The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-23


that he would not fall in the battle, which he
predicted for Good Friday or Easter Sunday
following, but that within twelve years from
that event he would be slain by artillery.
"Otherwise." he added, "you would never
end your days in the field, for you are so be-
loved by those under your command, that they
would sooner die than leave you in jeopardy"
Strangely enough, all things corresponded
to the prediction. But we feel convinced that
the prophecy was, as usual, made after the
events had occurred, not before. The battle
of Ravenna, the day and events, were all cor
rect; the fate of the Duke de Nemours, and
the faconet shot which laid bare the shoulder
bone of the knight.
Crossing the Alps to his uncle, the bishop Of
Grenoble. fatigued him so that he believed
himself dying, and as he always wished to die
in battle, he lamented most piteously that he
was ''to die in bed like girl"
At the time and in the manner foretold by
the astrologer-so runs the tale-Bayard's 5
death took place. 1t was while conducting the
French army in their retreat before the Span
iards, and the knight. as usual on such occa-
sions, took the post Of danger. A stone from
a harquebuss struck him across the spine with
blow, which he knew instantly to be mortal.
Holding up bis sword he kissed the cross upon
its handle, and pronounced these words, audi
bly,: ''Mserere mel, Deus, Secundum magnam
misericordian tuam"
His servant took him from his horse and
placed him under tree The Spaniards dis
covering who he was that was wounded, ex-
hibited the greatest kindness towards him A
tent and camp bed were prepared for him, and
every attention paid to him that generous
enemy could bestow. The Marquis of Pescarn
addressed him in terms of strong commenda-
tion of his knightly powers, and of conlmisera-
ton for his present strait. And here. surroun-
ded by both friends and foes, with fervent
prayer for God to forgive his offences, the
Good Knight closed those beautiful eyes for
the last time, and sunk down in the quiet slum
bers Of the dead.
By the direction of the Spanish general, the
body was placed in church, and solemn ser
vices performed there for three days; it was
then taken home. As the funeral cortege
passed through Savoy, orders were given by
the duke that as much respect should be paid
to it as iii were that of his own brother Bay
ard was buried in convent that had been
founded by the bishop of Grenoble.
The French are demonstratlye people, and
delight in expressing their emotions by exter-
nal forms; yet years swept by, and no visible
type of their remembrance Of the good old
knight appeared The king whom he had died
to serve. the nation of which he was the pride,
reared no memorial to his virtues or his fame
1t remained for private individual, connected
with him by no tie, except that of being ma
Of tha n M
ment Let his name be carried down to the
future, long after the monumental marble has
sunken into the earth, as Scipio de Poulloud,
Seigneur de Saint Aguin.
A BRAVE MAE.-Among the parties now in
Washington urging upon congress the neces-
sity of providing an effective government for
Arizona. and laws which can be made active
for the protection of life and property there, is
Mr.. Silas St.. John, formerly of New York
whose desperate fight at Dragon springs, ii
September last has already received notice
! from the press. The Washington correspon
dent of the New York Times, speaking of thi:
terrible combat, says;
! The scene Of the encounter is in the Gads
! den purchase, 25 miles west of fort Buchanan
4 Mr.. st. John was the superintendent OF a sta
ton of the overland mail company, having witt
/ him as assistants three Americans and three
Mexicans. The Mexicans planned the muir
der of all their comrades, IN order that they
might steal the mules belonging to the line
( They made their attack accordingly in the
night time, when the Americans we've all sound
asleep One Of their victims, James Burr, o
Watertown, New Y York was Instantly killed BY
blow with a sledge hammer, which crushed
his skull Two others, Preston Cunningham
and James LANG, were rendered helpless and
fatally wounded before they had fairly ava
kened from sleep.
ST. John was aroused by the attack upon bis
comrades, and sPrang froI6 his bed in time te
meet the onslaught of the three desperadoes
who came at him with axes. A blow from ont
/ of them wounded him in the hip. A seConC
assailant struck at him with his axe, severing
the bone of his left arm so that it hung by the
flesh above. Nothing daunted, st. John knock
ed the scoundrel down with his fist before ht
could aim another blow, and then retreated-
warding off the blows at the same time--ht
reached his bedside, where he got possession 0
his gun The assassins turned to flee, but OF
hearing his gun fall supposed him too weak tc
use it, returned to finish their bloody work
| St. John still had bis revolver, which he leveled
quick as thought and fired, his shot taking
such effect upon one of the murderers that he
soon fell and died. The Mexicans then flee
in panic.
The suferings of the wounded man, lying
alone for several days, far from succor, may
be imagined. He refused 10 give up, however
and kept watch all night, revolver in hand
and day or two afterwards crawled out ant
opened the gate of the corral and let the fam
shed mules out to water and grass. Relic
came at last, and nine days after the fight h,
obtained the assistance of surgeon, who am
putated his wounded limb. Fortunately, th,
wound had not severed the main artery, o
the sufferer would have speedily bled to death
A more desperate struggle than this is scarce
/ ly to be found in the annals of frontier life
It's hero is an exceedingly modes, quiet anc
intelligent young man. twenty-five years o
age, Of medium height, and stout, compact,
knit frame. He comes to Washington higbl,
recommended, and his representations in re
gard to the necessities of the distant region il
which he has made his home, cannot fail t
make a decided impression on all who interro
gate him.
The following extract from letter written