Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-22
The Career of a Creole.

who was at one time the wife of the
famous Ned Buntline, and at another
the mistress Of Ben McCulloch, the
Texan ranger.
The date Of her registry was "July
the 26th." The name entered was
Martha Leguire," but she went by
various pseudonymes and was origin
ally Cuban born at Havana and
raised in New Orleans. Her true
name was Maria Cordova.
The story Of her life, as given to
US is rather more romantic than com
monty turns up in the every day ex-
perience Of a local reporter. Her
father was tobacconist, and the first
mention made of her was when she
was girl fourteen or fifteen years of
age, when she was known in the CreS-
cent City, as "the pretty cigar girl of
Canal street" She attended at the
patriarchal shop, both wrapped and
sold the choicest principles, and added
to her charms and her reputation by
an exceeding coy modeSty that defed
assault.
Buntline-before he came to Nash
vile and was involved in the fearful
tragedy that is associated with his
name-liyed a thriftless, daredevil life
in Texas, on the prairies, upon the
Gulf coast and about New Orleans.
He was a handsome young fellow of
obscure origin, ready talent, neat ad-
dress and varied accomplishments.
His meeting with the pretty cigar
girl was an accident, and his suit was
long and difficult. At last he had to
marry her, and three weeks after the
marriage, the couple suddenly diSap-
peared.
There are various accounts of their
absence. 1t was said that the Gap
tain" as Ned was then called Che is
General now commanded a brig in
the Caribbean seas and did business
as an active and fearless pirate. 1t
was reported that he had gone to
Texas to see Judge Wartrous, aud
claim the fortune left by Lahtte. 1t
was sworn to in court that he had re-
tired on the proceeds of faro bank
in which he was interested, and fitted
up a rancho at Corpus Christi
Most likely this latter is the correct
version.
In 1S47, when McCulloch appear
ed at the head of the scouts or rang
ers, by which Old Zack set much store
he had with him an orderly, remarka-
ble for his retiring, reticent, modest
disposition, his intelligence, and his
handsome, girliSh face. The order.
/ Ly, it will be remembered accOmpan.
led hlm through the campaign, being
wounded in front of Perrote, and left
with the monks at Santa Cruz at the
old convent near Pareda's hacienda
McCuIloch was always careful Of the
secret, but somehow it leaked out
/ The orderly was a person of the ten
| der sex; was, in fact, the pretty cigal
girl of Canal street.
Where the ranger had found her
how the pirate had become separated
from her, are points on which we are
unable to enlighten the reader. Nc
Culloch never saw her again. He
left her at Perrote, was wounded him
self at CherubuSo, conveyed to Vera
Cruz and thence ordered to Washing
ton. Whether he ever made an etlor
to regain his lost orderly is unknown
She remained at the monastery near
ly ten years.
Not yet shorn of her beauty, she
appeared in the city of Managua
Central America, at the time of the
!; entrance of Gen. HenningSen, anC
there made the acquaintance of F.;
gambling ilibuster, well known il
New Orleans and Nashville, whom
she accompanied back to the States
, Her descent from a cathedral to th
| monte table, and from infamy to pau
perism, was very gradual, but als'
, very sure.
She found herself, during the win
ter of 1865, at the close of the wal
> in this city. She had been sent Mort
I from Atlanta by Sherman, when h
depopulated that city first to Clncir
matt and then to Louisville. The las
, act of an eventtul career opened in
little out house of this city, west o
= the capitol. For a few weeks sb
, had employed herself as a sewing We
p man, but gave way to drink, and, ate
the customary seasons of arrest an
punishment, relapsed into hopeless
! melancholy, and finally into the poor
q house.
= Here she died, and hence she wa
. carried to an unmarked grave. On
who saw her after the body was dt
r Gently clad for interment repr,
!. sents that she presented a most beat
tiful but saddening spectacle. Th
I traces of original beauty that ha
h singled her out Of a city full of Creol
girls still remained, though dim an
marred by the signs of want and so
h row, and dissipation that oversprea
+ them.
We give the story, such as it is, a
+ one of the illustrations that now an
then occur in common life, represen
4 ing the more romantic side OF familia
q things. 1t is more suggestive tha
complete or satisfactory, and will r
call train of events to the minds o
some of our readers. Two of I'll
p parties, at least, mentioned In 1t al
well known to the general public
f The principal is, indeed, known onl
p to a few, and they, the vicious WI
knew her for no good, and the charl
a able, who knew her only to minist'
to her the last offices of nature and G