The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-19
IosE MARIA, THE GREAT sPANisu
RORRER

IOsE MARIA, THE GREAT RpAN,sTr
ROBBER.
The model Of Spanish robbers. the Robin Hood
Of our time, is the famous Jose Maria, surnamed
FL TsmpTaHrio, this is the man that is every
whore talked OF from Madrid to Seville, and from
Seville TO Malaga. Handsome, brave, aud cour-
tsous as a rUboer can be, such is Jose Maril. If
ke stops diligence, he gives his hana 10 ths
ladies To descend, and takes care thar they sre
conveniently seated in the shadei T r lt 10 by dag
that most of his exploits are performed Never
pu osth, never q coarse expression; on thl CON
fraTy, a quite respectful Difference and
q patural pOllteneSs which never fails Does
be remove a ring from a ladys finger
"Ab, madam" lie eNclains, " so beautiful hand
has no ntcn Of ornaments" And while slipping
ths ring ir m the finger, he kisses the hand yit6
so air that wonld make one beiieye, TO quote the
words OF Spanish lady, that the kiss was worth
more than the ring. l nave been assured tn a. he
always leaves travellers enough OF money 20
arrive at the nearest town, and chat he has never
refused suy one permission To retain bljO,t which
associations render precious.
Jose Maria has been described to me as a tlll
young man OF twenty years, well made with
tnnnk and smiling hysiOgnOmy, teeth white as
Ie2ls, and remarkably expressive eyes. He
generally wears very rich costume. His linen
Is always Cf a brilliant whitcness, aud his hands
Wouic DO honor 10 a Paris or London beau. lie
was desi ined by his parents for the church, and
etudied theology no tho University Of Grenada;
bur this profession was not great enough for him.
An affair Ot love obliged him to take his flight,
and TO exile himself % Gibraltar; there, when
money became scarce, he Oargained with au
BugIish merchant TO smuggle in large quantity
of prohibited merchandise. lie betrayed by
suan whom he had made partcipator IN tho
en.eiprise. Inc custom house officers knew the
route which he was TO take, and lay in amOuSCldB
by the way; all the mules which he had con-
Quoted we're taken, but he old not abandon them
until after hard tight, in which he killed OF
wounded several officers. From hat moment he
hsd no other resource than 10 lay travellers under
tribute.
A constant good fortune has accompanied him,
even 70 this Day. price is fixed upon his head
description Of his person is attached to the gate
Of oil the towns, with the promise of eight thou
sand reals 10 him who will deliver him up, dead
or alive. Nevertheless, Jose Maria continues his
dangerous occupation with impunty, and the
scene OF his operations extends from the frontier
OF Portugal 10 tue realm Of Mrrca. His band
not numerous, but is composed OF men whose
hdeliiy ana resolution have been long proved.
Ohe day, at the head of dozen picked men, he
EurpTistd, at the Venta de Gain, seventy royali,t
FOiunteers who mad been sent IN his pursuit He
was then slowly returning 10 the mountains
driving before him two mules loaded with the
seventy carbines which he had taken oil as a
trophy.
Wonders are related of his skill in firearms.
On a horse, & full gallOp, he pierces tue trunk
OF an olive tree at a hundred PAGES. The follow
ing narrative Will make known hib skill and gene
TOsity -
A Captain Castro, an officer full Of courage and
aenylty, Who pursued the robbers, It is said, as
a
form his military duly, learned by one Of his
spies that Jose Maria might he found at n certain
Gay in remote aldea. Castro, on tle day indi-
Gated, mOunts his horse, and 10 avoid suspicion
in akngi too many over the COuBtTy, orders tC
follow him only four lancers. Notwithstanding
the precautions, however, which ne used 70 con
ctel bis expedition, he could not prevent l. from
reaching tie ear OF Jose Maria At the momeu
when tTo, after having passed the deep gorge
entered the alley where the aldea Of the enoml
was situated, twelve wel-mounted cavalry mp
ksca aN ,F4p on Ne HaF,L and iuf p0aI
only retreat, which was by the gorge. The Ian
cers thought themselves lost. man, mounte
on bay horse, advanced on gallop from th
troop of robbers, aud stops his horse short aJ
hundred PAGES nom Castro
Jose Maria is never surprised" cried h
"Captain Castro, what have l done thai 20
wish TO give me up 20 justice l could sla
you, but men Of courage have become scare
ara / grant You Your life. Here Is sOuNeu
which Will teach You 10 AVOID me. At yo
So saying he takes aim az him, and O b
passes through the top OF the Captains caps III,
turped and departed with his mon,
Here IL another example Of his courtesy -
Wedding being celebrated on farm ne
Andujar, The married pair had ldy rccliV
the compliments OF their friends and were aho
sitdEg down to table under large tree before o
door Of The house he perfumes of jessamiue ~
orange flow ers mingled agreetbly with the mo
substantial odOrs which eXhacd from the sever
dishes that caused the table to bend beneath th'
weight. All nc once a man appeared on hOrs
back, coming from thicket at pistol shot fro
the house. The unknown leaped 90 the groun
Galuted the guests with his hand, aua led /
horse 10 the stable. lie came unexpe .edlg, b
in Spain every passer-by is Welcome % the iels
besides, the Stranger, By his habllimeuts seem
10 be a man of importance. Ihc husband imn
6aiely followed him 10 invite him to the repl
While every one was asking 10 a low tone wi
the siTauF cr was, the notary Of Audulari who q
sisted a. the celebration, became as pale as du3t
He tIed 20 rise from the seat he occupied by d
side Of his bride, but his legs refused TO suppl
him. One Of the guests VINO had ugen for SOL
time suspected of engaging Ia smuggling, O
at Is lose Maria /" said he 81 am much d
ceived, or he comes here 10 DO some mischief
is the notary he viii aiu at. What shall we dc
"Impossible! Jose Maria would soon oyer.al
him 2"
"Arrest the robber."
"But his band is doubtless 10 tLs nciehbOrE00,
besides, he carries pistols in his grd.c and b
dagger never leaves him
"But, MIR. Notary, what, then, have you done
Some one murmured, in a low tone that O.
notary had said 20 his farmer, two months betor
that II ever Jose Maria came 20 ash drink
him, he should put a dram Of arsenic ia his win
They were sill deliberatine, wlen the ul
known appeared followed by !hc husbauJ
Beyond q doubt il was jose Maria, A he psssC
hc cast tigers glance at the notary, who beBa
TO tremble as Ii he haC been seized with an GgU
fit; then he gracefully saluted the bride an
asked perm s.iOu 20 dance with her 10 her wee
ding. She tool, care not 70 refuse hlm, or pu
on an unpleasant air jose Maria then took
small htOOl drew near % the si!DiC buu Lhlhilihil
eated himself beside the bride, between her an
notary, who seemed every moment h be o
a point Of fainting. The feast began. Jos
W. was full OF attentions 70 bis negh6oi
,ela tne extra wine was served, the bride
j IF mA slass OF hontilla (Which. In my opinion
~, ca,'a, a. yesei than the Keres touched 70 he
tboss presented il to the robber. This
svse hholthch one Is accustomed 10 show 3
ttupAieie ,eisteema 4 Is called una f,esa
e,, seD Whieh .llst Ss usage q unknown in goo
Maria took the glGs. Ha.gEal customs Jos
ianfTy' and decaTeLto 10 thss ssa her With great eal
esS q regard him her sssS sSf he abssoagh
command. TSen tSes tSScsteyer She fed AelISsd Ss
whispered - "'''''' 1''saoC