Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-05-01
"Look Out Greasers Shoot In The
Back" Warns Old Veteran.
From the Baltimore Sun.

hoary veteran of the Mexican War of
lS46-4S, one of the few survivors in this
country of that bloody conflict, and per-
haps the last in Maryland.
Up in a little hermits hut on lonely
road between Brookeville and Sunshine,
Montgomery county, Watkins spends the
remaining days of his declining years
"reminiscing" over the events of war, the
scenes of which will probably be re-enact-
ed with no very different setting in this
year of our Lord. 1914.
Watkins is a picturesque figure. indeed,
and, because of his sequestered existence.
he is disturbed by few along the road
from Brookeville to Sunshine. A man of
splendid education and good family. he
lives in a small cabin with only parrot,
a family of chickens and dogs and the
boy" who tends to his small wants. The
hoy, incidentally, let it be said, may justi-
fly this juvenile title by retaining the spirit
of youth in his heart, but judging from his
erizzled appearance his years must num-
Der into the sixties.
When, after devious wandering, called
at the decrepit little cabin. which. from
the looks of things, must ante-date its &C.
cupants, such a raucous noise of barking,
screeching, cackling and growing filled the
air as to make Rostands famous "Chante-
cler" barnyard scene sound tame in COM
parison.
There was neither sight nor sound Of a
human presence, however. The warm af-
ternoon sun beat down on an unoccupied lit
tie porch and knock at the crippled door,
which hung ajar quite involuntarily, brought
forth no response
A single push and the door creaked open
and revealed picture which one would
have to travel far to see again. A small
room with its entire wall space filled al
most wholly with calendars of many years.
floors and tables Uttered with cages con-
tanning fancy-bred chickens. an old man
of patriarchal appearance seated in rick
ETY. rocker in front of an unlit stove whose
chimney went up through the centre of the
ceiling.
A snow white beard hung down over his
chest its natural length shortened by two
thick knots. tied with the evident inten-
ton Of keeping it out of the wearer's way.
On the shoulder of this ancient looking
man was perched brilliantly plumaeed
green parrot and at his feet three or four
terriers lay in somnolent contentment.
The opening Of the door set the Occu-
pants of this unusual room all a-clatter
once more and the old man aroused him
self from his reveries and raising heavy
wooden stick at his side, peremptorily babe
the fowls of the air and beasts of the field
to be still
"MexicoI' he repeated in a robust voice,
when the bedlam had subsidized, and went
on as though the visitors question had but
chimed in with his reflections of the mo-
ment, "our boys must be careful, for the
Mexicans shoot from behindr
Bobby, a prize brown Leghorn rooster
from his wooden cage in the corner, let out
a shrill cry of battle and all the other
chickens took up the sound.
Yes" the old man continued, when he
could make himself heard once more,
gorilla fighting is what war with Mexico
amounts to. They hide themselves in the
mountains and shoot at you from ambush
when you aren't looking. Catch them COM
ing out in the open and having real
battle. not if they can help it. They like to
sneak up on the enemy when il isn't look
ing and shoot men in the back. that's what
they like. And that's how Captain Walker
was killed.
Tell about it,
The old mans blue eyes. remarkably
bright and clear. kindled at the recollec-
ton.
mo man was ever Drawer than Capt.
Samuel II. Walker" he said, nothing on
earth could scare him. and no man ever
looked the part more than he. either face
sharp and lean. as though it had been
chiseled out of stone, with the skin stretch
ed over it as tight as the vellum on drum.
DO or die. he seemed to be saying all the
time.
Captain Walker was a Prince Georges
county man. and finer one never lived
He was in command of the Maryland
Mounted Riflemen, with Percival F. Smith
as colonel. was the youngest boy in that
regiment" Oliver Watkins continued proud
ly 1T was when entered. and knew
what was about. too"
The old man was in brown study Of
"reminiscences and his visitor did not inter
rupt him.
There was great excitement out here at
Brookevile." he went on, when war was
declared. | was just finishing school then
at the BroOkeville Academy and some Of
my friends, who were older than |, would
get together and read the war news and
talk about going down and teaching the
Mexicans lesson that they never would
forget. They seem to have forgotten it
though" he added with little smile.
well. he continued, when they made
up their minds to 90. decided to 90 along
with them. II wasn't just because was
excited and wanted TO 90 to war. either.
don't believe in war unless it's absolutely
necessary. but ! thought that every man
who could be spared should 90 down and
fight the Mexicans.
port News. where we laid up for week or
two and drilled. This was in 1847, some
time after the war had begun. From New
port News we were sent on to the barracks
at New Orleans and there we we're laid up
for three weeks before we were ordered to
Mexico"
The old man was che wing vigorously by
this time. Jessie. the ss-ereen parrot,