Woman's enterprise., 1922-08-01
Trip to and Arrival at Granada-How
We Volunteered and Became Mem.
bers of the First Rifles.
By JOHN McGRATH.
Continued from Last Issue.)


Arriving at New Orleans the morn
ing after leaving home we started
out to find Walkers recruiting office,
which notwithstanding the Presidents
proclamation of neutrality, was not a
difficult undertaking as it was located
on the second floor of No. 16 Royal
street and known to all those in that
locality. 1t was conducted openly,
evidently without fear of being raided
by United States marshals who SEEM
ed to be blind to its existence even
though we'll known to the general
public. Climbing the stairs to the
second floor we entered a large room
bare Of everything but table at
which the most disreputable and dis
gusting looking man I had even seen
was seated. His face was blSated,
his eyes bleary and his clothing OF
fine material soiled by mud as if ne
had slept in street gutter. The
sight Of this whiskey besotted indl-
vidual acting as Walkers agent was
most discouraging and we made up
our minds right then and there to
avoid acceptance Of anything likely
to bind US to the cause of Walker
Asking for information as to the
chances of getting to Nicaragua and
what our status would be when there
the man pictured the country as q
paradise with wealth to be acquired
by slight effort. "1f you sign up
transportation will be furnished and
YOU can 20 down on the steamer Dan
iel Webster leaving on Saturday,
said he. Telling him we would con-
slider the matter We retired to the
street where one of the boys remarked
with such a bum as that as recruit
ing officer what kind Of an aggrega
tion must the rank and file be?'
The outlook was so discouraglng VT
knew not what to do. To return
home was out of the question as We
had burned the bridges behind US, 81
to speak, to enlist and accept trans
portation after our interview with tn
man in the office we would not, so af
ter considerable discussion we agreed
to find the office of the steamship
company, pay our passages and g
down as tourists trusting to ou
American citizenship for protection
such became necessary. We Wer
fairly we'll supplied with funds, sui
fcient at least, to defray expense 9
passage to and back should we wis
to return. Securing transportation g
the office of the steampship compan.
we next, on the advice Of our ne
found friend, proceeded to Burnside
store on Canal street to outfit II
campaigning. Equipped with blanke
and other serviceable articles we r
turned to the recruiting office to il
form Walkers representative that v
would not accept transportation
otherwise obligate ourselves to SER
Walker, adding if things suited
when we arrived at Granada We pro
ably would enlist.
"Well, boys, you are wlse,' said
"What | told you Of Nicaragua W
by instruction of the captain in char
who has gone on visit to his {
home leaving me here until Saturd
when | am to leave by the steam
you 20 down on. You have brig
future before you while I am only
human derelict. l was reared a g
tleman and | am a lawyer by p
fession. and my father is on the
preme bench of my native state
have disgraced the family name a
grave in Nicaragua is about
best place for me. | have written