Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-10-13
! II ;
Stone Soldier
, He COOlly Stood Guard In the
, Presence Of Mexican Bandits
By F. A. mitchell.

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During the administration of the
government Of Mexico by Porf1rio Diaz
a young American, Edward Ingersoll,
who had just married young woman,
went to the state of Durango to set
tie Northern capital was then pour
ing into Mexico, and the prospect of
prosperity was greater than ever be-
fore. Diaz had held the discordant
elements in check for many years. and
It looked as II the continued succession
of revolutions was over.
The young emigrant was stonecut-
ter and settled In n town where the
wooden buildings were being torn down
to give place to those of more sub
stantial character. Having purchased
small tract on the outskirts Of the
place, he built on 1t a dwelling house
and shed, under which he kept his
material. Besides getting out the or
binary stonework for the ornamental
ton of buildings, he designed and con-
structed marble monuments. His In
stincts were artistic, and, although his
figures were crude, some Of them were
fairly well executed
But scarcely had Ingersoll become
settled when the revolution was start
ed which vas destined to result in the
downfall Of the man whose iron hand
had kept the peace In Mexico. The
Madero revolution destroyed the equi-
librlum under which Mexico had pros
pered, and Madero was succeeded by
Huerta. In addition to the regular
forces az they deserve the nance pitted
against each other, bands Of men
whose only object was plumber were
let loose, and If anything were needed
to complete the wreck of Mexico they
supplied the deficiency.
The orders which had kept Ingersoll
busy dropped away. His business was
paralyzed He would have pulled up
and gone back to the United States
but what means he had were invested
In his stoneyard, and he could not get
1t out. He must wait for some new
POhNA " btiEb lht kONtii VA hAtA
leo that would restrain the conflict
ing elements. Hoping against hope
he remained where he was, but made
what preparation he could with his
limited means to resist any attack that
might be made upon his premises by
marauders from the different armies or
the bandits
Having plenty Of stone I'm his yard,
he built miniature fortress around
his dwelling, A parapet was con-
structed of headstones, either finished
or partly finished. Square apertures
were left, intended for loopholes
through which to fire. But since there
was no one except Ingersoll to do the
firing and since he had no ordnance
there was little prospect Of success
full defense
There were several stone figures In
the yard which Ingersoll thought Of
putting up on his fortress as scare
crows--that Is, In the hope that an enc
my seeing them from distance would
believe them to be veritable defenders.
nut ihtJ NtiC hOI
able to the purpose. One was white
marble angel blowing the resurrection
trump; another was n saint that had
been ordered for church. There was
only one that would be suitable deco
ration for n fertilization, life size
statue of soldier that had been or
dered TO mark the grave Of young
NH haI din1 In thn Mnytaan
military service. He was represented
standing as If on guard, the butt Of his
musket on the ground. the barrel rest
ing against his shoulder. Ingers0ll
could not hope that this stone figure
would be mistaken for n live man, but
1t was the only soldler-llke defense at
hand, so he lifted II by derrick onto
the rampant
The fort might deceive an enemy II
It could not be plainly seen, but in
broad daylight 1t would deceive no
body. At night It would not be seen
at all.
There came time when bandit
chief determined to loot the town near
which Ingersoll lived. He had sent
one Of his men into the place to dis
cover where the richest plumber was
to be obtained and 10 report thereon.
When the spy returned among other
persons who might be compelled to
dIsgorge what would be worth having
he named Ingersoll. There was no
plumber In stones. manufactured or I'M
manufactured. but Inpersoll was sup
posed 10 have money and would doubt
less pay well for the lives OF himself
and family. The spy did not visit the
stoneyard. but had heard that some
sort Of defense had been constructed.
The bandit chief. when he approached
the town at night, expecting TO take
the people Off their guard and prevent
their having time 10 organize de-
Tense. sent detachment under one
Manuel Nnnez TO swoop down ON the
stOncyard ana cxtort all the money
the owner had
II learn" he said, that the man IL a
gringo and n he doesn't give you all
the ready cnsh you have reason to sup
pose hc possesses XIII him and take
what you find"
Now. these Instructions we're given
In the house OF M American settler
whose promises the bandits had looted
and wore overheard by the despOled
man, who sent his son 10 IngersOlI 10
tell him what WIS 10 be melted out 10
him. When the boy appeared Mt the
TT q III - a II. e"