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By ELMO SCOTT WATSON AWN OF a September morning 75 years ago. Along the beach outside the seaport of TruJIllo In Honduras, straggled a (lie of swarthy-faced sol diers, their rifles slanting across the shoulders of their dlrty-whlte uni forms,' their hare feet kicking up little spurts of sund as they shuffled nlong. ;V, Id their midst, was another little man, but un like his captors he wus llght-halred (a "cotton head" they called him back In his native Ten i'-neasee), freckle-faced, almost boyishly slender j for all of his thirty six years. Ills old flannel tiBblrt was open at the throat, his ragged trousers fejrere tucked Into worn boots and In his hand he IRirricd a battered, faded old black hat. 'if'' lieslde him wnlked a tall black-robed Spanish ^priest who held a crucifix In front of the little blonde man's face. But It Is doubtful If his cold gray eyes saw It. They were looking away across the fringe of the tropical Jungle to the black and purple-shadowed mountains which the rays of the morning sun were beginning to paint with gold. > "Halt!" The line of marching men stopped, but only the little man In the center obeyed the command with true military precision. Another sharp command and the slouching rifle bearers formed a ragged line along the beach. An offi cer came forward with a handkerchief In his hand, but the little man waved him aside. As he looked Into the black mouths of the rlllcs pointed at his heart, he spoke slowly, gently: "The war which I made upon yon was wrong, and I want to avail myself of this last oppor tunity to beg your forgiveness. That done, I die resigned. I would like to think that my life and my death will have been for the good of society." "Fire!" As the little man sagged down to the ground, another volley of bullets rained upon his crumpled form. Then a single soldier walked forward, placed the muzzle of his gun close to the little man's head and fired. Thus died William Walker, "the gray-eyed mnn of destiny," "the nineteenth-century Cortex." "the Nnpoleon of Central America." He was all of these and much more, for this tow-headed soldier of fortune was one of the-most remarkable char acters In American history. There was a time when his doings were a matter of International concern, when he was a figure In the slavery dis pute which led to the Civil war and when "he occupied /more columns of news and editorials In American and British Journals than Presidents Pierce and Buchannn or Queen Victoria. No man ever bo dazzled the American mind and heart as this quiet little man. He was the beginning of that peculiar madness which affects New ^ork city whenever a hero visits there." There was nothing In Walker's early career, unless It was the versatility of the man, to Indi cate the Important role he was destined to play on the stage of world affairs. The son of a Scotch Presbyterian banker in Nashville, Tenn., Walker was a precocious child who was gradu ated from the University of Nashville at the age of seventeen. Ills father wanted him to be a minister but his Inclination was to medicine. Studying for two years In the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, he then went abroad to complete his education at Edinburgh and Paris. At the age of twenty-one he was back In Nashville "the most accomplished sur geon that ever visited the city." But he soon tired of medicine and next took up the study of law. As soon as he was ready to practice, he moved to New Orleans but be cause of his retiring disposition, which resulted In a lack of clients, he gave up the law for Jour nalism. In 1848 he became one or the editors and proprietors of the Crescent which soon be came an Important newspaper In that city. At that time New Orleans was the outfitting place for many filibustering expeditions In Latin-Amer ican waters and countries. Considering Walker's later career It seems strange that his editorial policy concerning such expeditions was an ex tremely conservative one. But It was and that had something to do with the failure of his jfaper. However, an unfortunate love affair was the principal reason for his leaving New Orleans and seeking his fortune In the California gold fields. He soon drifted Into Journalism again, this time as editor of the fcan Francisco Dally Herald. At this time down In Central America Nicar agua was undergoing one of Its periodical revolu tions, a war In which the Democrats and Legiti mists were atruggllng for control. Walker wrote to General Castellon, head of the Democrats, of fering the service of 300 American colonists "llablo to military service If they would agree to provide land for them." Castellon was de lighted to have such allies and readily sinned the agreement, so In May, 18.r>5. Walker at the head Of r>6 adventurers sailed from San Francisco Iktboard the S. S. Vesta which had boon secretly Koaded with arms and ammunition. Arriving In ^ RealeJo, the American leader hastened to I^eon, the Democrats' base, where he was warmly wel corned by Castellon, who made him a colonel and placed him in command of tho "American Pha lanx." Supported by a force of several hundred Dem ocrat soldiers, Wnlker, acting under orders from Castellon, marched to the attack of Itlvas, one Of the leading cities of Nicaragua, which was defended by some 000 Legitimist troops. But during the march Walker's Nlcaraguan nllles be gan deserting and by the time he reached the ; city they had dwindled to 100, nil of whom fled at the flrst fire of the Legitimist*. Despite this ' defection, Wnlker led his r?fl Americans on to the capture of tho city, losing 0 dead and 12 wounded. Unable to hold the city with his tiny force, f ' Walker retreated to l-eon, whero he threatened to leave Caiitellon's service and enlist under the banner of the president of Honduras. But their difficulties were patched up and Walker went on from victory to victory, the cllcna* coming In hli capture of Oranada, the principal city of . Nicaragua, by a anrprlae attack made from a iataautr on Lake Nicaragua. Soon afterwarda be algned a peace agreement with General Corral, lead*, of the Legitimate, by which Don Patricio Joaquin Mil ler Walker's Flacj Cornelius Vanderbilt William Welke-r Rlvns was appointed provisional president, Corral minister of wur and Walker, generalissimo of the army. Then Corral tried to double-cross Walker, who exposed the minister's plot and had him execut ed. By this time Walker was virtually dictator over Nicaragua and lie ruled with an Iron hand. Americans and other foreigners to the number of more than 1,200 had Joined him. Some of them were desperate characters who looked for ward to unlimited opportunities for free living and free looting. But they were bitterly dlsap pointed. While Walker was master of Nicaragua that country enjoyed a peace and contentment It had not known for years. But trouble was brew ing for him on the outside. The other Central American republics, Costa Rica, Honduras, Salv ador, and (Aiatemnia, were becoming clarmed over the prospect of bis forming o "United Stotes of Central America," as he was dreaming of do ing. and extending his influence over their coun tries. Great Britain was also becoming concerned over ids growing power. If the United States secured control of Nicaragua nnd dug a Nlcar aguan canal, England's commercial supremacy would he threatened. If he extended his power throughout Central America, it meant a lessen ing of England's Influence there. And France and Spain agreed with Britain that the expan sion of the United States in that quarter was undesirable. As a matter of fact their fears were ground less so far as Walker's having an ofllclal stand ing as an agent of American Imperialism was concerned. For he was personn non grata with his own country as much as he wos with the others. William L. Mnrcy, secretary of state, looked upon him as little more than a crlmlnnl and one whose example might stimulate filibus tering and embroil the United States In endless difficulties with her southern neighbors. In the South he was something of a hero but In the North where anti-slavery sentiment was growing, his pro slavery views were causing suspicion and alarm. But even though It Is doubtful If Walker had any Idea of trying to aid the extension of slavery, he made the fatal mistake of antagoniz ing the powerful financial interests o?" tire North, notably the group of men headed by old Cor nelius Vanderbllt who had been exploiting Nicar agua. They were the owners of the Transit company which had a contract to dig a Nlcaraguan canal and which was running a line of steamers from New York to Nicaragua on the Atlantic side nnd another line from that country up to San Fran cisco on fhe I'nclflc sfde. This compnny had agreed to pay Nicaragua $10,000 and 10 per cent of Its profits each year In return for a monopoly of the carrying trade to and from that country. Walker, believing that the Transit company had been cheating his adopted country, started an Investigation The result was that he de manded a settlement of $250,000 which the ftnan ciers refused. Thereupon he seized the company's property as security for the debt, revoked its charter and granted a new one to a rival com pnny. Old Cornelius Vanderbllt was furious llo resolved to smash Walker. Costa Rica had already started war against Nicaragua and Honduras was preparing to take up arms. Both of the hostile countries wero being supplied with arms. If not financial sup port, by England, It Is said that the necessary financial support was given by Vanderbllt nnd his colleagues. In n preliminary skirmish a Costa Itlcan force, led by the Prussian general, Von Billow, and made up of mercenaries as well as natives of Costa Itlca, defeated a force of Nlcnr aguanS and fllibusterers, led by one of Walker's subordinates, and captured Rlvas. , Hut It was a different story when Walker rode out from (Jrannda In April, 1S5ft, with 500 men, four fifths of them Americans, to give battle to the army of 3,200 Costa Itieans. Although he was driven from the hnftlefleld, he Inflicted such heavy losses on the enemy that they were glad to withdraw. A mixed army of I^ooneae and Ilondurans next menaced him from the north hut by quick work he repulsed It, then turned his attention to In ternal affairs, tie became a candidate for the presidency of Nicaragua and In July, IBM*' won the election with the largest vote ever cast for thst office. Rut He was not Allowed to enjoy his triumph very long, Soon tils enemies were cross ing the border again. There followed a series of defeats which forced him to evacuate (Jranada and he destroyed it to keep It from falling Into the hands of the enemy. Finally with a remnant of the army which had followed him so devoted ly, he was cornered In a coast town. In April, 1857, the American warship St. Mary's sailed Into the harbor and Captain Davis, Its commander, demanded that Walker surrender "in 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 to accept the safe convoy which Davis offered him. Going aboard the St. Mary's he was taken to Panama and from there made his way to New York, where he was received In triumph. Hasten ing on to Washington, he demanded that the United States government support him in re storing to him the presidency of Nicaragua to which he had been legally elected. But Wash ington turned a deaf ear to his pleas. lie went on into the South where he was received with the wildest enthusiasm and the papers of that period are filled with news of his schemes for regaining the power he had ence held. In the meantime Nicaragua had elected an other president but Walker was not willing to accept this evidence that the southern republic was through with Its "gringo presidente." He organized another filibustering expedition, was arrested for doing so but, when brought to trial, was acquitted. Within two weeks he had sailed from New Orleans with a force of lfW) men, land ed his munitions at San Juan del Norte and cap-^ tured Castle Viejo. In December Commodore Paulding arrived in the United States frigate Wabash, landed a force of 3.r>0 men, trained his guns on Walk r's camp and demanded his surrender. Walker was taken to Washington as a prisoner of war. But the federal government refused to receive him and President Buchanan even rebuked Paulding for his act and suspended him from duty. Although Walker was turned fiYe, a public proclamation forbade his Interfering with Central American affairs again. By now the presidency of Nicaragua had be come an obsession with Walker. For two years he made several attempts to lead another ex pedition to Nicaragua but he was too closely watched by both the American and British gov ernments to succeed. Unable to go there direct, he decided to get Into the country by way of Honduras. In August, 18(H), he sailed from Mo bile with 1(X> devoted followers. Within two weeks he had entered Nicaragua and captured the town of TruJIllo. Then a warship appeared ? this 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 filibustered surrender. Walker refused but when a force of Hondurans commanded by (ienerai Alvarez began to mass to recapture the town. Walker evacuated it and with 70 men re treated down the coast. The Honduran leader nnd his Itrltlsh ally followed and cornered the tillbusterers at Rio Nf'Kr(' Walker surrendered to Salmon on his promise not to turn him over to the Hondurans, a prom ise which the British officer broke as soon as they returned to TruJIllo. Walker nnd tils men were delivered Into the hands of Alvarez. His followers were released through the Intercession of the British officer but when Salmon told Wnlker "If you will appeal to me as an Ameri can citizen I will save you with the rest." Walk er's reply was "The President of Nicaragua Is n citizen of Nicaragua." Facing death, he would not give up his dream of being a ruler. The Hondurans, who looked upon him as an nllen tyrant whose ambition threatened the s?? eurlty of their country and hD Central American republics, court martin led him and sentenced him to death. So on the morning of September 12, IWM). he walked bravely to bis death In front of n firing squad Joaquin Miller, that queer genius who was a follower of the 'king of the flllhusterers" and who later became famous as the "Poet of the Sierras," sought to Immortalize him In a long poem, "With Walker In Nicaragua," hut It Is doubtful If his poem Is any better known today than |a the subject of Its Inspiration. In his day William Walker was a "lost leader." Today he In a "forgotten man" nor hAH the recent tAlk of dictators served to revive even for a little while the memory of this Ill-fated dictator over the destinies of an American republic. ? Wtturn N?wip*per Union. The Girl Who Knew Men By VIRGINIA MILLER C) McClure Newspaper Syndicate. WNU Service. I ICTMIEUE'S a Job open?" the red | -1 headed girl leaned far over the | low railing which guarded the otlice proper to ask the woman firmly es tablished on the pay envelope side of the railing. ! "Yes, there's a position vacant," 1 Miss Olson had to tell the truth, how ever much she disliked the redhead's ; g^een beret set saucily far back over , her curls, her touched up Hps and short tight little green checked dress. "Then the Job's mine," the girl , grinned and tfnve the curls a pert toss. | "I know men." Miss (flson frowned at that I-know men phrase. She critically Inspected , the card the girl had handed her. | "1 shall ask Mr. Adams whether he ? cares to see you," she said, disap proval edging her voice. She was still frowning as she crossed the i otlice to Mr. Adams' desk and put ? the card before him. I "The employment agency has sent j over this girl."' she said. Her tone called one strike on the redhead be . fore the youngster ever got a chance i to swing. At Miss Olson's approach Mr. I Adams had hastily put aside the morning newspaper. "Oh. yes." he said. "G?>sh. I hope 1 can get a good girl this morning. Tin,* ? eh ? the golf tournament at my club starts this afternoon." "1 am sure the agency will send in a more satisfactory applicant before the morning is over," Miss Olson called a second strike on the redhead. Mr. Adams took a squint at the spirts page, sighed, and stuffed the paper carefully into his pocket. "Well, I'd better talk to this one now." So Miss Olson had to swing the gate open to the saucy beret. The redhead gave her a wink. "Watch my technique." she murmured. She walked Jauntily. "Good morning, sir." she said cheer ily. "What a nice sunny otlice you have here!" Mr. Adams said the office was very I pleasant and thought to ask about her business experience. j "I've not had stenographic experl j ence although I've done typing. Hut j I've Just completed ten weeks short hand study at night school. So you can understand, this being my first sec | retarlal position, that I must take great : care choosing It," the girl said calmly. Her smile Hashed. "I'm sure you're i good enough sport to realize how es ! sent la I It is to my future that I take ' only a position In which I'll get broad experience." Across at her desk, Miss Olson snorted. Softly, of course, j Mr. Adnms looked considerably taken aback. Then he started to describe the I work his secretary would be expected ' to do. | "Well, it sounds as If your position may be what I'm looking for," the red headed girl said encouragingly. At that sickening moment for Miss Olson, another girl from the employ ment agency ariived outside the railing. | This girl's eyes were shadowed with a terrible necessity. Miss Olson saw ' that necessity first. Then she saw j that the plain black hat was pulled I down on her bead sensibly and that , she used no lip stick. "I've got to have this position. I've got to," the girl said. Tears came to those dull, hungry eyes. Miss Olson looked at the sensible i outfit and the paint less face. Scarcely | glancing at the card handed her, she j swung the gate open and hurried the { white-face, dull-eyed girl to Mr. Adams' ' desk. I "The agency urges you to talk to this girl before you make your decision, j She has all the qualifications you need," Miss OKson said determinedly, i "I've had some experience," the girl ] said nervously. "Oh, Mr. Adams, I've ! got to have this position. I've got to. ! I've an Invalid mother." She stood there, those dulled, un I happy eyes fixed on the young man. | Having called the third strike on I the redhead. Miss Olson nodded to her to move to the other side of the rail ing. Rut the redhead \Cas staring with wide, startled eyes at the other appli cant, so that she did not notice Miss Olson. The woman shook her In her determination to get her out of the second girl's way. Mr. Adams glanced from the second girl to the redhead. lie squirmed un easily. The redhead shook oft Miss Olson's hand and got to her feet. She straight ened her shoulders and said with n fairly orlght smile: "Sorry. I under* ! stand, though. Just the wrong ap 1 proach on my part. And I thought I knew better." i Miss Olson marched the girl toward j the gate. "(Josh! Mr. Adams exclaimed. "(Josh, | redhead 1 Don't clear out. I'll ? Miss ? Olson'll help the agency find another I Job for thin girl. I want you for my J secretary." | The redhead's bund closed on Miss Olson's arm. "I told you to watch my technique. I know men. They do like color and a cheerful grin. And they klnda' like to do the hunting." Suddenly her fingers tightened their hold. Her legs buckled and she swayed. Then she straightened and % grin spread over her face. And Miss Olson, looking Into hun ger?cruel. ugly hunger, thinly but bravely coated with lip stick and rouge, and capped with a saucy green beret ? wild warmly, In tribute to tha rad-headed youngster's pluck In fne? of desperation: "You've made an eweHent choice, Mr. Adams." Ruffling Inexpensive Touch to House Frock PATTERN JM7T I/.y popular demand tho house frock sheds its "\\ ork-a-day" appearance ami blossoms tort li in a crisp, dainty (lint serviceable none the loss!) man* nor U> delight tho wearer and eye of tho beholder ! Pattern 0 ITT Is so utterly simple in design that tho veriest beginner can attempt it con fidently. Instead of a troublesome sleeve, an epaulet effect is achieved with one simple cut. Choose a crisp, I sheer cotton, like swiss or lawn with a bright design scattered over It, buy a few yards of contrasting ruf j fling ? and presto; you've a cool house j frock that does itself proud for porch or street wear, too! Pattern 1)177 may be ordered only i In sizes H, 1(?, IS, 20, 32, Ml, 3(5, 38, 40 and 42. Size 1(5 requires 3 yardi ! 30-Inch fabric. Complete, diagrammed I sew chart included. ! SEND KI ETEEN CENTS In coins ! or stamps (coins preferred) for this ] fiat tern. lie sure to write plainly | your NAME, ADDRESS, the STYLE ! NUMBER and SIZE. Send your order to the Sewing { Circle Pattern Department, 232 West j Eighteenth street. Now York, N. Y. j =3 HELP NEEDED i "George Washington Tubbs," snld J the judge, sternly, "you're entirely | no-account and shiftless ? and I'*i going to send you away for a year with hard labor." "I'lerise, Jedge," Interrupted Mrs. Tubbs from the rear of the court room, "will yo* Ilonali Jes kinder i split dat sentence? Don't send blrn ! away from borne, but let dat hard 1 labor stand." v Terrible! Terrib'el I>id you hear the Joke I played on my wife?" "Not unless you refer to your get i ting her to marry you." Hard to Brenk Off Wife? James, how can you Rftiy away from home so late at night? Husband ? IOasily. I acquired the habit while courting you.? Stray Stories Magazine. Inn nnd Out* "Do you understand the Ins nnd outs of Kuropean politics?" "No," answered Senator Sorghum. "(Jetting in trouble seems easy, but getting out Is a complicated process."