Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-04-19
THE SOUTH AMERICAN MURAT.
AN INCIDENT IN HIS LIFE.

AN INCIDENT IN HIS LIFE
Every one must have heard of some Of the
wild and barbarous exploits of Paez, the South
American Murat; but few know the real cause
of his excessive cruelty to Spaniards. We are
given to understand from good authority, that it
arose from the following circumstances:
One bright glorious night, such as we in
northern attudes and in our sea girt isle, nev-
er experience, when Captain Dessein command
ed General Paezs outposts, he heard somebody
approach on horseback. On reconnoi' ering, the
stranger proved to be female a handsome An
dalusan. She appeared exhausted, and wished
to see the General forthwith Captain Dessein
hastened to introduce her to Paez, whose bed
and bedroom consisted of hammock, suspend.
ed between two trees, beneath the starry heav-
ems. The young woman fell on her knees on
perceving the General, and implored him to
succor the patriots Of Santa Fe, who wished to
join Santander, and would be crushed by the
Spaniards unless Immediately assisted, they en-
gagged to effect rising in the town as soon rs
Generals Paez and Santander appeared at their
gates.
Paez listened to the girl with the utmost in
terest; evidently not so much for the sake of
the subject as for the petitioner. He asked her
many questions-whO she was, what was her
name, whether she resided at Santa Fe, &c. In
answer, she said that her name was Poycarpa
Salvatariella, and that for several months past
she had become the emmissary who carried the
correspondence between the patriots of the town
and Santander's partsans. The love of liberty
had, she said, induced her to expose herself to
every peril.
The General, who betrayed no feeling what.
ever, if an intimate friend fell by his side, listen
ed to his present visitor with the utmost emo.
ton. He took her hand, and in the tenderest
tone assured her he would 90 the very next day
to the assistance of her countrymen. On bearing
the blissful news, the little Amazon uttered a
cry ofjoy, leaped upon her horse, and vanished
in a moment. -
Polycarpa Salvatarela possessed spirit that
assmilated closely to the General's--a spirit will
ling to set at defiance everything, even the grim
king of terrors himself, to accomplish what it
desired should be executed. No wonder, there
fore, that even the short interview that had ia
ken place between them was sufficient to make
the General madly, desperately enamored of the
beautiful enthusiast in the cause of her country
mems freedom.
According to his promise, the next day Paez
Informed his soldiers that he was about to lead
them to Santa Fe; but the Lianeros, who never
quit their prairies, for the first time refused to
obey their General. Paez alternately ragged and
prayed, but in vain, the Laneros threatened to
desert, it compelled to quit their families and
droves In his despair the General sent for Capt.
Dessein.
"Captain," said he " she must be saved! You
are Frenchman-the Spaniards will respect
you; hasten to Santander, tell him to protect the
departure of the patriots of Santa Fe, and the
rl al
shall be my brethren. Start forthwith. Save
her-save Salvatariella p
lie gave the Captain his best horse, and off
he galloped. Two days after he communicated
with Santander the message Of Paez.
"lt is too late," exclaimed Santander. 81 have
just learned that the Spaniards have surprised
one of my messages entrusted to Salvatarela
in the hauds of her lover, n young officer of the
royal army; both have been seized, and this very
day are to be executed"
"Impossibew exclaimed Capt Dessein "the
girl must be saved"
He mounted his horse again, and FASTENED
entire terre, to Santa Fe. On approaching the
town he saw an immense crowd, and the whole
garrison drawn up on the grass. On inquiry he
was told that young officer, who had commu.
nicated with the insurgents through the medium
VI Hio HiStIcoS, WAS dDOuL W Ue SnOI, tuab tle
latter had declared that her lover was innocent
that the officer had PERSISTED in accusing himself
and that they had been sentenced to death. The
Captain fastened on, and soon heard the fire Of
platoon; it was the death Of the young officer
He perceived young woman close to the pla
toon. 1t was poor Savatariella She had no
stirred on hearing the discharge, but she was
pale as death and her fine dark eyes seemed tC
flash fire. The commandant gave signal anC
the executioner approached her. She then ask
cd for glass of water, which was brought by
Spanish soldier.
p" will accept nothing from an enemy" ex
claimed she with haughtiness
Dessein hastened TO her, and presented tht
glass when she recognized him.
"Senora," whispered the Captain, 81 have beer
sent by General Paez to save you"
"lt is too late," said she pointing to tht
corpse of her lover, +" must join him in Heav
en-"
General Pacz loves yon," added the Captain
trembling and weeping.
"Then," said she, Z" let him avenge me-"
AT that moment the executionercut off he
hair Salvatariella handed Capt. Dessein alocl
of it, adding the words:
1 Enrh