The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-06

triumph very long Soon his enemies were cross
INK the border again. There followed n series
Of defeats which forced him 10 evacuate Granada
and he destroyed II 10 keep II from falling INTO
the hands OF the enemy. Finally with remnant
Of the army which had followed him so devoted
iy. he was cornered IN a coast town In April.
1851. the American warshlp ST Mary's sailed into
the harbor and Captain Davis. It's commander.
demanded that Walker surrender 'ln the name
Of humanity" Walker refused, but when he
saw that his small force was doomed TO be over.
whelmed By the enemy he was willing 10 accept
the safe convoy which Davis offered him.
Going aboard the st. Mary's he vas taken to
Panama and from there made his way to New
York. where he was received IN triumph Hasten
lng on 10 Washington he demanded tha, the
United States government support him In re-
storing 10 hIm the presidency of Nicaragua TO
which he bad been legally elected. But Wash.
lnxton turned a deaf ear 20 his pleas lie went
on into the South where he was received With
the widest enthusiasm and The papers Of that
period are filled with news of his schemes FOR
regainng the power he had cnce held.
In the meantime Nicaragua had elected an.
other president bot Walker was not willing 10
accept this evidence that the southern republic
wns through with It's "Erlngo presidents" tie
organized another niihus,erinE expedition, was
arrested Tor doing 50 but when bTolght 10 trial,
wns acquitted. withia two weeks be had sailed
from New Orleans with a force ot l50 men. land
ed hts munitions at San Juan del Norie aud cap
tured Castle vlejo.
10 December Commodore Pauidiug arrived In
the United States frgate Wabash. landed force
% 80 men. trained bis guns on Walkers camp
and demanded his surrender Walker was taken
. Washington a prisoner 81 war But the
federal government refused 10 receive him aud
President buchanan even rebuked Paulding for
his act and suspended him from duty. Although
Walker was turned free. public proclamation
forbade his interfering with Central American
affairs again.
BY now the presidency OF Nicaragua had be
come an 0bsessicn with Walker For two years
he made several attempts TO lead another ex-
pedltlon 10 Nicaragua but he was too closely
watched by both the American and British gov
ernments 10 succeed. Unable 70 90 there direct,
he decided to get into the country by way OF
Honduras. In August 1850. be sailed from Mo
bile with 100 devoted followers. Within two
weeks he had entered Nicaragua and captured
the town OF Trujillo.
Then n warship appeared-thls time a British
vessel. the Icarus. commanded by Captain SAL
mon. Declaring that Walker was interfering
with British rights in the town. Salmon demand
ed the hlibusterer's surrender. Walker refused
but when a force OF Hondurans commanded by
General Alvarez began 10 mass TO recapture the
town. Walker evacuated 1t and with 20 men re-
treated down the coast. The Honduran leader
and his British ally followed and cornered the
hlbvsterers at Rio Negro.
Walker surrendered to Salmon on his promise
not TO turn him to the Hondurans. prom
ise which the British officer broke as soon as
they returned to Trujillo Walker and his men
were delivered into the hands OF Alvarez. His
followers were released through the intercesslon
OF the British officer but when Salmon told
Walker IF you will appeal TO me as an Ameri-
can citizen will save you with the rest" Walk
ers reply was The President OF Nicaragua is
a citizen OF Nicaragua" Facing death, he would
not give up his dream Of being ruler.
The Hondurans, who looked upon him as an
alien tyrant whose ambition threatened the Sc
curty OF their country and all Central American
republics, court martialed him and sentenced
him TO death So on the morning of September
IL 1850, he walked bravely to his death in front
of firing squad.
Joaquin Miller, that queer genius who was
follower Of the king OF the filibusterers" and
who later became famous as the Poet OF the
Sierras" sought TO mmortalize him In a long
poem, With Walker In Nicaragua" but 1t Is
doubtful If his poem Is any better known today
than is the subject Of its inspiration. In his day
William Walker a lost leader" Today he
is forgotten man" nor has the recent talk Of
dlctators served TO revive even for little while
the memory of this Inflated dictator over the
destinies Of an American republic.
Western Newspaper Uniop