The Ordway new era., 1913-07-18
& Henry Collins Walsh.

CQP1HNCM ~ n
- YPES are modified by
their environment, and
to suit the times. But
they arc eternal. and
a9A live by that perpetual
adaptation to environ
N = X ment which Mr. Spen-
III Ger tells us Is the law
& of life. When we say
"gentlemanly adven-
turers." We Immediately think OF
Raleigh and Morgan and Ponce de
Leon, and such gentlemen OF the old
school, but they have their successors
today, and will have till the love OF
adventure IL dead in the human heart
l have met several Of these adven-
utrers in the course Of my personal
wanderings. Here IL one Of them.
After many days --of travelling on
muieback. through jungles and over
mountains. in Spanish Honduras. !
found myself at a. little inn in Santa
Barbara, . town situated in the inter
ior. Here. one evening. was indulg-
ing q cigarette and after-dinner coffee
with my landlord and his lady. when
in upon this peaceful scene walked
John Drummond.
had heard Of him. and he was good
enough to say that be had heard Of
me. and that he had come into Santa
Barbara to take me out on his ranch.
II would accompany him.
was obliged to refuse his invita-
ton. but we remained together for
that night and part Of the next day.
at. Santa Barbara.
Aside from displaying himself in
the altogether and showing me body
fairly perforated with bullet-holes, the
visible "reminiscences Of many battles.
he was reti:ent concerning his life and
adventures, rs such men usually are.
What record about him ! have learn
mainly through q friend Of mine who
has been much In Central America and
who knows John Drummond we'll.
John Drummond. / have learned. was
born In Mobile. Ala. but Just when
do not know, nor can tell anything OF
his early days. and II sufnces to say
that he really became interesting
when the spirit Of adventure led him
into the unsettled country Of Hon
duraa. Here he became . soldier OF
fortune. and rose TO the position Of
commander-in-chief Of the army Of
Honduras under the former President
vasquex. whom he helped into power:
for the presidency Of Honduras 10 won
mot by votes but by bullets.
Vasquez remarked to my friend that
John Drummond was always absolute
~ loyal to whatever cause he happen
cd to be enlisted In.
At the end Of his enlistment he
would flght just a. we'll and loyalty
under the nag Of q former opponent.
Well. vasquez had gone out Of pow
or and was anxious for another term.
In Honduras this IL . matter not of
conventions and elections. but Of mp
risings. 30 vasques rose, and engaged
Drummond to help him. Drummond
was first sent to capture q quartelle.
or small fort.
He stole upon It during the night
and darkness. He armed his men only
with daggers, and made them strip
Oh every article Of clothing. Nude.
they stole into the quartelle. and i'm
mediately extinguishsd all lights. In
tho confusion and darkness. Drum
mond's men knew each other by the
feel Of the bare skin In the hand-to-
hand combat that snsusd, and In this
way the garrison was quickly ex-
terminated.
Drummond, with q small body Of
troops. then made = rapid march to
the Atlantic coast and captured the
principal port, Puerto Cortez. His
force consisted Of eight Texans and
Q few hundred native soldiers.
An army Of government troops wers
stationed at Gan Pedro. . town At the
end Of . line Of 10 miles Of railroad
which stATts at Puerto Cortes and rep
resents the entire railway system Of
Honduras.
Ono day Il was reported to Drum
mond that the government troops were
on their way from san Pedro on Q
banana train He Immediately took
possession Of an engine and tender.
placing the latter in front Of the en-
gine. Then he barricadsd II, mounted
. small piece Of ordnance and his
eight lusty TEXANS upon II, and 20
wsnt ssrsnely forth to meet the en-
emy.
A soon - the banana train hove In
sight, he lst ny at It with artillery
and rines. and stampeded the invading
army. who took to the woods in tar
ror.
Drummond and his men returned In
triumph to Puerto Cortex. Then an
alleged understanding but q con-
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Queen ssss Liked Her Ale strong.