The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-03

Impossible NOU SO,
as thought, charged the
did not fail him in the desp
Rosa disappeared with 'su>.ueluess ~ul.n
heightened the evil reputation both Of horse
and man.
Rosa would, however, have sgladly returned.
to an honest life in the Puszta, the wild home
to which his heart yearned. He was truly the
most miserable man upon ear th. He felt that
he had done wrong, but he also felt that " the
world and the worlds law y; drove him to other
crimes for the sake of his life, In lS48, the
Emperor of Austria " bcca me traitor to Hun
gary, and sold it to the 'Croat," as the people
used to say, and they DE- throned him from their
hearts. The cry Of Kfissuth, " The Fatherand
is in danger!" conver ted every denizen of the
Puszta into soldier, and their watchword was
f" Forward from the 'Theiss over the Danube"
to drive back the advancing Croats. Rozsa
thinking that even is forfeited life might be Of
some use, sought permission to sacrifice it in
defense of his count ry. He. sent petition to
the Government praying for an amnesty, and
promising, il 1t were granted, to raise body
of Hussars from the steppe and lead them
against the enemy. The Government accepted
Rozsa's submission and assistance and his
pardon was read to him in the market-place Of
Szeged, in the presence Of large crowd Of peo-
pie. He swore to live and die honorably for
his country-and kept his oath. He appeared
at the head of eighty brave fellows, mounted
and armed, and greatly distinguished himself
during the war. His feats of. arms and won
derful escapes formed quite romance His fol-
, lowers, like his foes, at length became impressed
with the belief that no bullet could hurt him.
that he was impregnable against every weapon.
Instead however, of thinking that he was in
league with the devil, they maintained that he
possessed charm made of peculiar materials,
at certain time, which enabled him to set all
the world at defiance. The charm had, it ap-
pears, weak point-a counter charm; but it
was known only to Rosa himself.
!, The Hungarian patriots having been over
; whemed, Rosa retired to the Steppe. The
Austrian Government put price of G1000 OH
G his head and the police commenced an unceas
e ing attempt to capture him. But it was in
G vain; for every man was his friend. Even The
. tunctionaries of the Government, either out Of
G sympathy or for more solid reasons, gave hin
Y notice when d new chase was in the wind. He
' organized q body of undaunted men, who spreaC
4 throughout the country, and executed his or
n ders with implicit obedience and almost unva
9 rylng success. In aiding patriots to escape from
!, prison. in getting others in danger across ths
h frontier, in disconcerting the spy system, ant
# in others ways, Rosa continued to serve the pa
n triot cause long after it was broken in the field
I, Rozsa on one occasion, was sent from Pestl
g with dispatches, of the highest importance, tt
h to the Turkish frontier. His wife, during hi
3, absence, foolishly showed herself in Pesth, 81
l. openly that the police had no difficulty in ma
s king bcra prisoner The unhappy woman wa
e tortured by the Austrians, to wiring from he
n the secrets of her husband. But she dcfed thei
n cruclties, and at the end Of fortnight she wa
e shot at Neugcbande. Rosa did not return un
e til the atrocious deed had been done, but
e though he deeply loved his wife, he maniteste
T. no outward sign ofafiliotion. He became per
+. haps, more silent and solitary, but in no wa
ID betrayed the pain which was eating his yer
IS heart. Shortly afterwards, he and chose
to band of followers left the camp in the Puszts
of for Pesth, and after an absence of q few day:
III dashed into the campaign, Rosa, carrying bt
rs fore him large bundle, while gendarme wa
W bound to one of his followers. Their horse
in were covered with foam, they were eNhauste
II. with fatigue, and night was far advanced; br
e- Rosa ordered his men to mount, and ride ft
ed the reeds which line the banks of the Theis
he For three hours they galloped in silence, an
er then dismounting, Rosa ordered a fire to |
lighted. Then opening the bundle, his folloS
RS ers were thrilled with horror at beholding Il
en- corpse of his wife. The Pickering flame fallt
rs on the ghastly countenance the lips seemed
he move, and animation return. Rosa knet
a the side of the corpse, sobbing and weeping pi
m, eously, nor could his rude followers refrain fro
tears. Rosa had brayed death to rescue u
he corpse from the Austrians, that it might rest
:" foreground, and to capture the gendarme wi
eir had seized his wife, A grave was dug, and o.
TX. of his troopers, an outawed Protestant min
of ter, performed the service for the dead. Al
then the mourners sung the rational anthem
to Hungary a solemn, plaintiye melody, vari
is by martial strains. Scarcely had the corr
been laid its grave, than Rosa, suddenly Sc
vas ing his axe, aimed blow at the prisoner, W
The was already more dead than alive from frig
lite But as suddenly his spirit changed, his upra
ed arm fell idly to his side, and he exclaimed
inc Il came here intending to sacrifice you on t
of very mound under which the happiness of j
tho life now lies buried. But as the wrong J
rear have perpetrated touched my person, and /
ncc.I my country, l will avenge in manner wort
to Iof myself. You have brought the greatest mi
d 'v on me, and in exchange ! bestow on you
Ian greatest blcssing--i give you yon life"
he mas eyes were then hound by Rozsas ordc