The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-31


spirit seemingly having subsidized with the i'm
provement in the army. / took the Juliette
to Halifax. N. g.. In the summer of 1878. to
have her decks strengthened and mounted
with rapid-hre guns. We returned early in the
fall to find that the smoldering revolution had
burst Into flame and that a large force was
marching on Santo Domingo City. The presi-
dent and his brother were vehemently but
vainly advising each other to be brave when
l reached the palace
What shall we dor What shall we dof"
demanded the president as entered the door
1T strikes me that 1t might be good
scheme to fight" replied. with no attempt to
conceal my disgust at their attitude.
They told me there were about 1900 men
In the attacking force. We had more than
1000 men under The city had de-
lenses worthy the name. and insisted that
the thing to do was to go outside and fight
1t out In the open. The president, who had
apparently regained a little OF his nerve
agreed with me and. against the continued OBJ
1ections of his brother. we went out to meet
the attacking army.
General Baez commanded our center nnd
right. while commanded our left flank. With
the firing OF the first gun he began to give
way before force that was inferior in both
numbers and discipline, and fell back SO rap
Idly that before l realized 1t my command
was hanked and almost cut on. with the sea
vi ohc Siut vi ub anu tue enemy on TWO others
and rapidly closing up the fourth.
In few minutes was captured along with
about hundred men who were SO numbed
by fear that they could neither run nor fight
and had not enough discretion to Join the en-
emy. was furious over the cowardice Of
Baez and put up the hardest fight was cap
able OF. with the satisfaction OF putting six or
eight blacks on permanent peace basis, but
with my revolver empty and my sword brok.
en-. l was overwhelmed by the inky cloud
General Baez galloped back to the city, and
he and his bewildered brother, the president
had barely time to board small schooner and
sail for Curacao before the capital was In the
hands of the rebels General GAMER d'Aton
tool OF Pimental and Cabral, was at once
proclaimed president and hailed by the popu-
lace with the customary acclaim.
Instead Of being killed at once, as had ex-
pected. was taken to small port on a hill
near the town, where. the altogether false
charge that had fomented trouble and
brought on civil war, / was tried by drum-
head court martial and sentenced to be shot
at sunrise. The verdict was, OF course. die
tated by revenge. and execution OF It was de-
layed because they wished to gloat over me
for a while.
This was little the most serious predica-
ment had ever been In and with the idea
OF taking every chance that was open to me-
rather than with any distinct hope that n
would be answered. gave the grand bailine
sign OF powerful secret order which I had
Joined while In Caracas / thought 1 saw a
sergeant raise his eyes. but as he gave no
further sign. ! concluded that IL there had
been any movement it had been one Of sur
prise and not of recognition
was placed In large sala with windows
opening on the courtyard. and blank walls
on the three other sides.
Along about three o'clock, Just as had
about made up my mind that in a couple of
a Arn
mite exploration. 1 heard a short scun1o ~
each end OF the path the sentrtes were
patrolling and gurgling noise as though
man were choking. The next moment IL
rensen's voice came softly through the door:
Are you In there. captain?"
/ assured him that was
Stand away from the door!" he ss,d .ns
obeyed the order with pleasurable alacritv
Three blows with log Of crutch mabog
any, taken from a pile In the courtv.rS
smashed in the door. Lorensen seized NV
arm and. led by the sergeant who had. after
All. recosnl1ed tne sign had made. we
climbed down declivity back of the fort ana
made our way to the shore, where two hos,s
were waiting for U.S.
AS soon as 1t was day sailed close in md
bombarded the fort where my execufion ras
to have taken place.
At Caracas I found Guzman had bser -.
ed president. He was inaugurating public i'm
provements. and induced me to 20 upon a wor
derful journey of exploration up the orinoco
through the unmapped interior OF yenezue,.
After six months river journey OF ? ooo
miles. we reached Manaos. Brazil, on the
amazon. tnat great river and the Orinoco hay.
Ing common source. From Manaos W.
sailed to Rio Janeiro and from there IN Enc,
land on the Elbe. commanded by Captain
Moir. commander OF the Trent when Mason
and sldell were taken on On the vav 7
wrote full report to Guzman. promising to
return within few years. At London Joined
Frank Norton to start for the Cbipa ssa