Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-11-26
.as'ty From d @E5nfon Paper r =
-AANOVEL AND AFR0CI0US CHAR
ACTER.

During the awful prevalence OF the
plague, on the north east OF Spain, 10 the
autumn Of 1921, foreigner who was va,
Irionsly said to be Jew, Turk, an Ar.
menian and renegade, but whose &C
knowledged vocation was that of a mer
chant. in which capacity he had amassed
large property, visited the devoted city
OF Barcelona. "A letter from thsnce gives
1he following account Of this singular afro
eious character -" This man, who from
his long white beard. might have been ia
ken for Patriarch, had been an eye wit
ness OF all the plaques that bad desolated,
of. late years, the Turkish empire. As
soon as he had heard that a pestilence
had broken out in any city, he immediate.
ly fastened TO it. He used to account for
these extraordinary journies by the advan-
tage he found 10 such desolated countries
in purchasing his goods at lower raIS
iban usual; but still it seemed inexplica-
bic bow lust of gold could so far overcome
the love fife, and how the old man, who
was already so rich, should continually ex
pose himself to almost inevitable death.
Questions put to this traveller were never
answered clearly. When he arrived at
such theatre OF death, he wrapped him
self from head to toot 10 tarred linnen, CO.
Sered his hands with black leather gloves,
his face with. glass mask, and thus guard,
ed against injection, and provided with a
stick, which had an iron hook at the end,
he entered the infected houses there he
possessed himself Of whatever he found,
seized on hidden treasures and the most
valuable utensils, and tore the jewels from
the bodies of the dead. More than once
he is said to have fastened the effects of
the pestilence, and to have given thu
death blow to the victims, whose cries
would have interrupted him in perpetra-
ting his robberies. Ii chance led hlm in
to house which was still Tree from con-
tagion, he announced himself as physi,
clan, and woe.to those who con6ded in bis
skill. Loaded with treasures, he always
returned to Venice, where admired by e.
very body, on account of the success of
his epterpriEe, he waited for the signal for
fresh booty, like the carbon Vulture,
Sc The news Of the dislsess of Barcelo>
'na became glaI tidiogs Tor this wretch,
and he had already carried on bis horrid
trade among us tor fortnight, when he
was detected IN the very act OF stab5ing a
patient who was quite delerious. This
patient was young French merchant, who
was greatly beloved at Barcelona on &C.
count Of bis integrity. He had jus: lost
his-wife and-tWo sons, and was himself
struggling against the distemper. which
had hit6ettospared this courageous young
man, who most tenderly devoted himself
TO his family He was murdered almost
IN the arms Of bis countrymen, capt, Il.
who wss near his friend in an adjoining
Eoom. Hearing the door opened, he has.
tened back 10 the patient; sees the villain
stab his friend to the, heart, rushes on him,
SEXES him, 4 throws him on the ground aft
fer hard struggle in which the old wretch
sbew'd mere strength than could have heen
expected ,~-eSir," cried the wretch, find.
ing himself Oyerpowered, surely you
will not kill me, 80 Villain what hast
thou done Pr" But he was so illl''-
And those things which you had already
alelen - thought every hnav WAS