Daily British Whig (1850), 8 Dec 1916, p. 11

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A Stone Soldier He Cooly Stood Guard In the Presence of Mexican Bandits By F. A. MITCHEL During the administration of the government of Mexica by Porfirio Diaz a young American, Edward Ingersoll, who had just married a young woman, went to the state of Durango to set: tle. Northern capital was then pour- dng into Mexico, and the prospect of prosperity was greater than ever: be- fore. Diaz had held the discordant elements in check for many years, and it looked as if the continued succession of revolutions was over. The young emigrant was a stonecut- ter and settled in a town where the wooden buildings were being torn down to give place to those of a more sub- stantial character. Having purchased a small tract on the outskirts of the place, he built on it a dwelling house 2nd a shed, under wheh he kept his material. Besides getting out the or dinary stonework for the ornamenta. tion of buildings, he designed and eon- structed marble monuments. His in- stincts were artistic, and, although his figures 'were crude, some of them were fairly well executed. But scarcely had Ingersoll 'become settled when the revolution was start ed which was destined to result in the downfall of the man whose iron hand had kept the peace in Mexico. The Madero revolution destroyed the equi librium under which Mexico had pros- pered, and Madero was succeeded by Huerta. In addition to the regular forces (if they deserve the name) pitted against each other; bands of men whose only object was plunder were let loose, and If anything were needed ,to"complete the wreck of Mexico they supplied the deficiency. The orders which had kept Ingersoll busy dropped away. His business was paralyzed. He would have pulled up and gone back to the United States, but what means he had were invested in his stoneyard, and be could not get it out. He must 'walt for some new power to seize the government of Mex- ico that would Pestrain the conflict: ing elements. Hoping against hope, he remained where he was, but made what preparation 'he could with his limited means to resist any attack that might be made upon his premises by marauders from 'the different armies or the bandits. Having plenty of stone in his yard, be bullt a miniafure. fortress around his dwelling. A 'parapet was con- structed of headstones, either finished | or partly finished. Square apertures were / left, intended for loopholes through which to fire. But since there was no one except Ingersoll to do 'the firing and since he had no ordnance there was little prospect of a success ful defense There were several! stone figures in the yard which Ingersoll thought of putting up on his fortress as scare- crows--that is, in the hope that an ene- my seeing them from a distance would believe them to be veritable defenders. But unfortunately they were not suit: able to the purpose. One was a white marble angel blowing the resurreetion trump; another was a saint that had been ordered for a church. There was only one that would be a suitable deco- ration for a fortification, a life size statue of a soldfer that bad been or dered to mark the grave of a young man who had died in the Mexican military service. He was represented standing as if on guard, the butt of his musket on the ground, the barrel rest. ing against his shoulder. Ingersoll id stoneyard conveying the awful uvews FS] ERnEEnnnuues it was after dark. He had mace a short cut through a forest and a marsh, with both of which he wag sufficiently tamlliar to traverse, but they would be impassable for the bandits, who must take a roundabout route over the road They had not yet started when the boy | left, but were preparing to do so. The Ingersolls calculated that they would have an hour to decide whether to take to flight apd #f they concluded to re main they would have at least an hour for preparation. Ingersoll was for immediate fight. His wife was not so minded. They could not take with them their furni. ture or other effects which they had been a long while accumulating, and the woman could not bear to give them up even if she risked the lives of all of them by remaining to protect their property. She had given much thought to making their fortress effective, but leaning, womanlike, to deception in- stead of force.. She advocated remain. Ing and trying the effect of a certain ruse she had contrived. About 11 o'clock at night Nunez, with his detachment, came in sight of Inger- soll's premises. One of Ingersoll's children, a girl of twelve, was hiding at an outpost and ran back home by a short path to report their coming. When the bandits came within a few hundred yards of the stoneyard Nunez, who was at their front, suddenly saw a light ahead of him, It was not a bright light, but enough to reveal to bim the head and shoulders of a man in the uniform of a Mexican soldier standing with his musket leaning against his left shoulder and with both bands screening a burning match from the wind. He held the flame over a pipe he held in his mouth and lighted his pipe. Even the little puffy of smoke were visible. Then the match went out as suddenly as it had been lighted, and all was dark again. Nunez halted, and his men did the same. When the light went out he turned and said: "It seems that the place is defended by a force of regular troops." ~ "And a fortification," put in one of | the men. "Didn't you see that the man stood on a parapet?" At that moment there came from the stoneyard 'the notes of a bugle sound- ing "taps." "We are not out for soldiers," sald Nunez. "I am: quite sure the captain would not approve of our bringing on a fight that might land us at the end of a rope and interfere generally with his plans." "Certainly not," called a voice from the rear. "But, since we must pass the place," sald another, "we may get a mearer view." "Very well," sald Nunez. "Let us pro- ceed." Now every one on the premises, ex- pecting an attack, was listening and when the tread of feet was heard at a convenient distance up the road Tommy Ingersoll, a youth whose figure was much smaller than the one on the ram- part, stationed himself behind it with mateh in his' hand. Ingersoll, at his ife's suggestion, had dug a hole from the back of the stone soldier's neck to his mouth and inserted a rubber tube. A tobacco pipe had been placed be- tween the lips, and by suction at the other end of the tube the figure would appear te smoke. When the bandits were heard approaching Tom used his own arms in place of the soldier's to strike a match and hold it over the pipe. His father, at the other end of the tube, did the smoking, and the sol- dier seemed to the bandits to relight his pipe. The light, however, was so small that they got a view not much better than before. . One of the articles the American had : an important weapon. But it the cannon, the rifle, the sword war that are useful. As in i tone of the bugle, so in the if a a £5 Es MANEREREREENEE REN Hi fH 5 i fl iE hi §t THE DAILY BRITISH WHIG, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1916. NEE EEEEEEEENEENRRNNNNAN EEN ARN RNR RNRNEREN ITT The Opening Day at Jos. A Money dtringenc PAGE ELEVEN ramson's Sale Of Men's and Boys' Up-to-date Clothing and Gents' Furnishings Brought the People to the Store WORDS FAIL TO DESCRIBE THE ENTHUSIASM SHOWN BY THE HOST OF APPRECIATIVE SHOP- PERS WHO ARE CROWDING THIS STORE TO MUCH MORE THAN ITS CAPACITY EVER DAY SINCE THE SALE STARTED, THE REASON BEING THAT PRICES ARE CUT FAR BELOW WHAT THE MANUFAC- TURERS ARE ASKING TODAY. ale Now Going On These Are Only a Few of the Many Bargains * MEN'S OVERCOATS Our fall and winter over- coals, in different fabrics and styles. Regular $15.00 and $16.00. Sale price ... . $8.95 Reg. $18.50. Sale price $10.85 Reg. $20.00 Sale price $12.50 BOYS' OVERCOATS In many different styles and cloth; military style; shawl collars and ulster.style, . $4.69 $3.95 $6.50 MEN'S SUITS In English and Canadian <Tweeds and Worsteds, very latest makes in beautiful pat- terns. Reg. $12.5 Sale price . .. Regular $16.50. Sale price Regular $20.00. Sale price ... ... o $25 Indigo Blue suits g1] Sale price ... ... . . BOYS' SUITS Boys' Norfolk Suits with bloomer pants in tweeds and Reg. $6.75. Sale price Regular $5.50. Sale price Regular price $8 and $9. Sale price . . corduroy. Regular price $5.50. 95 Sale price $3. Regular $7.50 Cor- duroy suits. Sale price $4.69 Regular $8.50. 95 Sale price .. .. .. $5. MEN'S PANTS In English and Canadian Worsted, in a great variety of patterns. Reg. $2. Sale price . . . $1.29 Reg. $2.50. Sale price . $1.69 Reg. $3.50. Sale price .$2.25 Regular $4.00 and 42 95 Sale price . . OVERALLS AND WORKING SHIRTS Men's Black gular $1.00. Sale price . .. Heavy Blue Striped alls. Regular $1.50. 'Sale price . .. ... $1.18 Working Shirts. Regular 75¢, Sale price ... ... .... 49¢ Reg. $1.25. Sale price . 89¢ $1.75 Flannel Shirts. Overalls. Re- 1% Over- NEGLIGEE SHIRTS In a great variety of pat- terns. Regular $1.25. Sale price ... ... ... 1% Regular $1.50 and $1.75. Sale price . . : con. 980 $1.50 Pyjamas. Sale price ... ... ... 95¢ $2.00 Heavy English Flannel- eile Pyjamas. Sale price $1.50 $1.25 Men's Striped Flannel- ette Night Shirts. Sale price . 1% $1.50 Men's Heavy White Flannelette Night Shirts . 98¢ ' MEN'S AND BOYS' SWEAT- ERS AND SWEATER COATS 75¢ Boys' Pullovers, 3% grey only. Sale price . .. . $1.00 Boys' Sweater Coals. Sale price «+++ +880 Men's all wool Pullove 5 Reg. $1.75. Sale price . . Men's Heavy All Wool Ribbed and Plain Sweater Coats, in Penman's and other makes, shawl collars, in maroon, cas- tor; grey and navy. Regular $7.00 and $7.50. 95 Sale price ... .,. ~ 43 Reg. $3.00. Sale price . $1.95 Reg. $4.50. Sale price .$2. MEN'S UNDERWEAR 5c. gar., fleeced Yimed-shirt and drawers. : Sale price ... . 45¢ Gar. $1.25 gar., heavy wool ribbed Sale price . .. . 79¢c gar. $1.50, garment, Penman's Scoteh, all wool, Sale price . .. . 96¢c gar. $1.50 gar., Penman's and oth- er makes, all wool ribbed un- shrinkable. Sale price 95¢ gar. Penman's 'No. 95" combina- tions. Sale price vine $2.98 "King's Wedr"" ribbed com- binalions. Sale price . $1.75 and many othef makes at sale price. MEN'S RAINCOATS Reg. $12.50. Sale price $7.50 $15 English Tweed Raincoats, Sale price $9.50 Silk Raincoals. Reg. $25.00. Sale price ...-... ... $16.50 There are hundreds of other bargains which we cannot mention here tickets all over the store fairly yell the news. You will never have another chai your friends as this is a sale in which COME 213 ---- everybody can find thing in this store is marked in plain figures; and one price to one ing wanted for M all. ---------- Come with the Crowd and get your share of Bargains NECKWEAR A great lot of new patterns just in for Christmas trade in hundreds of beautiful patlgrag Regular 25¢ & 35c. ~ 15¢ Sale price ... ... ... on Reg. 50c. Sale price .. 28¢ Regular 75¢ and $1.00. Saleprice . ....c..ss +... BOC MEN'S HANDKERCHIEFS In lawn, linens and initial silks, exceldas and many other kinds of silk scarfs, fine gloves, and dress gloves. All will go al Sale price. MEN'S SOCKS 25¢ wool socks, Sale price 156 35¢ and 40¢ heavy ribbed wool socks.. Sale price . -. . ... 26¢ 50¢ cashmere socks. Sale price * MEN'S CAPS A great assortment of fall and winter men's caps. 3 Reg. 75¢. Sale price . . . 9c Regular $1.00. Sale price 69¢ Regluar $1.25 and $1.50. Sale price . ..... .... 95¢ MEN'S HATS 300 men's felt hats, in soft and Christies, in many differ- ent shades and styles. Prices ranging from $2 to 1%¢ $3.50. Sale price ... ... eee AA A ---- 15 only Boys' Military Kha- ki all wool Suits, with brass buttons and leather belts. Regular $5.00, Sale price ... ... . $350 . =

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