The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-02
! n
|Stone Soldier
he CeOlly Stood Guard In the
Presence Of Mexican Bandits
By F. A. mitchell.

! he ne IsAl WILL 4
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During the administration of thu
government Of Mexico by Porfirio Dia,
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. Diax had held the discordan,
elements in check for many years. and
1t looked as II the continued succession
Of revolutions was over.
The young emigrant was q stonecut.
ter and settled in a town where the
wooden buildings were being torn down
to give place to those Of a more sub.
stantial character. Having purchased
a small tract on the outskirts Of the
place, he built on it dwelling house
and a 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 was destined to result in the
| downfall OF the man whose iron hand
had kept the peace in Mexico. The
Madero revolution destroyed the equi-
nBrium under which Mexico had pros
pered. and Madero was succeeded by
Huerta. In addition to the regular
forces III 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 ND
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
power to seize the government Of Mex
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 in 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 a 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 ene-
my seeing them from distance would
believe them to be veritable defenders.
But unfortunately they were not suit
able to the purpose. One was a white
marble angel blowing the resurrection
trump; another was saint that had
been ordered for a church. There was
only one that would be suitable deco
ration for fertilization, a life size
statue Of a soldier that had been Or
dered to mark the grave Of a young
man who had died In the Mexican
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. Ingersoll
could not hope that this stone figure
would be mistaken for live man, but |
1t was the only soldier-like defense at |
hand, so he lifted 1t by a derrick onto
the rampant.
The fort might deceive an enemy If |
1t could not be plainly seen, but In
broad daylight it would deceive no.
body. At night u would not be seen
at all.
There came a time when a 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
10 be obtained and to report thereon.
When the spy returned ameng other
persons who might be compelled to
1isgorge what would be worth having
be named Ingersoll. There was no
alunder In stones. manufactured or un-
but Ingersoll was sup
posed to have money and would doubt
less pay well for the lives Of himself
md family. The spy did not visit the
,toneyard. but had heard that some
,ort Of defense had been constructed.
rhe bandit chief, when he approached
he town at night, expecting to take
he people or their guard and prevent
heir having time to organize a de-
'ense. sent a detachment under one
Manuel Nunez to swoop down on the
toneyard and extort all the money
he owner had.
II learn" he said, that the man Is a
'ringo, and IL he doesn't give you all
he ready cash you have reason to sup.
b.. r~lIr I