The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-05-17
II \

SZ blood held in subsection by gen.
- erations of placid propriety or
~-~ as result of some freak of pre-
natal suggestion, the love of ad-
venture was born in me, deepplanted and long
rooted. Excitement is as essential to my ex-
istence air and food. Through it my life
has been prolonged in activity and my soul has
been perpetuated in youth; when I can no
longer enjoy its Identification, death, hope,
will come quickly.
have served, all told, under eighteen flags,
and to each I gave the best that was in me.
In following my natural bent, 1t perhaps will
be 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.
ed-blooded love of adventure, free from any
wanton spirit and with the prospect of flnan-
cial reward always subordinated, has been the
driving force in all my encounters with good
men and bad, with the latter class much in
the majority. The name by which am known
is one of the contradictions of my life. Save
only for my father, who sympathized with my
adventurous disposition at the same time that
he tried to curb it, 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 1t, here or hereafter.
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.
I was born May I, 1912, on Fifth avenue,
New York, not 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 a somewhat scattered series of esca-
pades, which increased the ire Of the family
and intensified my dislike Of their prosaic
protestations. my father solemnly declared his
intention Of sending me to the United States
Naval Academy. I was 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 fired at Fort Sumter April II, 1861.
/ was Immediately seized with wild desire
to be in the fight. My father would not con-
sent to it. on account of my age. but promised
that If l would wait year, he would try to
get me a commission. My sympathes were
with the South, but it 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 l was
placed in charge of an uncle.
He prevented my joining an infantry regi-
ment, but got away with cavalry regiment
some months later and was made one of its
officers. We went to Cairo, ILL.,, and from
there by transport to Pittsburg Landing, where
we arrived just in time to take part In the
battle fought on April and T. 1862. was Sc
verely wounded in that engagement
When was discharged from the hospital
was sent into the Tennessee mountains in
charge of a detachment to intercept contra
band which was being sent into the south from
Cincinnati
Soon after my return to headquarters con-
tracted a bad case- Of malaria and was sent
home, which meant back to Woodstock, where
I had eloped with bankers daughter just
before going to the front. was Disguised
with the war and expressed byself so 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 on
hanging me for being "a - copperhead."
and they might have done it If old man Well
burn, the proprietor of the hotel at which my
wife and I were staying, had not helped me
to stand of mob that came after me.
That experience intensified by dissatisfac-
ton with the whole business and sent in my
resignation. 1t was accepted and when had
thought 1t all over I considered that was
lucky to have escaped court-martial.
had heard that Carlos Manuel de Cespedes
| was fomenting q revolt in Cuba, which after
ward was known as the Ten Years War;" and
had conceived the idea Of taking hand In it.
While was wondering how could get into
| communication with Cespedes by interest was
aroused by a newspaper story Of the new block
ade-runner Letter B. There was so much
| money in blockaderunning that the owners
could well afford to lose her after she had
| made three successful trips.
In five minutes decided to become block
ade-runner and to buy the new and already
famous ship, II she was to be had at any price
| within reason. I bought a letter of credit and
! took the next ship for Bermuda. On my ar
| rival there found that the Letter had been
expected in for several days from her second
| trip and that there was considerable anxiety
! about her. l also learned that her owner was
building a second ship on. the same lines and
| for the same trade. fresh cargo of NUM-
| tons Of war was awaiting the Letter B. and a
| ship was ready to take to England the cotton
| she would bring
s I>gots acquainted with the agent for the