Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1912 — Two Warriors Taken; Fight Plans End [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Two Warriors Taken; Fight Plans End

CHICAGO. American reinforce* ments for the rebel Mexican troops set sail for the southern republic from Dundee, Hl., on the Fox river, the other night. '‘Captain Unafraid" Merle FarmsWorth, thirteen years old, was in command of the good ship Ferber, while General Do Or Die Charles Martz, fourteen years old, commanded the troops. The skipper and the general were 'the crew and the general and the skipper were the troops. Their transport was a skiff, owned, until they seized it as contraband of war, by Lyman Andrews of Dundee. The young soldiers of fortune made up for their lack of numbers in the strength of their armament. Each wore a belt, strapped around his waist carrying 110 rounds' of ammunition. While in their holsters were revolvers. Dangling from their hips were huge two-edged dirks in Scabbards, almost a foot long. The expedition was halted at Aurora, 111., after a two days' sail. The. skipper and general were captured by the Aurora police. They had covered not more than thirty miles when they were taken at North Aurora.

The boys were seen navigating the Fox river, the boat rocking and bobbing about on the swollen stream. Observers thought the lads would be drowned and the police were notified. They seized the boys. The lads made a desperate kicking and scratching resistance for a minute, then, realizing the futility of giving battle to superior forces, capitulated. Afteu their surrender they were taken to the Aurora Jhil, carrying with them their provisions—six loaves of bread and two cans of tomatoes. The police seized their munitions of war. The boat was tied up and the former owner sent for it. Fenced in by iron bars, the boys became lamblike. They declared for peace and the calm of home llfe again. The boys are said to have stolen the revolvers from the elder brother of Martz.