Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-06

| ears OF all present, without distinction of sex
or age. Several large baskets were brought,
which were filled with the ears cut off, and
sent to the governor of Monteverde The
governor saw in this present from his comman-
der in chief, pledge of his fidelity to the good
| royalist cause. Montcverde wrote as much to
Suosola, who, enchanted by the appreciation
of his superior, cut off many more ears and
made cockades of them. The example found
many imitators in the army, and the soldiers
would henceforth wear no cockades but those
made with ears. 1t became a fashion, and
wherever the Spanish army passed, the inhab-
itants ears are cut off TO ornament the soldiers
shakos.
This monstrous act served the projects of
Bolivar by exaspcrating the Americans against
the Spanish government The taking of Car
acaS was the consequence. At little distance
| from the plain where the chief of the indepen-
dents was encamped, some days before the
taking of Caracas, was a hillock of double
celebrity, on account of spring of warm wa
ter, and of the miracle performed by cele
| brated virgin, whom they entitled the Virgin
of Hot Water. Numerous pilgrims came from
all parts to impore her protection, offering
| costly presents. Consequently the chapel was
| full of precious objects. The reputation Of
| Madonna had extended far beyond the sea.
In fact, king of Spain being i'll, came like
poor co nmoner to the Virgin d AgUa CViieate,
and sent her magnificent golden crown out of
! gratitude for his restoration to health The
| gift gave occasion TO a solemn ceremony, when
| the crown was placed on the head of the Nir
| gin of Miracles, whose renown was much aug
mented by such an event
Nevertheless, nothing had changed in the
camp of Bolivar since the arrival of the Inde
pendents near Caracas. The liberator of Colam
bia, as was usual with him, had just settled
the pay due to his troops, (who were crying
| out for food and clothing by reading them
| fresh proclamation. 1t was thus that for
| length of time in consequence of the difficult
! ties of his positions, he acquitted his debt to-
ward the braVest volunteers who composed his
army A singular army it was. The soldiers
| who possessed q uniform complete, formed d sc,
| lect corps, and marched in the front ranks ; the
soldiers who had Shoes trousers, and hats, but
no coats, formed very respectable body af
| the first-named, aud marched in the second
| rank those who had shoes and trousers, but
no hats or coats, composed the the third rank
those with trousers, but possessing no other
article of uniform, marched in the fourth rank
| in shcrt, the more unfortunate and lightly clad
| still were lost sight of in the crowd of the last
ranks. Bolivar had just finished editing be-
forehand last proclamaton-whichw was to
! Qudate the pay of next month, when it should
be due-whcn they came aud told him that
stranger wished to speak to him.
This stranger was Juan Rodrigues CaballOs
Jardines d Alfandiga, Grand Vicar of the Arch
bishop of Caracas.
Bolivar's countenance became thoughtful, he
felt that the Archbishop of Caracas would not
derange his Grand Vicar to bring him good
tidngs.
| The Father Don Juan Rodigues Cabollas
Jardines d'Alfandiga was a stout man of about
| forty, of narrow mind, having received
very incomplete education. He had risen rap
| idly to the post which he occupied, thanks to
| his jovial temper, and concating humor, and
| thanks to his rotundity Of figure, which made
him very sympathzlng with worldly iniirmi-
| ties
When Bolivar entered the tent where the
| Grand Vicar awaited him, he found him just
finishing cigarette, smoking being a habit
with all then, even with l8dieS.
Don Juan Alfandiga offered his hand to Boil
ivar, according to custom, which the other re-
spectfuy kissed.
a have come about very serious affair"
said the Grand Vicar with a joyous counte-
nance, and a tranquil tone of voice, sadly IN
discord with the words he uttered. lie con
tinued =" An odiouS and sacregiOuS theft
has been committed within the last few days
in the Chapel 1qua CoLiente, by one OF your
soldiers"
GLOW SOS it possible, my lord ?"
a brigadier of your army, one of those
who had shoes and trousers, but no coats"
"The first rank after the select corps Z" eX-
claimed Bolivar
Yes, one of your brigadiers, in short, of the
first rank after the select corps, entered the
chapel and dared to carry off the massive
golden crown from the head of the glorious
Virgin of Miracles"
"Assuredly It's great crime, replied Boil
ivar, but is your lordship certain that you
are not mistaken ?"
! a am never mistaken his name is Pedro
J Francisco, he is thirty-one, and native OF
| Bogota"
The bravest of my soldiers " thought Boil
var frowniug. "The unhappy wretch he IS
lost" Then quickly suppressing his voluntary
movement he added
"And what must l do, my lord, to satisfy
your justice y
You must first" answered the Grand Vi
car, "make the criminal restore the precious
relic, or, at all events, the pieces which he may
still have, in his possession then, when we
have obtained that result, we must, to make
an example, try and shoot him"
What you require, my lord, is quite
right"
"In so serious an affair."" continued the
Grand Vicar, his lordship, the archbishop,
thought that to make the example more salu-
tarv it would be better for him to come here
himself, in the midst of the camp, and preside
over the tribunal which is to Judge the criminal,
Tomorrow. therefore, at II o'clock, his lord