New Britain herald., 1924-01-21
Compelled To Fight.

Compelled To Fight.
 1 A olcomotive engineer compelled to 1 fight in revolution as q matter of self-defense, General Lee Christmas
 took such a fancy to the smoke of battle, that he decided to become a soldier. For many years he was an international figure because of his exploits as soldier of fortune in Central America and probably no citi- zen of the United States-he never relinquished his American citizenship could boast of a greater acquaint- ance with revolutionary activities in that part of the world.
 The entrance of General Christmas into the upheavals of Central Amer ica was an accident, or an incident to q revolution in Honduras in 1897. At that time he was an engineer on a road operated by a fruit company in Honduras and one one of his trips ran into a revolutionist stronghold The revolutionists piled aboard his train and ordered him to run 1t to a point where the federal forces were concentrated. When the fighting be- gan there was no avenue of escape for Christmas and in self-defense he was obliged to take a rifle and pitch In. The battle was won by the revo- lutionists and Christmas, because of his conduct under fire, was made captain on the spot. From that time until 1911 when he assisted in over throwing the government of Presi- ,1ant nga s., stating that of General Bonilla, he spent the greater part of his time fighting or planning to fight. Nica- ragua, Salvador. Honduras and Guatemala were the scenes of most of his fighting and, in large measure, he was instrumental in placing five presidents in office by revolutionary tactics.
 Was Lake Pilot
 General Christmas was born in Il plantatio on on tho Amite river in I.it- ingston parish. Louisiana. 1e taHe.. from Baton Rouge, on Washington's birthday 1863. His father was Win field Scott Christmas who had the double distinction of having been named for General Winfield Scott and of having fought under General Scott at the battle of Chapualtepee, in the Mexican war.
 Lees first work was aboard pilot and tug boats on Lake Ponchartrain. but in 1879. before he was 17 years old, he went to railroading as q brakeman out of McComb, Miss, on what now Is a part of the Illinois Central system. Because of his youth he was taken off the road several times, but the influence of friends al- l ways managed to get him back. Two | years later he joined construction l crew building the Louisville, New l Orleans and Texas railroad, now the | Yazoo and Mississippi Valley division | Of the Illinois Central. By the time i the road was completed in 1884 he 1 again was in train service and was | baggage master aboard the first pas senger train to enter Memphis over | the new line. Then he became a fre- man and quickly was promoted to engineer.
 Asleep At Throttle
 Christmas ran engines between New Orleans and Memphis until 1891 when he went to sleep at the throttle, ran by flag and crashed into another train. He was scalded severely and when he recovered friends succeeded in obtaining his reinstatement. for there were extenuating circumstances. 1t was before the days Of the 16-hour law and it developed that he had been on duty continuously 54 hours | before he started out on the run. | When hru nderwUnt a physical exam 1 nation preparatory to returning to work it was discovered he was color blind. He was offered a switch-en- zine for his days of road service in his country were over. but at this iuncture he had an opportunity to go 10 railroading fn Honduras without my question of color blindness. and accepted. It was while engaged in his employment that he participated m his first revolution. Although he ought in many wars he seemed 10 be 1, IS much a railroad man as a rerolu- ionist. for between fights he returned .o the road and finally became it's , tt
 Christmas was a general in the trfnies of five Central American rs- lr 1ubiics at one time, for in those days, ly courtesy. a general in one republic vas Of equal rank in another. The { argast force ever under his command i, numbered 14.0O0 men, while at other f imes he was conducting war with a iandful. On one occasion he ordered !, is machine gun regiment 10 attack I he whole Of an opposing force. The 5 regiment" and its ''cOmfnander" con istpd solely of Guy Molony, bosom riend of Christmas and later superin- | eudeut of the New Orleans police de- l. iartment. tt
 Wounded seven TinltS
 ii 7fss the boast of Christmas that I