Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-10
HE FOUGHT WITH WALKER
Perhaps Last Survivor Of Nicaragua
Campaign Dies in Kansas.

Campaign Dies in Kansas.
One Of few remaining II not the
last survivor of William Walkers his
! toric filibustering expedition into Nj
caragua in 1856, died in Topeka, Kan
sas, on March Is, according to letter
from Topeka. He was w. H. Stuart, a
veteran Santa Fe employe and resi-
dent Of Topeka for 40 years. He retir-
ed from the Santa Fe service on a PEN
sion in 1907. His death ended an ILL
ness Of three weeks Up to his death
Mr.. Stewart carried in his left thigh a
bullet received while fighting under
Walker in Nicaragua.
Taciturn, silent and self-contained,
Mr.. Stuart lived life time in Topeka
with scarcely hint to any Of his
friends Of the stirring events in his life.
Ambitious and adventurous, he was OF
the stuff that would lead forlorn hope.
At the age of 10 he enlisted in Walk
er's expedition to Nicaragua, filibus-
tering expedition that attracted the
attention of the world, and particularly
Of the Latin-American states. William
Walker was called "the gray eyed man
Of destiny" Prior to his expedition to
Nicaragua he had been tried and ac-
quilted in California for breach Of the
neutrality laws in seeking to raise a
force in the United States for his foray
on Nicaragua, or any of the adjoining
states that offered him inducements to
get up an insurrection or take part In
one Of them on the boards.
Walker organized his expedition in
June, 1855, and went to Nicaragua to
engage in a civil war then raging there,
similar to the present Mexican disturb
ance. He took with him less than 100
followers from the United States, Stu
art being one of them. Walker ranged
himself against the Nicaraguan gov
ernment. With his little force he landed
at Realego, where company Of native
troops Joined him. He fought and won
two battles at Rivas and Virgin Bay.
Walker attacked and captured the city
Of Granada in October, 1855. He also
had encounters with the forces Of Cos
Ia Rrca and Honduras. He made a
treaty with the general commanding
his forces, proclaiming himself presi-
dent, issued unlimited worthless cur
rency and took away the charter Of
the Vanderbilt Ship company.
Walker was a real president while he
lasted, Mr.. Stuart declared. He re-es-
tablished slavery and showed his pow
er and authority in many things He
was finally defeated and burned Grana-
da. In the spring of 1856 he surrender
ed with less than 200 followers to Com
modore Paulding, then commanding a
vessel Of the United States navy. Stu
art was of this number. The Americans
were taken to New York, where they
were released on their written parole,
in which they promised not to bear
arms against the United States until
exchanged. They were set at liberty by
Jefferson Davis, then secretary Of war
of the United States, afterward presi-
dent Of the Confederacy.
Stuart went south, and there the CIV
II war found him. The Confederacy
conscripted him into the rebel ranks,
but Stuart demanded his release on
account Of the parole held by him. The
matter was referred to Jefferson Davis,
then president Of the Confederacy, who
as secretary Of war had authorized his
release on parole. Davis respected the
parole and Stuart was released and
made his way north, coming to Topeka
in the early seventies and entering the
employ of the Santa Fe, then an infant
among railroads.
Stuart was with Walker in all his
battles with the government forces OF
Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras,
but during his long residence in Tope-
ka, he seldom referred to the adventure
Of his younger days or Of the stir he
helped to make all over the United
States and Central America almost 60
years ago.