Reminiscences of the Filibuster War in Nicaragua (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... very much incensed, and determined to mete that justice to the perpetrators which should herald to the world that, however his ambition might seek power through legitimate means, no mere vandalism could receive his sanction. Sam, in a semi-drunken condition, came aboard to seek favor for what he regarded as a meritorious act. He was seized, and, pending ebb-tide, needed to get away from the dangerous shore, since there was no wind, he was tried by a hastily summoned court-martial, sitting in the cabin close to where I slept, and, in a few minutes, convicted and condemned to be shot, Walker approving the sentence. Captain Hornsby, with a detail to carry the sentence into execution, conveyed the prisoner ashore. There, in the darkness, and amid the confusion attendant upon the approach and scattering fire from the advanced guard of the enemy, who had thus tardily arrived from Rivas, he managed to slip the hempen shackles which bound his wrists, and to escape. I have always doubted whether some sympathizing soldier did not aid him in loosening his bonds, a thing easily done under cover of night. Dewey, though drunk, had been too wise to trust himself on board, and had taken refuge on the smack, expecting that Sam would shortly arrive and cast loose the vessel from the locality already made dangerous to them by the arrival of the enemy. As the baffled detail came aboard, amid the scattering fire of the enemy, who were forming on the beach, they towed the smack to the schooner, to which they made her fast, and the tide having begun to ebb, we slowly left the port for the open sea. A little more enterprise on the part of the enemy would have made it impossible for us to get away. Perhaps their supineness is not to be wondered at, considering...