Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-01


landed us in Es-
perandO. Our Jonah swallowed the
bad credit Of it with appealing frank.
ness but that scarcely lessened the
hardships our cause was made to suf.
fer.
"At last one afternoon we steamed
into the calm estuary Of the little Rio
EscondidO. Three miles up this we
crcpt, feeling for the shallow channel
between the low banks that were
crowded to the edge with gigantic trees
and rlotous vegetation. Then our whis.
tie gave a little toot, and in five min
utes we heard shout, and Carlos-my
brave Carlos Qulntana - crashed
through the tangled vines waving his
cap madly for joy.
"a hundred yards away was his
camp, where 800 chosen patriots of Els.
perando were awaiting our coming.
For month Carlos had been drilling
them there in the tactics of war and
filling them with the spirit of revolu.
ton and liberty.
My captain-compadre miOr shout.
ed Carlos, while yet my boat was be.
ing lowered. You should see them in
the drill by companies-in the column
wheel-in the march by four-they are
superb! Also In the manual of arms
but, alas, performed only with sticks
of bamboo The guns. captain
that you have brought the guns!
"A thousand good rifles, Carlos, |
called to him. And two Gatlings.
"'VOlgame DlOsr he cried, throwing
his cap in the air. we shall sweep the
worldr
AT that moment Kearny tumbled
from the steamers side into the river
He could not swim, so the crew threw
him Il rope and drew him back aboard
caught his eye and his look Of pa
thetic but still bright and undaunted
consciousness OF his guilty luck, told
myself that. although he might be a
man TO shun, he was also one to be
| admired.
81 gave orders to the sailing master
that the arms, ammunition and provi.
sions were to be landed at once. That
was easy In the steamers boats, ex.
cept for the two Gatling guns. For
their transportation ashore we carried
a stout latboat.
In the meantime | walked with Car
los to the camp and made the soldiers
a little speech In Spanish, which they
received with enthusiasm, and then
had some wine and n cigarette in Car
los tent.
"The small arms and provisions were
already ashore, and the petty officers
had squads Of men conveying them Ia
camp, One Gatling had been safely
landed. The other was just being
| hoisted over the side Of the vessel rs
We arrived l noticed Kearny darting
about on board, seeming to have the
ambition Of ten men and to be doing
the work Of five. think his zeal bub
bed over when he saw Carlos and me
A ropes end was swinging loose from
some part Of the tackle. Kearny leap
ed impetuously and caught it. There
was crackle and u hiss and a smoke
Of scorching hemp and the Gating
dropped straight MS plummet through
the bottom Of the flatboat and buried
itself In twenty feet Of water and 1--we
feet OF river mud
Il turned my back ON the scene. /
heard Carlos loud cries as if from
some extreme grief too poignant for
words. | heard the complaining muir
muir of the crew ana the maledictlons
Of Torres, the sailing master could
not bear to look.
by night some degree Of order had
been restored In camp, Military rules
were not drawn strictly, and the men
were grouped about the ires OF their
several mcsses. playing games OF
chance, singing their native songs OF
discussing with voluble animation the
contingencies OF our march upon the
capital
10 my tent, which had been pitch
ed for me close TO that OF my chief
lieutenant. came Ke0rny, indomitable,
smiling, bright eyed, bearing no traces
of the butfets OF his evil star, Rather
was his aspect that Of a heroic mar.
tyr whose tribulation' were so high
sourced and glorious that he even took
a splendOr and a prestige from them.
"'well, captain said he, I guess
--uurprusmasN s--u.as-~