward for one
year, furnishing him with arms ammunition and
stores, within a certain limit of cost which the
other thought would suffice.
Within month Ward led his first expedit,on
against Sung Kang. which garrisoned by
about 5000 Taipings under the command OF an
Englishman named Gardiner an ex-offcer of the
British army. The attack failed with seriou.
loss to Wards 500 assaants.
One thing had happened. however which
proved of vast import to him. He had taken a
rebel prisoner of some rank, who confessed TO
him that of the bastions had chokad.un
subterranean sallyport II he could make a
secret entrance through this. 1t would save the
necessity of desperate and bloody assault.
General Ward reoeanzed his little command
and with 5000 imperalists to cooperate made
his second attempt Sung Kiang with its i've
mile circuit Of wall twenty feet high, was can
tured; and to Wards great credit he prevented
anything like indscrimnate massacre
Leaving Sung Kang with an officer OF h,s
in command. he returned to Shanebo,
where his achievement had caused a tremen
dous sensation
There an interim in Wards fight.
ing tolls for half a score of unhealed wounds
compelled him to go to Paris for treatment but
we find him back again in the early summer of
1861 where his presence was soreIy needed
The foreign powers still pursued their hands.
of policy and allowed the Taipings to sound
their drums and tom-toms within earshot of the
swarming treaty port In diplomatic way in
deed formal recognition OF the Heavenly King
as the dominant power in the air
Wards coming shattered that intention
which. II carried out. would have destroyed the
empire He grasped the situation and through