The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-07-25

verted tug--was sent to attack Drum
mond by sea. Sunk partly In some
ancient earthworks commanding the
harbor was a very ancient piece Of
! Spanish artillery, quite large smooth
bore brass cannon, artistically orn-
mented after the old Spanish fashion
The ancient piece could not be swiv-
! eled because of the embrace Of Moth
er Earth, but Drummond waited until
the diminutiYe man-of-war was on a
line with his piece of ordnance, then
he bade his gunner to fire. As nothing
happened. Drummond, who was smok-
ing, leaned over and placed the light
ed end of his cigar to the touch-hole.
The cannon belched forth its missile,
Drummond in the face and knocked
him senseless. He has been minus an
eye since this exploit.
He was taken in a stretcher to the
home Of the British consul, where he
lay for some days, lost to life and
use and name and fame"
Meantime, the invading government
forces entered the town The eight
Texans discreetly vanished, and
Drummond's small army took to the
tall timbers.
The commanding general demanded
Drummond from the British consul,
who parleyed. having cabled to Ja-
maica for a British man-of-war So,
while the parleying was going on, the
Britisher appeared hot-footed from
Kingston. the largest and most awe
inspiring instrument of naval warfare
that had ever been seen in those wa !
ters.
1t fired a saluting broadside, Just to
proclaim its deep-toned bass, and the
general of the government troops was
invited on board. After the usual ex-
change Of courtesies, the British cap
tain told the general that If anything |
happened to Drummond he would blow |
Puetro Cortez to an even hotter eli |
mate than it at present enjoys.
This casual remark, emphasized by |
a stern array of 12-inch guns, pro- |
duced a salient effect, and Drummond, |
who had partly recovered, was allow
ed to depart in peace, while the cruis-
er sailed off to its own waters.
But Drummond was captured as he
was making his way to safety, and !
was incarcerated in dismal prison
cell in San Pedro. 1t was the intention
to give him a trial for the sake of ap-
pearance, and then to shoot him. AS
Q solace due to his rank and station,
he was allowed bottle of claret each
night for his dinner
One evening he sat in his dim and
lonely cell awaiting his dinner and
perhaps also looking forward with an
to his bottle of claret.
One Of the iailers entered bearing
the bottle.
Have a drink with me, senor," sug-
gested Drummond.
with pleasure, senor." responded
the jailer.
There was but one glass, so Drum
mond took the bottle in his hand and
filed the glass. Then he handed it to
the jailer, who bowed and placed the
glass to his lips. AS he did so, Drum
mond hit him a fearful blow en- the
head with the almost full bottle, crush
ing in his skull. Seizing the soldiers
musket, Drummond rushed forth and
shot his other jailer dead.
BY good fortune, mule. saddled and
Dridled, was tethered to nearby tree.
the mule, Drummond rode
Of into the darkness, and, you may
be- sure, kept the mule going at its
highest mule-power, With the animal
iead-beat, he crept into village at
iaybreak, woke the alcalde from his
,lumbers and told him in excellent
Spanish that the rascally Drummond
lad escaped, that he was in hot pur-
suit and that he wished a fresh mule
Vt once in the name of the presidente.
The mule was furnished, and again
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