"Please, sir, save my father!" was an appeal from a little boy, as he pointed to where a swarthy assassin stood taking aim at a defenceless man. The American's revolver was leveled and fired just in time to render the other's shot harmless by his own fall. Others were protected by the same faithful hand and stern purpose as they retreated towards the only place of safety--the American steamer. Arriving at the water, the crowd rushed on to a small steam-tug, and but for the quick thought and bold action of our leader, would have been overtaken by the pursuing mob. He took command, gave his orders to fasten to a lighter near at hand, transferred his passengers to the larger craft, and signalled the engineer to start for the _Cortez_. Fortunately, he was obeyed without question, and a more successful trip was never made by the _Wild Goose_ and her commander on Lake Ontario! His money loss was some $10,000, but he could count untold gain in the saving of lives, and to this day he refers to his participation in those fearful scenes with satisfaction not to be calculated in coin. On their arrival in New York, Mr. Horton was named by his fellow-passengers as the person to proceed to Washington, to make a statement of the occurrences at Panama, in response to a call from the authorities to that effect. From that time until his marriage in 1861, he made several journeys between Washington and Wisconsin, as a witness in the riot case and a claimant for damage. His testimony was important in deciding the demand for reparation made by the United States upon the Government of New Grenada. His own claim was most strenuously and successfully opposed by the Spanish commissioner. He had done too much injury to his people to have _his_ losses repaid. _All_ other claims were not so objectionable; and as a compromise in the final settlement, the man who deserved a General's commission for courage and strategic skill, and liberal pay for the personal risks taken in his defense of American citizens, was stricken from the list of creditors.