Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07
Soldiers and MANY Other Adventures
WonWa oPrIdery Cq W

until he became Of age, and then dc
| cared with finality that he intended
to he a doctor. 1t was Scotch against
Scotch, and the boy won his first VIC
| tory. The father sent him to the
| University OF Tennessee and later 10
Edinburgh, and he became. they tell,
promising surgeon. .
Hut having conquered the realm OF
medicine. Walker was forced to move
on, for he was, seemingly. destined TO
he a conqueror. He practiced a few
months, closed his office, and went TO
New Orleans. The kingdom OF law
lured him, and in two years he was
admitted to the bar. He practiced
few months. closed his office and went
to California. where the gold rush was
at its fever heat. This was in 1882.
But it was not gold that lured Walker:
it was the prospect Of grandeur ana
victory in far places. lie drlfted INTO
the office of the San Francisco eralu,
and at oS became is editor. Having
thus conquered the newspaper world.
William Walker naturally looked
around for other Kingdoms.
X y X X
4 LONG the border of Mexico the
a Apache Indians were ravaSlnS
villages, preyinC upon Americans over
the frontier. Walker enlisted so adj
venturers to go to their rescue, since.
rs he said the Mexican government
could or would do nothing. They set
sail for the Mexican coast, landed.
ard under Walkers command marched
on the capital Of sonora. Capturing
it without trouble, Walker proclaimed
the Republic of Sonora--a state where
slavery was to he permitted. accord
ing to the pronouncement-and
planned the conquest of an adjacent
province.
Reinforcements arrived from San
Francisco, and he began long march
across Sonora. The MeXicans gath
cred in force to harass the little COM
pany, sickness and diseases aided
them. supplies ran short, and though
Walker worked heroically to keep his
men in fighting order, even shooting
with his own hand two mutlneerS, the
company was compelled to turn back.
The Mexican general demanded the
surrender of Walker as the price OF
permitting them to pass. But, to
their honor, Walkers men refused to
abandon him. He saw at once that.
since the American soldiers would not
invade Mexico on his behalf, he must
resort TO strategy.
He secretly posted number of his
men behind rocks and trees along the
road to the mountain pass. Then he
made a show of fight against the
Mexicans and ordered his men to fall
back. as il retreating in great, pan
icky disorder. With a yell, the Next
cans followed. They passed the men
in ambush. who opened fire and killed
or wounded great numbers. The
MeXicans broke and fled. Walker and
his men hurried across the border and
surrendered to the American soldiers.
He was taken to San Francisco. tried
on charges of viola ting American neu-
trality and acquitted. Back he went
to the San Francisco Herald, giving
up his sword to the editorial pen.
x X x X
RUT this was only the beginning for
~ this soldier who craved Kingdoms
and the rewards of war. Nights In
his office he ranged over maps of the
world. seeking some likely place
where he could go with hope of con-
quering. At last he was attracted to
Nicaragua, Central America. News
dispatches told of a revolution there,
and a war in which the Democrats
and Legitinists were fighting for con
troll. A fine country, rich and well
populated, it controlled the shortest
route from the Eastern world to the
gold offering California. Walker set
himself to thinking, and finally sent
representative to the chief of the
Democrats. saying that he would sup
ply them with 800 American colonists,
liable to military service. If they
would agree to provide land for them"
Gen. Costillon signed Walkers agree
ment for the Democrats. A few DAYS
later the steamship Vesta, secretly
loaded with rifles and ammunition and
CARRYING 81 adventurerS, sailed from
San Francisco. Walker was on his
way to victory and-death.
Landing at Realjo, Walker organ
lied his men into the american Pha-
lanx," and was named a colonel.
Now, the route across Nicaragua
from the Atlantic to the Pacific was
controlled by a certain steamship com
pany owned by the first Cornelius
Vanderbilt and other New York CAPT
talists. 1t followed up a river. across
a lake so miles long, and then over
land to the sea, II miles away. About
25 900 persons a year passed over it.
The Legitimists, friendly toward the
American company. had troops sta
toned at various points. their main
force being at the key city of Ora
NADIA With his 81 Californians-they
we're adventures who had been drawn
to the Golden State by lure of gold
from all over the United States-and
$50 native troops, Walker attacked
Rivas, another route town, which was
held by several hundred men. De
spite reckless fighting, he was beaten
back In short order. Six of his men
were killed and many wounded.
Without thought Of giving up.
Walker reformed his men and let 1t
be known that we would again attack
Rivas He put his men on boats one
afternoon and set out. The enemy.
aware of his intention, rushed 1.2O0