The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-01
AN uNHoLy BROTHERHOOD.

=
If an indubitable fact IN the secret nsssosy oI
Spain aud one in association with wnIch tne
Inouisi;iop performed. perhaps, us o"'y
Thsrs ,s nn record Of the period at which
The secret society of Despenadores was first
institntci: hut from the name, II Is TO he in
,h. Sn,n,sh language yet owns the verb active,
desnenar not 10 b. con ounded with despennar
which latter means the act Of throwing from a
rock or other elevation. precipitatingJ with
thr s,rnication ITO ease, to alleviat to relieve
from pain or cares" II has long fallen into
.i>use. aud may be looked upon As nearly
obsolete
Or the evening Of certain day. in the year
1stri in n darkened and noiseiess apartment in
the town Of Ocana, in Old Castillo, worthy
and respected citizen lay suffering under dts-
of long standing; at the tester OF his oed
fixed the customary piia, or little open
carthenware vessel, containing holy water
surmonnied by painting ofhis patron saiht
at the foot of the bed, table OF n small KIND OF
altar bearing couple OF l'entsa .nie. az ,nadsd
ing a wooden e.!igy Of Our saviour EXTENDED
on the cross on which the SICK mans eyes,
were riv.tei impiortngiy. gave unmis'aKaoie
signs that the patient was CONSIDERED IN Dan
ger He was vet but a middle-aged man, nm
married well 70. do in the world, OF excellent
character and notable for his devout habits
and rigid observance OF all the forms and cere-
monies of his church. His only relative was
a sis,e-who with two domestics constitute ted
his Household these had now Withdrawn from
the SICK chamber, 70 make way for his friend
strai ght- minded man-who, at the patients
request had been sent for to receive his con-
f.s sion and TO administer the last rites OF ib-
solution and extreme junction. And now that
these ceremonies had been performed, the
CLERGYMAN who had long known and held the
patien; in much esteem, remained alone by his
side praying with and exhorting him. The
sick man did not exactly fear to meet death,
nor did he murmur al the decree of his Maker
vet he nevertheless eXhI ted extreme regret
al being called from this VIC rid so soon. There
fore his friend, the priest, sought somewhat
10 cheer him, by observing, THAT although in
these acts he had complied with the duty of Il
good Christian in preparing himself for the
worst. he ought by no means TO despair Of the
possibility of the Divine mercy being even yet
extended TO him in this world, as there were
Numerous instances OF persons covering from
far more precarious state than he was yet in.'
This reawnkened some hope in the patients
mind and he seemed TO gather strength ana
energy.
him suddenly to cast his eyes towards the
ioer the pa lent was seized with convuislye
rr.mor his countenance betrayed signs of the
most in tense horror, and cold sweat burst
from him. as in an agoniZed whisper he said TO
the priest, There is no hope, no escape, for
me now, indeed, my life is circumscribed toa
few minutes and i lnHst terminate when you
leave me: my death Is now certainly and ine-
vitality at hand" The good priest feared that
a sidtien delirium had seized the sick man, yet
thought it well TO argue with him, and inq uire
ifany change in his sensations induced him
10 make so fatal prcgnostic No; he felt no
increase in the symptoms OF his disease but he
must die. he must die almost Immediately. As
he repeated this, often and coherenlly. and al
ways in the same whispered tone the priest
insisted on being told the reason; and, at last,
the patient, with great trembling and secrecy.
pointed his attention 10 two persons who had
en- tered and who stood in conversation at the
farther end of the room, as though unwilling
to intrude on his spiritual conference with his
adviser They we're staid, sober, and respect
ed of that same town, wearing the sad
Colored garments that denoted their being bea-
tos. or devotees. and they We're acq uainied
both with the patient and the priest; they had
come 10 inquire the state of their departing
friend, and If it must be. to take their farewell
of him. The sick man, with increased agita-
lion. whispered, They are of us. They are
my companions. They are Despenadores. BY
their hands l shall die AS soon as you quit me
and they and are alone" With this, his thin
hands seized and held tue priests arm with al
most supernatural force.
What was the meaning of those words
What were Despenadores Why should his
fate depend upon them These were qnes-
lions the priest was quite unable solve: but he
determined, ne far as possible, to tranquilize
the poor wretch by ass uring him that he would
not leave his side un til desired by himself to do
So This in some measure relieved the sick
mans fright. There the priest sat for hours,
during which the two visitors more than once
drew the bedside, inqulring OF the pa
ient (who shuddered afresh at each approach
the state of his body and mind, CONSIDERABLY
observing that the Senior Parroco must be
wearied by his long attendance, and offering to
relieve him in waiting upon and praying by
the diving man. a. But the priest. warned by the
clutch OF his friends hand, declined to accept
their proposal, and. finally. finding no preleXt
for longer stay at that time, they had to with
draw.
could not fur the present trace, and that the
conflict of terror and hope rendered the patient
for the time incapable of clearing 1t up, the
clergy man resolved on staying by him untii
his latest hour should his disorder finally
take fatal turn and he gave strict injunc-
tons that no one whatsoever but the medical
attendants should be admitted into the sick
room; his clerical presence being efficient
excuse. to any others who might seek entrance.
On the succeeding day he was gratified by
learning that the crisis of the disorder had
passed. and that the patients condition
much more hopeful AS soon rs he found him
sufficiently tranqu il and rcas sured to revert TO
the mysterious subject, the priest urged him to
disclose everything relating 10 his strange
hints of the preceding night. Ultimately he
dr-w from hin, ugh with much difficulty, this
;ckuo " ledgmcnt: That there existed Il secret
Brotherhood of which he a member, not
numprously but Wldel y, disseminated through
out Spain, who We're sworn 10 seek every OPP
portunity OF gaining access to such persons as,
being IN art!culo morris, had received the last
sacraments aud rites of their religion. and un-
der the pretext OF praying with and giving
them spiritual consolation, TO seize the first
moment of being alone with them to terminate
their remaining hours-by strangulation, by
not calculated to awaken suspicion: That TINS
association was guided by much higher OBJ
ject than the merely charitable one which their
adopted name OF Despenadores would indicate;
for instead Of merely intending to aooreviaie
the death agony of the sufferer, their OBJECT
WAS to prevent all possibility u has escaping
death by an unlocked for recovery, rs would
sometimes happen: That the DespeEadores
knew that after having received pIenary abso-
luton and the other final rites Of the Church,
the sick were in state of beatitude, and certain
OF admission to heaven; while, should they be
restored to health, they would be again ex"Nsed
10 All the snares and temptations OF TINS wick
ed world which, according to the weakness of
nature, would lead them to sin anew and una
yoi1abiy imperil their souls should they after
wards be cut of by accidental sudden decease
That the brotherhood, therefore, sought the
eternal welfare Of the absoived, and insured
them certain entrance into Paradise.
Avowing that he had personally taken part
in these az Is on more than one occasion. the pa
tient was sternly asked by the priest why they
had never been referred 10 in his treq uent con-
incumbent on him or on any OF his cOmpan-
ions 10 name them; for, SO far from being sins,
they were meritorious actions, inasmuch AS
they rendered certain the salvation OF souls
that might otherwise perish but apparently,
he trusted SO fully in his own strength and
virtue, that he was disinclined to have this
positive security accorded to himself.
Tie poor priest was shocked and puzzled by
Inc revelation, Tor he could not easily decide
whether he ought or ought not - regard II as
made under the seal Of confession and conse
qutn'ly OF inviolable secrecy; but after some
consideration, he Judged ithis duty to lay the
WI no.e matter privately before his diocesan,
one Oh the grand inquisitors. found sufficient
reason Ia II for having tho three individuals
whom The clergyman pointed ont ~ Despena-
being examined they exh,bited neither fear nor
compunc,ion Mt owning themselves members ~