The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-31

September l. 1870. had three
ships busy with honest cargoes.
but did not get q chance to do
any contraband running until
Just before Its close Under nre
OF the guns at Trieste I ran out
cargo Of guns. which delivered to the COM
mittss Of safety at Bordeaux only q few days
bsfore the battle OF Sedan. Shortly altar this
placed the Leckwith and my other ships In
the hands of Niciell 4 Co. for charter and
sailed for New York.
The hrst word that reached my arrf
val was that my wife. who had sailed ahead
Of ms. was ssr1ousIy Ill at her old home in ILL.,
nois. I went to her at once and remained
At hsr siGs until the end. three weeks later
When returned to New York after the fn-
neral I was greatly depressed and was In q
mood for anything that offered excitement A
few days later mot Frank (Francis LAy) Nor
tom. Knowing each other by reputation. We
soon became friends. Latsr became part
nsrs In some of the most glorioualy exciting
exploits in which have been fortunate enough
TO participate. Norton 4 natural born pi-
rate. and he looked the part.
When first met him he wild about the
China sea, where he had spent several thrill
ing years and made several fortunes, but
heard much of Venezuela and of Guzman
Blanco that my heart was set going there
before I undertook to explore any other
strange lands. The upshot of many dis
cussions that I sent Norton to London
ready to Join him. when it was agreed we
should go out in the yacht to his beloved
China sea.
After Norton's departure bought the small
fore-and-aft schooner-yacht Juliette. fitted her
out at New London Conn. for six months
cruise and started for Bermuda to test her sea-
worthiness, with Lars Lorensen as sailing mas
ter. formerly of the Leckwith and a brave
and loyal Norseman. Guzman Blanco was not
at st. Thomas, we went to Curacao.
o1xrnr Nlrrtt<x
in the latter part of December. met Guzman
and General Pulgar, his chief of staff Guz-
man. after many exciting political and MILL
tary ups and downs. planning invasion
Of Venezuela against the Monagas faction.
then in power
After he had studied me, asked all sorts of
questions and apparently satisfied himself
that could be relied on. Guzman told me- in
general way. Of his plans and asked to
secure for him 5000 old Remington rifles and
100000 cartridges and deliver them as quickly
possible at Curacao.
Some two months later arrived at Curacao,
where instead of Guzman Blanco, found
General Ortega, who was with Guzman when
first met him and seemed to be fully in his
confidence. Ortega handed me a note bear
ing what purported to be the signature Of Guz-
man. which directed me to deliver the cargo
at place to be indicated by Ortega and
stated that payment for 1t would be made on
my cabin table. l showed the signature to
Two men VINO knew 9uzman well, and both
pronounced It genuine l had no suspicion
that anything wrong and took this pre-
caution simply a matter of ordinary busi-
sense.
Ortega directed me to deliver the cargo at
Tucacas point. about one hundred miles west of
La Guayra, and. arriving. Ortega went
ashore and returned with request that
order on the matches and start the unloading
OF the cargo in my boats and then go ashore
with him and get my money. This not
in accord with my contract with Guzman or
with the note Ortega had handed me- but
had great confidence in Guzman and did not
wish TO offend him. As soon as the unloading
was well under way / went ashore with Or
tega. We climbed the bluff and walked half
mile inland to a mud-thatched hut before
which sentry was pacing. ortega gave the
countersign and we stepped inside, to find
General Pulgar who was chief Of stan for Guz-
man when l was introduced to him wrapped
in chinchora and smoking in a hammock
He explained evasively that he was there in
stead Of Guzman. but when asked him for
my money he smiled and Strengthened up
'T told Ortega to deliver that MESSAGE to
you," he said. but there Ia no use mincing
words and may as well tell you that you
are my prisoner. Your cargo IL being taken
care Of and will be put to very different pur-
pose from that which you expected Az I
have said. you my prisoner, but have an
offer to make you. 1t can't make much differ
ence to you whether you serve Guzman or
me. you will Join my forces l will make
you colonel and give you command of a
battalion and when the revolution il over
will pay you for your rifles. Just as Guzman
agreed to do"
I again inquired where Guzman was, but
a shrug OF the shoulders was the only answer
could get to questioning along that line. Not
knowing much about Venezuelan revolu-
tions then as did later could not fathom
this strange situation to my entire satisfac-
ton, but It WAS my guess that In some way
Pulgar had become arrayed against Guzman.
and 1t turned out that was right
told Pulgar that would give him an an
swer in the morning. and spent the night with
Ortega, under guard. l tried to draw him out,
but, evidently according to orders, he would