Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-08-16

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 hs had Joined Walker the flibuster, mar
rowly escaping the fate of that adventurer. Ru-
also associated him with the ill-starred ex-
ploits of Wheat and Henningsen in the same
region. He had been heard of also in the Cri-
mea enlisted in the French zouaves, from
which he managed to escape by desertion to
save 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 own hands He had
enough money to hire a small force of rapscal-
lions native and foreign, the kind that infest
an 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-
err who had severed allegiance to the Heavenly
King Tah-ke had sold to Ward for baga-
telle batch of condemned muskets and bayo-
nets which armed this ragged and unreliable
battalion. Ward and Burgevine whipped them
into shape not only by camp drill but by Skin
mishing with the Tapings 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 was to inspire his
men with confidence in him and in themselves.
He lived on the country and when he captured
Tapngs he converted them into recruits in
stead of refusing quarter the habit of
the imperialists Very soon the exploits of
Wards irregulars began to make buzz in the
foreign clubs and counting He had Gre
ated his own standing and when he went again
to Tahke that worthy received him with low
salaams.
He went straight to his mark like bullet,
with the manner of debating not accept
ing, terms He proposed a formal contract,
which Tah-ke was to negotiate with the Futai
of Shanghai. Ward was to have 100000 from
the government FOR every city he captured Of
which $4,000 as to go to the Chinese part
ners. He was to have the first days looting,
after which the captured place would be turned
over to the imperialists.
Tah-ke was pledged to finance Ward for one
year. furnishing him with arms ammunition and
stores, within certain limit of cost which the
other thought would suffice.
Within month Ward led his first expedition
against Sung Kiang which was garrisoned by
about 5000 Taipings under the command of an
Englishman named Gardiner an ex-offcer of the
British army The attack failed. with serious
loss to Wards 500 assailants
One thing had happened, however. which
proved of vast import to him. He had taken q
rebel prisoner of some rank, who confessed to
him that one of the bastions had choked-up
subterranean sallyport. If he could make
SocTeL entrance unFOugn this, 1t would save the
necessity of a desperate and bloody assault
General Ward recognized his little command
and, with 5000 imperialists to cooperate made
his second attempt. Sung Kiang with its Ave
mile circuit of wall twenty feet high, was can
tured; and to Wards great credit he prevented
anything like indiscrminate massacre.
Leaving Sung Kiang with an officer of hie
own in command he returned to Shanghai
where his achievement had caused tremen
dous sensation
There comes now an interim in Wards fight
ing tolls for half 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 sorely needed
The foreign powers still pursued their hands
OF policy and allowed the Tapings 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"
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