Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
nec American Soldier of Fortune Maker of Presidents

Cortez; but he soon found he needed
a stronger chief of police at Teguci-
galpa, so he again called Christmas
to that post. And Christmas, now
d'Artagnan Of so. ruled with q hand
of iron, suppressing several minor up
risings with ruthless force. He even
ruled Bonilla on many an occasion by
threatening TO desert him. Bonilla
gave him mining and other conces-
sions. and in the next year or so he
is reputed to have made a consider
able fortune. He had become a ma
tional hero; he could. quite probably.
have made himself president; he could
have returned to the United States
and settled down In peace and plenty,
but the old war call still played siren.
A GAIN there came before him the
vision that haunted him so long
that of a United States Of Central
America. He obtained leave of alb
sence from Bonilia and came to New
Orleans. quite presumably to organ
ize, with Honduras as a base. this
greatest Of all his flibusters. 1t was
an alIuring idea-no doubt he could
have found much American money to
back it-but it was just about this
time that America entered the World
War.
In a way, I know of nothing more
pathetic in all the history OF soldiers
than Lee Christmas part in that
struggle. He had worn many uni
forms. had fought under many flags,
but never had he served under his own
flag. nor worn the uniform of his own
people. And he wanted. suddenly and
tn II haFnFA 10
died.
He went TO Washington. He tried
to get into the Army. He was refused.
Undismayed. he spent days in logged
effort to see President Wilson. and
only his tremendous earnestness got
him, in those busy, trying times. past
the underlings. President Wilson
heard, was touched, and granted his
plea-with the proviso. of course, that
the Army doctors find him physically
fit.
So Lee Christmas left the Capital
of his own country happier, probably.
than he ever had been in all his re-
markable, turbulent life. No doubt
he saw himself leading American
soldiers, under the Stars and Stripes.
But the Army doctors told him he
was too old-he was then Sand
told him too that the seeds of tropical
fever--a cumulative poison that white
men often gather in the hot coun-
tries-was in his system. and that he
must be quiet as well as careful II
he would retain his health. Christ
mas begged that they forget these
things. and finally the Army agreed
to take him into the Intelligence
Service, and sent him, Of all places.
to Central America.
Thus Lee Christmas. as great a
soldier. in heart and spirit, If not In
formal military training, as ever
lived. did serve his own country
secretly, in a way, and In multi; and
they say he served it well.
But it was true Lee Christmas
fighting days were done. The old
fever grew on him these last years;
| his health failed and his fortune suf-
| fered. In 1922, he made a last trip
| to Central America-he had been
back in the States for treatment
going to Guatemala, no longer hunt.
| ing war, but to look into mining prop.
critics. He fell ILL and was rushed
| back to New Orleans. Long months
in the hospital, and he appeared to
recover. A year passed. probably the
most peaceful of his adult days. with
his family. But in August, 1923, he
| collapsed in the street.
Round him then gathered the
ghosts Of the old hardships, of old
| jungle sicknesses, of old wounds and
infections he had whipped in his
youthful days, to take at last their
inevitable toll. Round him. too, gath.
cred the loyal friends of his fighting
days. the soldiers of fortune like Guy
Moloney, ready to war for him again,