AN ACCIDENTAL IMPERIALIST
by
Roger E. Ball
Dellivered to The
November 20, 1989
Copyright 1989 Roger E. Ball
The latter years of the
nineteenth century saw the collapse of what was left of the empire of Great
Spain. In the Philippine Islands the movement for independence started in 1880,
led by Andres Bonifacio, a self-educated warehouseman dedicated to the
expulsion of
In
In February 1898, the battleship
On May 1 1898 Admiral Dewey sailed his fleet into
In September 1898 a Philippine constitutional congress met in Malolos and drew
up fundamental law based on European and Latin American precedents.
The
My father, Collin H. Ball, was twenty-three years old in 1898. He was caught up
in the excitement, volunteered, and served through much of the Philippine
Insurrection. He kept a journal through much of this experience. Excerpts from
this journal are quoted below.
April 25, 1898. While in
From April 28 to May 2 we drilled under command of Cap tain Edward Boltwood. In
the meantime I lived at the Continental Hotel in
On May 2 I accompanied others who had volunteered to become soldiers to
On the same day at 12:15 pm, we started for
I carried the company rolls from Osawatomie to
The appointment of Collin Ball
as First Sergeant of the new company apparently disturbed some of the local
people. The
WHY WAS IT BALL?
A Man Unknown is Elevated in Our Home Company The announcement of the
appointment of Collin H. Ball as first sergeant of the Ottawa-Linn-Johnson
company was received here with astonishment. "Who the - dickens is Collin
Ball?" asks everybody. The REPUBLICAN confesses inability to give much
information. He certainly doesn't belong to any of the communities in which the
boys were enlisted. He came to Ottawa a stranger a few weeks since, and is a
very pleasant and agressive -in a business way- young gentleman, but why a
whole company of well known citizens should be side tracked to make room for a
total stranger in so desirable a position is beyond the ken of anybody except
possibly the appointive powers. It is simply nonsense to suppose that there
were no other elligible young gentlemen, who would have been glad of the
appoint ment, who are representative of the communities that sent their young
blood to the front. Young Mr Ball is no doubt a very excellent gentleman, qualified
to fill the position probably, but so are dozens of others who really are
citizens of the three counties represented in the company, and the REPUBLICAN
registers a kick at the slight put on our own boys.
The journal of Collin Ball continues:
From May 4 to May 8 there
followed an experience of drill - attempt to equip and outfit the company -
physical examination for muster on May 8 - tramping about through mud and rain,
during which time we were known as the "Osawatomie Company"
On May 9 physical examinations being completed and recruits secured to fill
vacancies caused by rejection, I worked with three clerks all night on the
company Muster-in- Rolls. We occupied an anteroom off from Representatives Hall
in the State House. I superintended the job. We had lunch at midnight and
finished at daylight.
On the night of May 9, there being some question as to whether Captain Boltwood
could be mustered, the company met to consider a man to fill his place should
such a contingency arise. I was unanimously chosen. The same evening authority
was received from the Secretary of War for his muster and I remained First
Sergeant.
On May 10 we had the company sign the Muster-in-roll at Camp Leedy. We then
marched to the Senate Chamber and were mustered into the U.S. service by
Lieutenant W. F. Clark -U.S. Cavalry. We were designated Co. "K" and
assigned to the 20th Kansas Infantry, U.S.V. Colonel Frederick Funston
Commanding. In the afternoon we participated in a review -were addressed by the
Governor, Lt. Colonel, Adjutant, and others - were presented with a flag and
returned to camp. My company received the colors. May 10 to May 12 was spent in
drill through rain and mud and under difficulty.
May 13 was Friday - dark and dreary - rain and mud. We were drawn up in mass
and at 6 pm were mustered in as a Regiment by Lieut. W. F. Clark, U.S.A. All
present or accounted for - officers and men. The Colonel wore civilian clothes
and the regiment motley attire. My company and four others were uniformed - in
a way. All were armed.
May 14 and 15 were spent in Camp Leedy at Topeka and the time occupied in drill
and laborious efforts to put the regiment in shape. The weather was miserable
and the camp a sea of mud. On May 16 Colonel Funston left for Tampa, Fla. to
report for duty on the staff of Maj. General Miles.
The regiment broke camp about 9 am and marched to the U.P. Depot to board cars
for San Francisco, Cal. The first section of the special train carrying the 1st
Battalion under command of Major Frank H. Whitman got away at 5:30 pm - My
company was a part of this battalion.
Our section of the train arrived at Oakland Mole at 6 pm followed shortly after
by the second section carrying the 2nd Battalion under command of Major Wilder
S. Metcalf. We immediately crossed the bay on the "Piedmont" -were
given luncheon by the Red Cross Society in the new ferry depot and were then
marched to Camp Richmond (Afterward called Camp Merritt) We arrived in camp at
9 pm, pitched tents temporarily, and turned in.
On May 21 the 3rd Battalion under command of Capt. F. E. Beecham, having
arrived late the night before, were detained at Oakland Mole till morning, They
joined us at 9 am where our camp was permanently laid out under direction of
Major Whittman.
We occupied a sandy city lot just across the street South of the 1st Nebraska
which regiment had proceeded us a day or two. The block on which we were camped
was enclosed by a board fence. First Avenue bounded our camp on the East. This
is a well paved boulevard with walks and shade trees. 2nd Avenue was on our
West paved with macadam.
At this time the regiment was poorly equipped and presented a sorry appearance
compared with the 1st Nebraska, 13th Minnesota and other National Guard
organizations which came fully outfitted. I think four companies out of the
twelve had blue uniforms. They were illfitting and unserviceable. I recollect
"K" Company had men who wore 34 coats encased in huge 42's etc. We
all had Springfield rifles which had been in the hands of the Kansas National Guard
for years.
When we first arrived at Camp Merritt the people of San Francisco seemed to
look on us with great pity. The newspapers referred to us as having just
arrived from a despised land where starvation sits on his lowly throne etc. So
it was that many baskets of food and much fruit was brought to appease the
hunger of the "poor Kansas boys". These things were at the time a
source of much annoyance and embarrassment to a sensitive member of the
regiment.
My father does not exaggerate the attitude of the local people. The following description of the Twentieth Kansas appeared in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle in May 1898:
Most of the Kansans are the
newest recruits and the drilling of them will require limitless patience. They
are blondes, chiefly, with brown skins and light hair, the one burned by the
sun, the other bleached. Their eyes have a far away look, as of men who
remember the grasshopper, the army worm, and other things that make life tough
in Kansas. They do not look the sort of men to be afraid. There are whole
companies of them who do not know the meaning of a single command. . .
Everyone noted that the Kansans had their hats fastened to their heads with
elastics having come from the land where the strong wind blows. Some of their
companions, lacking uniforms, wear the homespun and overalls of the farm. Some
of them are wearing Connemara caps, pulled down over their ears in typical
cyclone fashion.
My father's account continues:
During the last days of May and
the first part of June the men were drilled incessantly. Endless efforts were
made to outfit and equip the regiment but owing to the glaring incompetancy of
Lt. Col. Little (who was in command) as well as the Regimental Q.M. (Lt. Smith)
this was not accomplished. The Quartermaster accordingly resigned late in June.
Later, Colonel Little innaugerated some sort of warfare with the Red Cross
Society and we were promptly tabooed by that organization. On June 17th Colonel
Funston appeared and assumed command. He had sense enough to take the advice of
General Charles King, the Brigade Commander and had better success.
On June 20 I was detailed as Chief Clerk at the Headquarters of General King
and immediately assumed charge of clerical affairs there. We had great times
those days and while on duty at these headquarters I became very intimately
acquainted with the General, which ultimately secured me promotion
Captain Blaine who is on General King's staff is the son of the late Secy.
James G. Blaine, and I don't recall a day while associated intimately with him
in a business way that he was not drunk. It was while I was in charge of his
office at Camp Merritt that he had his famous row and contemplated duel with
Perry Hollander. This sorry episode occurred at Baldwin's Grotto and the immediate
cause was Miss Madeline Burton of the Frawley Company, playing at the time at
the Columbia Theatre.
In July Captain Blaine was ordered to Manila and James K. Polk of Tennessee
became A.A.G. I continued in charge and my association with him was very pleasant.
I had in the office two assistants, Privates Tally and Averill of the 1st
Tennessee. Tally was but a boy and erratic while Averill was a competant
fellow.
Lt. Polk was a Grand Nephew of ExPresident Polk - A gentleman of the old school
and a fine fellow. He was a connoisseur of mint julips.
During all this time the 20th Kansas was undergoing rapid changes. From a
motley mob they had changed by degrees into a well drilled and well equipped
regiment. There was, however, considerable sickness and on August 5 the troops
were moved to the Presidio and a new camp organized called Camp Merriam. The
sandy camp had become filthy and the cold fogs which rolled in nightly brought
meningitis and malaria.
Col. Funston retired Lt. Polk from duty as A.A.G. and Captain Buchan of the
20th Kansas was detailed in his stead. I remained in charge of the office.
Headquarters were moved to the Presidio and a nice location selected behind a
row of cedars just across the driveway from the Union Street car stand.
On August 18 Lieutenant Deford, Regimental Adjutant, and Lieutenant Ray of the
20th Kansas resigned and I was promoted to a Lieutenancy. I was mustered in as
such on September 4th and was assigned to "E" Company. Thus I ended,
for a time, my connection with Brigade Headquarters where I had been a
"necessary evil" from June 20 to Sept 3.
On Sept 6 Capt. Buchan secured a leave of absence and I was detailed Assistant
Adjutant General of the 2nd Brigade. Thus I graduated from clerk to Chief of
Staff in the Headquarters of the 2nd Brigade, and this was some satisfaction.
On the 16th he returned and I was relieved, but a day or so later he sailed for
Manila in command of the Oregon recruits and I was again detailed A.A.G. which
position I held until Oct 27 when I was ordered to Manila with the regiment. On
that day I closed up the business of the brigade, turning in all papers,
records, ets. to Brig. Gen. Miller who commanded what was left of the
Expeditionary Forces.
Our stay at the Presidio was a pleasant one, but all were glad to get under way
for Manila after a wait of 5 months at San Francisco. We sailed on October 27.
The whole water front and the shipping was crowded with friends of the regiment
bidding us goodbye. As the big transport swung out from the wharf the band
played "The girl I left beh ind me." During the five months spent in
California the soldiers developed some very sentimental friendships and
especially is this true of the band.
There were 700 odd men and 33 officers aboard the "Indiana" besides a
Mr Turner, missionary and wife with 2 children. The wives of four officers
accompanied us. I will remark here that a troopship is no sort of place for
women to take passage.
We arrived in Honolulu on the morning of November 5 and remained four days.
During our stay in Honolulu I renewed my acquaintance with Gen. King and staff.
The General had been detained at Honolulu to command the District of Hawaii.
The transport lay at anchor in the little harbor most of the time, there being
no dock room. We were compelled to hire native boatmen who thronged about to
pull us ashore. The round trips cost 20 cents. Honolulu is an attractive place
to a foreigner but an expensive place to live and one bound to grow tiresome
and monotonous.
I visited all the places of interest. Among other things I visited the Pali. It
was here that Kahammia I drove all the Oahu army off to be dashed to pieces on
the rocks below.
One of the singular occurrences here was the holding of an election for State
and County officials. We organized a regular election board and voted on the
wharf at the foot of the gang plank. This election was a very disagreable
thing. Several of the officers engaged in rotten politics and attempted to
railroad through this scheme and that, particularly with reference to the
selection of the board.
We steamed out of Honolulu on the morning of Nov. 9 at 5 am. The voyage was a
common place one. There was considerable sea sickness the first few days out
from Frisco, also some trouble in regard to the feeding of the men. Some of the
men broke into the ship's stores and stole all the supplies that were portable
and easily eaten.
This was a difficult task but we arrived all OK in the Bay of Manila on Dec 1
at 1 am. At daylight next morning after our arrival the ship was surrounded
with native boats and the ship was crowded with them soliciting laundry,
selling cigars, etc. A day or two after our arrival and before we had gone
ashore, a man from "I" Company died aboard ship of typhoid fever. He
was taken ashore in a small boat and buried from the hospital.
We lay in the Bay until Dec 12 and then went ashore. We were assigned to
quarters in the Bionondo District and were immediately put to policing the
same.
Bionondo District is one of the worst and most filthy portions of the city. It
comprises the whole shipping and water front, the fisheries around on the Bay
shore, the slaughter where all the horses, carabou, and diseased animals are
killed for food. The population of this district comprises about 35,000 mostly
Chinese coolies and Tagalos. The streets are narrow, crowded, and filthy. Crime
was rampant, thefts a nightly occurrence, and murder frequent. There was
perhaps as much crime committed in Bionondo as all the rest of Manila combined
except perhaps Tondo. This made difficult work of it.
Here the 20th Kansas was quartered and the duty was the policing of the
district. We began at once to mount a daily guard of up to 100 men and these
were posted along the water front, around the government storehouses, and along
the narrow dark streets at remote points.
Disease was everwhere. I have, while visiting my guard in this district, picked
up cases of leprosy, smallpox, and every disease known. These were always
turned over to the Health Department and the Provost Marshal Gen'l wired.
While engaged in this work small pox broke out in the regiment and 18 deaths
followed. One, Pvt. Cornett, belonged to my company. All of the men in the
regiment had been vaccinated from 2 to 4 times since entering the service.
About the middle of December - shortly after we landed -our regiment was
assigned to a portion of the American line for outpost duty. We had the extreme
left of the line connecting on the right and extending across the Manila &
Dagupan Railway and the abandoned line running to Malaban, the left Kansas
outpost being stationed at a blockhouse on the beach, Thus we guarded a front
of 3/4 of a mile. It was an important position commanding the railroad and
communications with the rebel capital at Malolos.
At this time the insurgents, whose outpost was in every instance placed in our
front commanding our position, were very demonstrative. They had the idea that
we would not fight them and were at times guilty of many overt acts which came
near causing a clash.
I was in command of the outpost one night in January when some demonstrations
were made - the Tagalos attempting to extend their line of sentries inside of
my own. This occurred at about midnight but was prevented by prompt action.
On the evening of February 4 I had returned from a stroll in the Plaza di
Bionondo at about 9 pm. I was sitting on the portico in front of my room
overlooking Calle Asiloaque in company with Capt. Christy (who was at the time
confined to the room under arrest) Lieut. Craig, Lieut. (now Capt.) Scott and
Lieut. McTaggart who was afterward killed at the fight at San Tomas. We were
smoking and discussing when the volunteers would be returned to America when we
heard a rifle shot in the direction of Santa Mesa. This shot was followed by
more, and then the firing became general. Someone remarked that "the stuff
was off" and we began to change clothes. Before I got out of white duck
and into field khaki the firing was heavy all along the chain of cordon posts
surrounding the city of Manila. The men (many of whom were already in bed) were
turned out and told to get ready to fall in at a moments notice. In twenty
minutes the 2nd battalion quartered at the Calle di Hacienda were in column of
fours going in double time to the support of the outpost.
It was a march not to be forgotten. As the men ran, now walked (as was
necessary to close the column) the dust rose in great clouds and the men
cracked a joke now and then. Occasionally a window would slide back from the
houses lining the narrow street and a head would pop out only to be drawn back
immediately. As we drew near the outposts the firing became louder. We arrived
at the car barn which was used by our regiment as a shelter for the guard about
10 o'clock and were ordered to seek the shelter of the old cemetery wall. At
this juncture the 3rd battalion under Metcalf came up and joined us.
At this time the outpost guard were assembled in the road 300 yards ahead
across the canal and were holding this position. The enemy were firing Mauser
rifles and one small piece of artillery. Two companies were sent across the
bridge, "K" & "M", to relieve the guard who were out of
ammunition. These two companies were shortly followed by the rest of the
battalion, "G" & "E". When we crossed the bridge the
enemy was firing down the road with rifle and artillery. Here we heard our
first Mausers sing their death song but strangely no one was hit.
We went a short way up the road and lay down. Shortly the firing eased and we
continued up the road, turned in on the left hand side through the big gate and
bivouacked. Twenty minutes later the 3rd battalion of the regiment joined us,
followed by two sections of the Utah Artillery who placed their guns in the
road. Later one battalion of the 1st Montana Infantry came up under command of
Lt. Col. Wallace. At this time the firing was eased and all was quiet.
There was no communication with the blockhouse on the beach 1/2 mile away which
was held by a Sergeant and 6 men. It was considered an important position on
account of the fact that the enemy was known to be just across the canal in
considerable numbers. They maintained a strong outpost here and had but to
cross the canal to be in Tondo District of Manila. This District was also known
to be in deep sympathy with the Rebels. It would have been impossible to send
reinforcements to the blockhouse from the main line because of the water and
swamp intervening. So it was decided to send a detachment over there to hold
the place against all comers. At 11 o'clock I was accordingly ordered to take
24 men and a Sergeant, go over and hold the position "at all hazard".
Such were my instructions and I immediately set out knowing that I was cut off
beyond all hope of assistance and decided to fight it out and wind up my
affairs with those of the blockhouse. By making a forced march and wide detour
around to the rear to Tondo Church and up the beach I gained the blockhouse.
The enemy were entrenched on the other side of the canal 80 yards away! The
Sergeant and his 6 men augmented my force making in all 32 to hold this
position on a dark night against untold numbers of the enemy and no possible
support available! In addition Lieutenant Gordon and one man of the Signal
Corps reported to me to arrange communication with the Navy, two vessels of
which (the Charleston and Concord) lay just off the shore. I crammed my force
into the blockhouse, gave such orders as were necessary, got what information I
could from the Sergeant who had been there all day before the trouble began,
then I went outside to look into the situation.
Immediately on my coming outside two Mausers popped across the canal, two
bright electric-like flashes shone over their entrenchments, and two bullets
whistled by me. This was followed by a volley. They then began to fire "at
will", and fearing that an attempt was being made to cross the canal under
cover of darkness and their fire, I gave instructions for my men to aim at
their gun flashes and we replied with good lusty volleys. I fully realized my
position, cut off by 1/2 mile of water and impassible swamp and jungle from the
balance of the American line, having taken the position late of a pitchy dark
night, the enemy 80 or 90 yards away and in considerably greater numbers than
my own force. Being well acquainted with my ground and the amount of protection
I had, gave them a vast advantage.
The firing lasted nearly all night, being resumed at intervals, and was
promptly returned by me. In the time between onslaughts I compelled my men to
lie down to catch a minutes rest and sleep, posting two sentries overlooking
the enemy's position. I kept awake all night myself. At early dawn the enemy
opened on me furiously which fire was steadily maintained for an hour. In the
meantime it became daylight and all my fears for a crossing of the enemy were
removed. At 9 am February 5, I burned the native fishing village in order to
give me a view in the direction of our forces on the road and enable me to
repulse any attack from the East.
All day Sunday the enemy lay behind their entrenchments across the canal and
maintained a constant skirmish fire, shooting at any moving object on our side.
These courtesies were always returned by me. I accordingly gave orders for my
men to use their best judgement, remaining under cover, and to fire only when a
Filippino could be seen on the other side. This fire was maintained the entire
day and it was impossible for the enemy to get away. We held them down behind
their entrenchments all day long.
At daylight the two cruisers laying off shore a mile opened fire, throwing
shells into the enemy's country in my front. Later the tiny gunboat
"Callio" joined them and coming in closer attempted to drive the
Tagalos from their strong position across the canal. Her heaviest armament was
a 6 pounder which would not do it.
At 2 pm I sent the following dispatch to Funston: "Can hold this position
forever. No casualties. Send me some ammunition and rations." This was
carried around the line by Privates Gordon and Van Slack. They deserve great
credit.
I received a reply late in the afternoon thanking me and promising supplies. At
dark these had not arrived and I repeated my request by signal through the
Navy. I was asked by the Callio, "How many men have you?" I replied
"30". Soon a boat put out which landed a few hundred yards in. She
was loaded with hardtack, canned beef and mutton, a butt of fresh water, a
basket of hot tea, a quart of Holland Gin, and a quart of Canadian Club whisky.
A Lieut. Bishey came along and presented the ship's compliments. He was much
surprised that I had had no men hit. Later the supplies came from the Army and
I settled down for the night.
During the night the enemy evacuated under cover of darkness making me no
further trouble. Next morning I sent a dispatch asking permission to cross
which was reluctantly granted. I accordingly crossed, burned the enemy's guard
house and barracks, and drove them from the country in my front. I then
returned, sent a dispatch reporting my operations and asked to be permitted to
bring my command up to join in the advance. I received a discretionary order
which, when I heard heavy firing on the right by my regiment, I construed
favorably and rushed my men forward. I joined my company on the firing line in
the midst of the action of February 7th before Caloocan and assisted in burning
the nipa huts lining the road as the line fell back to their trenches.
This action was brought about through the foolishness of Capt. Charles W.
Christy of Company "E" who sent a party forward without authority
while the regiment was lying entrenched. The party ran into some of the enemy
in the dense woods three hundred yards in front and were fired upon. Colonel
Funston came up to reprimand Christy and order his men to return, but the enemy
opened fire and he was maddened, allowing his wits to fly from him and all his
small judgement as a soldier to become subverted by a bantam like desire to
"Get at them." The result was that he not only lost several men but
accomplished absolutely nothing .
During this engagement perhaps 60 to 100 men from the 3rd Minnesota and 2nd
Oregon regiments, whose respective commands were stationed in the City of
Manila and not participating in any of the fighting, ran away and went in with
the Kansas boys to have a crack at the enemy. Later they got all they wanted.
Colonel Funston came up and looked over the ground. He sent back to General
Otis asking permission to "dislodge the enemy from in front."
Permission was granted and he went into action with companies D, C. & B and
one platoon of E. (When I came on the line with the other platoon of E it made
up all of E Co.) The engagement lasted perhaps 3/4 hour and terminated about 6
pm. The enemy were (of course) routed, perhaps 25 being killed. The American
loss was one officer (Lieut. Alford) and one man killed and a half dozen
wounded. The force then fell back to their original position. Nothing was
gained . This engagement (skirmish) was carried out on the afternoon of
February 7. The night of the 7th was quiet. This was the first night since we
had come in the field that I served under my company commander. Hitherto I had
had an independent command. He thoroughly disgusted me with his bad judgement
and other incompetency.
The next day nothing was done and we still lay in our positions, taken up
February 7th in the morning, my platoon occupying the space between the Manila
& Dagupan Railway and the Manila y Malibon tramway to the West of
Blockhouse No. 1. The other platoon was across the tramway.
On the night of the 8th about 9 pm the enemy fired a few shots from the dense
jungle a few hundred yards ahead and Capt. Christie again gave the command to
fire which was taken up all along the line and became general. There was no
night attack upon the part of the rebel army and the reckless expenditure of
ammunition was another piece of folly. The firing was heavier here for 15
minutes than I have ever witnessed since - 99 % of it coming from the American
side!
The next day after tiffin the Colonel rode along and gave his orders to form
for attack. We all thought Caloocan was to be taken at once, but after forming
the lines and lying all afternoon in the hot sun ready to go forward, we were
again ordered to return to the trenches. The movement had been postponed.
That night Company"K" on my right just across a small creek could
"see things" and kept up a harmless fusillade at the darkness. The
next day the battle of Caloocan was fought.
The journal ends here. After the action at Caloocan, Collin
Ball participated in engagements with the insurgents at Tullijan River, Malinta,
Polo, Bigaa, Guinguinto, Malolos, Bag Bag, and Calumpit. He was awarded the
Silver Star for gallantry in action at the Bag Bag River, where his
contribution to the success of the action is described by General Funston in
his book Memories of Two Wars . He received the Purple Heart for a
serious wound suffered in action at Calumpit on April 26 1899. He was mustered
out in October, 1899.
After being mustered out he decided to make the Army his permanent career. He
passsed an examination and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the regular
army in July 1901. He served in the Army until his retirement for physical
disability in March 1927. He died on April 24, 1939.
During his career, Collin Ball had many important and interesting assignments.
Just before the downfall of the monarchy in China he went there on a
confidential mission for the War Department to assess the numbers and quality
of the Chinese armed forces in the Canton area. He served two more times in the
Philippines, on one of which he was Topo graphical Inspector in charge of
extensive surveys for the military map. During World War I he commanded Camp
Hill, Virginia, and later was Chief of Staff of the Panama Canal Department.
Later, he commanded Fort Moultrie on Sullivans Island in South Carolina.
He never advanced beyond the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Reading between the
lines of his account of action in the Philippines, one recognizes a young man
who was brave, clever, resourceful, and energetic, but also strongly
independent and outspoken with little tolerance for stupidity or incompetence.
Men with these qualities advance quickly when they are young but they seldom
become generals.
Aguinaldo was captured in March 1901 and agreed to accept the U.S. role in the
Philippines. We had acquired an empire in the Pacific largely by accident. The
fading of the Spanish had coincided with the restless optimism of an American
people who had only recently subdued a continent. A spark had been ignited by
an unscrupulous and greedy newspaper publisher. A restless young man had been
swept up into romantic adventure and a new career. He was an imperialist by
accident.
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