Showed the Army How To Do It

1895

Young American Officer Instructs His Captors In Loading Guns.

The average wide awake, self assertive American who meets in their own bailiwicks Central American officials does not, it must be confessed, feel for them a profound respect.

A young American officer who was ashore down there once when a periodical revolution was in full bloom was riding along a street on a donkey. He wanted to catch a railroad train, and he peacefully steered the donkey up to the gate of the station.

A sign there announced that donkeys, wagons and other such hostiles were not allowed to enter the station. The young officer read the sign and then, drawing up his legs so that he could thump with his heels the donkey's sides, proceeded to guide his little charge through the gates.

One of the favorite resting places of a Central American army is a railway station. At this particular station was gathered the usual army.

It might have been a force of ten men or even a dozen, but it was an army, lieutenants, captains, colonels, general and all.

When the donkey and the American tried to storm the railway citadel a great howl went up from the army. Several regiments of one man each advanced upon the bold ranger and called upon him to halt. Then they informed him that he was a prisoner of war.

The American got off the donkey and went over to one of the regiments and explained that he wanted to board a train. The regiment announced that this was impossible, as he was a prisoner.

"All right," said the American, "good-by," and he started to walk away.

This caused a tremendous excitement throughout the regiment, which immediately set to work to load its gun, while another regiment threatened to prod the American with a bayonet.

The regiment which was trying to load its gun seemed to afford a great deal of amusement to the American. The regiment was fumbling with the cartridge and vainly trying to throw open the breech of the ride, while the American watched the proceeding for a time with a good natured smile. Then he stepped close up to the regiment.

"Here," he said, snatching the gun away and taking a cartridge from the belt which encircled the gallant regiment, "let me show you how to do it."

He threw open the breech quickly and deftly slipped in a cartridge, snapped the breech back into place, and holding out the gun to the regiment made a low bow.

"There!" he said, "that's the way to do it. You see, it's very easy when you know how."

And then bowing again "Good day" he sauntered into the station with a careless smile on his face, while the army stood dumbfounded and then retreated. — New York Tribune.