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

to suit the tlmes' bu
!: !: ! !: !. &: !. i: !. !: . . !: !. !.
they are eternal. anC
eGS@2aN live by that perpetua
6gTVfN& adaptation TO environ
M n vs. n.ent which Mr. Spen
nv " Ger tells US is the law
~ of life When we say
"gentlemanly adven
turers" we Immediately think o.
Raleigh and Morgan and Ponce DC
Leon, and such gentlemen of the ole
school, but they have their successors
today. and will have till the love OF
adventure is dead in the human heart
have met several of these adven
utrers in the course of my personal
wanderings. Here is one of them.
After many days of travelling on
muleback, through jungles and over
mountains, In Spanish Honduras,
found myself at little inn in Santa
Barbara, q town situated in the inter
Tor. Here, one evening. / was indulg
ing a 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 he had heard OF
me, and that he had come into Santa
Barbara to take me out on his ranch,
If would accompany him.
was obliged to refuse his invita-
tion, 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 retlcent concerning his life and
adventures, as such men usually are
What record about him have learn
mainly through friend of mine who
has been much in Central America and
who knows John Drummond well
John Drummond, | have learned, was
born in Mobile, Ala, but just when
do not know, nor can | tell anything Of
his early days, and it suffices to say
that he really became interesting
when the spirit of adventure led him
into the unsettled country of Hon
duras. Here he became a soldier of
fortune, and rose to the position Of
commander-in-chief of the army OF
Honduras under the former President
Yasquez, whom he helped into power;
for the presidency of Honduras is won
not by votes but by bullets.
Vasquez remarked to my friend that
John Drummond was always absolute
ly loyal to whatever cause he happen
ed to be enlisted in.
At the end Of his enlistment he
would fight Just as well and Loyalty
nnder the flag OF a former opponent
Well, Vasquez had gone out Of pow
er and was anxious for another term.
In Honduras this is a matter not of
conventions and elections, but Of up
risings. So Vasquez rose, and engaged
Drummond to help him. Drummond
was first sent to capture a quartelle,
or small fort.
He stole upon 1t during the night
and darkness. He armed his men only
with daggers, and made them strip
OF every article OF clothing. Nude, |
they stole into the quartelle, and i'm
mediately extinguished all lights. In
the confusion and darkness, Drum !
mond's men knew each other by the |
feel Of the bare skin in the hand-to-
hand combat that ensued, and in this !
way the garrison was quickly ex-
Drummond, with a small body OF |
troops, ther made a rapid march to
the Atlantic coast and captured the |
principal port, Puerto Cortez. His
force consisted of eight Texans and |
a few hundred native soldiers.
An army Of government troops were |
stationed at San Pedro, a town at the |
end Of a line Of 40 miles of railroad
which starts at Puerto Cortez and rep
the entire railway system Of
Honduras
One day 1t was reported to Drum.
mond that the government troops were
On their way from San Pedro on a
train. He Immediately took
possession of an engine and tender,
placing the latter in front OF the en-
CINE. Then he barricaded it, mounted
/ small piece of ordnance and his
eight lusty Texans upon it, and so
went serenely forth to meet the en-
emy.
AS soon as the banana train hove in
sight, he let fly at it with artillery
md rifles, and stampeded the invading
army, who took to the woods in ter
'or.
Drummond and his men returned H.
triumph to Puerto Cortez, Then an
alleged understanding but a con