The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-08-16

mond by sea. Sunk partly in some
ancient earthworks commanding the
harbor was 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 diminutive man-of-war was on a
line with his piece of ordnance, then
he babe 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,
but 1t also rose In the air. struck
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 ia
maica for a British man-of-war So,
while the parleyins 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
tiers.
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 II anything
happened to Drummond he would blow
Puerto Cortez to an even hotter eli
mate than 1t 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 of to its own waters.
But Drummond was captured as he
was making his way to safety, and
was incarcerated In a dismal prison
cell In San Pedro. 1t was the intention
to give him trial for the sake of ap-
pearance, and then to shoot him. AS
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
ticipation to his bottle of claret
One OF the jailers 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
filled the glass. Then he handed II to
the jailer, who bowed and placed the
glass to his lips. AS he did so, Drum
mond hit him fearful blow on the
head with the almost full bottle, crush
ing in his skull. Selling the soldiers
musket. Drummond rushed forth and
shot his other jailer dead.
BY good fortune, a mule, saddled and
bridled. was tethered to nearby tree.
Mounting 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
dead-beat. he crept into a village at
daybreak, woke the alcalde from his
slumbers and told him In excellent
Spanish that the rascally Drummond
had escaped. that he was in hot pur-
suit and that he wished fresh mule
at once. in the name Of the presidente.
The mule was furnished. and again