The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-02-28
WHEN ADVENTURES
RULED NICARAGUA
Recent Classes Recall Period when
American Bands Held Sway IN
Central America


American marines in Nicarauga re-
calls the Central American fihbusters
If the early nineteenth century,
How many persons are aware that an
American gentleman-adventurer' ac-
companied only by a small band Oh
ffty-six, captured the Republic OF
Nicaragua, ruled it as it's PresioenV'
and held the rocky neck of the Amer
icas in an iron grip for almost a year
That was back in 1856.
Now the Central American repuo'
lies are we'll organized Governments
on the verge of becoming federation
REPORTS of oil spouters in Nicaragua
are also sure to add to their import
snce and prestige.
knight errants, born centuries too
late" is the way a historian charac-
terizes the ill-fated filibusters. Louis
lana. Florida, California and Texas
all of which are now parts of the Un-
tied States, were once owned by for
eign nations, and their proximity 10
American territory was an everlast-
ing temptation to adventure loving
boistering patriots. Central America
and Mexico and subsequently Cuba,
were the field of the filibuster efforts
when these others had come under
the dominion of the Stars and Stripes
Aaron Burr First Filibuster
The original filibuster was Aaron
Burr, who aimed unsuccessfully at
the imperial crown of the Montezu-
mas. The next outstanding figure is
that of Augustus Magee of Massachu-
setts. He counselled surrender, but
his men wouldn't think of it, and
swept him along with them to VIC
tory. On the night of triumph he
blew out his brains. And then comes
Col. Perry of New Orleans, who
scoffed at the thought of surrender
when he and his handful of Ameri-
cans were surrounded by hunt
of Mexicans Perry was the last to
fall, and he died by his own hand.
"Remember the Alamo" was a call
to remember the filibuster, for it was
there that such brave men as Col.
Bowie, Marrett, Travis and Davy
Crockett, all filibusters, perished.
Most people know the story OF the
Alamo, how Santa Anna, the Mexican
chieftain, slowly starved to death a
garrison of brave men. When his
forces at length charged the fort only
q few were left, and these fell fight
ing. Travis was found dead with a
bullet in his head. Before the door of
Bowie's hut, where he lay sick, five
dead Mexicans sprawled and over his
body sixth, pierced by the knife
which bore his name. Crockett was
cut down by a dozen swords in the
act of leaping at Santa Anna's thoat.
Then came the expeditions into
Lower California and into Central
America. The latter field of effort was
graced by the greatest of all filibus-
ters and most successful of them all.
He was William Walker, who had by
dint of his power to conceive and
execute, and his power to command,
won TO the Presidency of Sonora and
Nicaragua, and who, because he did
not know when to quit, died at the
age of 81, riddled by the bullets of a
Honduran firing squad.
Left Frisco in 1856.
In a small, unseaworthy brig, &C.
companied by his handful of sup
porters, Walker stole out of San
Francisco harbor in 1856, bound for
Nicaragua and an empire. Before the
year was out Walker had defeated all
his enemies, elected himself Presi-
dent of the republic and not long af-
ter received the recognition of the
United States. At this time no name
was better known and more discuss
ed than that of William Walker, law
yer, doctor, journalist, soldier and
President.
Most of his flibusters were re-
cruited from California.
"Those were Californians when to
be a Californian meant to belong to
that race of giants who had come
from all parts of the earth in search
of gold," declares historian, land
4lo,,co~l ro1oc