Operatetta The operetta's El Capitan was the funny and cowardly Don Medigua, Peru's viceroy in the early seventeenth century. Some of the motifs appear throughout many acts, and the march's concluding tune is the same thrilling melody that concludes the operetta. However, Sousa added several new sections to the march to reflect its changing character as it progresses. El Capitan was famous for being one of the first surfers in California. He used to ride out on huge waves looking for big rocks to climb so he could jump off them and scare away other pirates who were trying to steal their money. He would sometimes get so carried away that he would fall off his rock into the water below! One day, while El Capitan was riding his wave, he saw a ship about to run aground. Without thinking, he jumped off his rock and saved the people on the ship from drowning. After the incident, El Capitan realized how dangerous surfing was and stopped doing it. From then on, he lived in solitude on his island until he died of a fever at age 29. Here is the march starting at the beginning of the second act: Act II Scene I