Emperor William
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
12 September 2000
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

High noon, on a scorching hot day, September 12, 1860, Trujillo, a small Spanish fortress outpost on the North Coast of Honduras. The prisoner, hands bound tightly behind his back, was marched out of his dark dungeon cell inside the fort. A contingent of Spanish soldiers paraded with this young man, small of stature, still dressed in his tattered military uniform.

They climbed up a steep incline, in step with a dirge-like beat of drums, to a bluff overlooking the village and the fortress. The shimmering Caribbean was visible from where the prisoner stood, firmly tethered to a post, in front a small hillock. There was a freshly dug grave off to the left.

A blindfold was offered and refused by the prisoner. He smirked tauntingly at the firing squad standing at port-arms a short distance away, glaring at members of the assemblage as if in final judgement of them.

The commanding officer unsheathed his saber. "¡Atencion!" he ordered. The troops came to order. The officer then raised the saber above his head, the polished blade reflecting the bright sunlight. The drum roll began, and a pair of monks began a final chant of redemption for the condemned man.

"Listo……..apunte……" The prisoner spit on the ground, still glaring and smirking. "¡Dispare! Twelve rifles fired simultaneously, and the prisoner fell to the ground, legs twitching in final resistance.

Thus ended the life of William Walker, age 36. American, adventurer, privateer, condottiere`

A genius for certain, this soldier of fortune terrorized many parts of Mexico and Central America during his numerous visits to countries south of the border.

A native son of Tennessee, Walker had completed college by age 14 and had a degree in medicine when he was twenty-three. He was a lawyer, surgeon, journalist, editor and filibuster (privateer).

One time self-proclaimed Emperor of Nicaragua, he was greatly feared by many, and openly supported by others who saw him as a liberator of the entire geographic region.

September 15th is Independence Day throughout Central America. On my first visit to the isthmus, I happened to be in San Jose`, Costa Rica, on the 15th of September. There was great excitement, people lining the roadsides of the Pan American Highway, waiting in great anticipation. Then the runners came. They carried the lighted torch of freedom, from Guatemala all the way to Panama, in relay teams, to commemorate this Holiday for all Central Americans. It was very impressive, heart warming.

The drummers came next; corps, after corps of young men and women, boys and girls, beating the drums with all their strength. There must have been ten thousand of them, and I had the feeling my hearing would not recover from the din for quite some time.

I asked a spectator what was going on, why all the excitement, having to yell my question so he could hear. What was the occasion for all the celebrations and parades, the runners, the caballeros on magnificent horses, I had asked. "It is our Independence Day fiesta"' he answered. "Independence from whom, Spain?" was my second inquiry. "Oh, no senior", he replied. "Independence from William Walker."
More next week.

By Pierre Renaldo, Mountain Coastal S.A,. General Contractors, Construction Management and Construction Consultants.