The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-16

and dialects with fiuency--made him
welcome not only i'm the courts Of Eu-
rope bur I'm the remote parts Of Asia,
Tie became the friend and adviser of
Tartars, he mingled with the Cossacks
of the Don, he was received in the
courts of CipangO ami Cathay. An
unofficial ambassador. he brought to
many land the knowledge OF the
United Ste es and was received as a
typical American citizen. On account
OF his wide learning and varied ac-
complishments he became welcome
guest at the Russian court i'm Petro-
grad. and there is to he found in his
"reminiscences a delightful account of
a dinner at which he was the guest of
the Tsar. The Emperor Of Russia Of
fered him a commission I'm the army
In which he was contemplating MAX
ing changes of organization and per-
sonnel. The turn Of affairs at home
and the illness of his father COM
pc ia his return to the United States.
After the estate Of tho elder Poin-
sett had been settled he applied to
President Madison for military en-
ployment and was about to become
quartermaster general of the army
when the secretary Of war interfered.
Mr.. Poinsett was then intrusted
with the delicate diplomatic mission
Of finding out what was the state of
the South American republics. which
n century ago were engaged i'm their
struggle for independence against the
might of Spain. Although he was there
as an ambassador. Mr.. Poinsetc was
none the less obliged to- he a man of
action. He was in Chill when the
Spanish representatives in Peru be-
lieving that hostilities had broken out
between the United States and Spain
seized several merchant vessels OF this
country. A force then marched into
Gillian territory and at Talcahuano
captured several other American craft
Here was the opportunity for the
born soldier who hitherto had been
prevented by whims of destiny from
following his natural bent. The new
republic Of Chill placed under the
command of Poinsett n large force
Of men who attacked tho Spaniards
and recaptured all the vessels. He was
In Valparaiso in 1914 toward the close
} OF the War of 1912 between the Unit
} ed states and Great Britain, when
the American man of war ESSEX
came to that region after a remark.
able career as a commerce destroyer
In the Pacific to be destroyed by the
superior strength of the Phoebe and
the Cherub. Mr.. Poinsett wished tC
return home but he Was regarded al
dangerous character by the British
They refused to permit him to be
sent back on the Essex. Jr., ON which
some American officers were beins
returned to New York on parole
He therefore made the adventurou.
crossing Of the Andes and landed IL
this country too late to offer his ser.
: vices for war. peace having beer
declared.
Civic affairs engaged his attention
for many years to como. He was
elected to the United States house OF
Representatives from his native Soutf
Carolina. and became interested n
public highways and other extensiv.
schemes for internal improve.
ment.
Mr.. Poinsett went in 1899 on an i'm
portant special mission to Mexico dur
ing the rule of Iturbide and afterwart
Went there as the minister from the
United States. During one OF the
revolutionary outbreaks which for SC
many years have been feature of the
life Of the republic to the south, Ger.
tain prominent Mexican families TOOK
refuge In his house. He placed on the
front Of the building an American
iag and. standing on the balcony, de.
He'd the mob to harm Kim or the
building. which was then under the
protection of the flag.
Odicials Accused Him of Introducing
FreemasOnry.
He became involved i'm a controver.
sy with certain of the authorities in
Mexico who accused him of introduc.
ing Freemasonry into the country. AS
matter OF fact he had been asked
by certain Freemasons in Mexico 10
send to the Grand Lodge in the State
OF New York for charters for their
lodges and this he did on his re-
turn to the United States Mr.. Poin.
sett wrote vigorous pamphlet i'm de-