, 1872-11-05
THE TIGER OF THE TROPICS.
A Sketch Of Colonel Francois AehiJIe
Dupin-A "Reminiscences of maximil-
iun,s Reign In mexic0s

I'LL Ak~k4Aa OA sAk0s ASSs
A Sketch OF Colonel Francois Aehille
Dupin-A "Reminiscences of maximil.
iun's Reign In Mexico.
From "shelbys Expedition to aerico," Published in
the Kansas City Times.
Preceding Shelby's arrival in Monterey, there
had come also Colonel Francois Achille Dupin, q
Frenchnan who was known as 'The Tiger OF
the Tropics" What he did would I'LL @ volume.
Recorded here, no reader would balieye it-no
Christian would imagine such warfare possible,
He was past sixty, tall as Tecumseh, straight as
a rapier with seat in the saddle like an English
guards1nan, and waist like q woman. For
deeds Of desperate daring he had received more
right breast of his uniform. His hair and beard,
snowy white, contrasted strangely with stern,
set face that had been bronzed by the sun and
wind Of fifty campaigns.
In the Chinese expedition, this man had led
the assault upon the Emperors palace, wherein
no defender escaped the bayonet, and no woman
the grasp Of the brutal so1diery. Sack, and
piuage, and murder, and crimes without name,
all we're there, and when the fierce carnage was
done, pupin staggering under the weigh. .;o Of
graced man. The inexorable jaws Of a French
court-martial closed down upon him, and he was
dismissed from service. 1t was on the trial that
he parodied the speech Of Warren Hastings, and
declared:
"When saw mountains Of gold and precious
stones piled up around me, and when think Of
the paltry handfulls taken away, by Cd, Mr..
President, am astonished at my own modera-
ton"
AS they stripped his decorations and his rib
bons from his breast he drew himself up with
touching and graceful air, and said to the officer,
saluting:
"Ihey have left me nothing but my scars"
Such man, however, tiger and butcher as he
need Of him. The Emperor gave him back his
rank, his orders, his decorations, and gave him,
as well, his exile into Mexico.
Maximilian refused him; Bazaine found work
for his sword. Even then that fatal quarrel
was in it's beginning which, later, was to leave
kingdom defenceleBs, and an Emperor without
an arsenal or siege-gun. Dnpln was ordered
to recruit q regiment Of Contre guer1llas-
that is to say, o regiment OF free companions
who were to be superbly armed and mounted,
through copse and chapparal, through lowland
and lagoon, sparing no man upon whom hands
were laid, fighting all men who had arms in
their hands, and who could be found or brought
to bay.
Murder with Dupin Tas a fine art. Mistress
or maid he had none. That cold, brown face,
classic little in its outlines, and retaining yet
q little OF its fierce Southern beauty, never grew
mage ghastly and thick. On the eve Of conflict
he had been known to smile. When he
laughed or sang his men made the sign OF the
cross. They knew death was ready at
arms length, and that in an hour he would
sayagely q fresh harvest OF simple ret
offending Mexicans. Of all things left to him
from the sack OF that Pekin palace, one thing
alone remained. typical Of the tiger thirst that
old age, nor disgrace, nor wounds, nor rough
potent enough to quench or assuage. Victor
Hugo, in his s.Toi1ers of the Sea, !" has woven it
into the story after this fashion, looking
straight, Perhaps into the eyes Of the cruel sol
der who, in all his life, has never listened to
prayer or priest:
"a piece of silk stolen during the last war
from the palace Of the Emperor Of China, repre-
sented q shark eating crocodile who is eating
serpent, who is devouring an eagle, who is
preying on 8 swallow who is in his turn is eating
q caterpillar. All nature which is under our OBJ
eervation is thus alternately devouring and de-
voured. The prey prey on each other:
Dupn preyea upon bis specest he t 1aFey
practice, which was diabolca1.
'tNhen YOU kill g Mexican" he would say,
ftthat is the end of him. When you cut OF an
arm or q leg that throws him upon the charity Of
| his friends, and then two or three must support
him. Those who make corn cannot make SOL
diers. It is economy to ampntate.'
Hundreds thus passed under the hands OF his
surgeons. His MANNED and mutilated we're in
every town from Mier to Monterey. On occa-
wine generous, he would permit chloroform for
the operation; otherwise, not. It distressed
him for victim to die beneath the knife.
"Xoa bungers E. endanges ny s hsoy ";yht he
cut without killing 2"
The :.Tiger Of the Tropics" also had his play
full moods. He would stretch himself in the sun,
overpower one with gentleness and attention,
say soft things in Whispers quote poetry on oc-
casions, make himself an elegant host, serve the
| wine, laugh-low and lightsomely, wake up all OF
3 sudden s demon, and-tiu.
One instance OF this is yet 8 terrible memory
in Monterey.
An extremely wealthy and influential Mexican,
Don Vincente lbarra, WAS at home upon his
hacienda one day about noon as Dupin marched
| by. Perhaps the man Was Liberal certainly
| he sympathized with Juarez, and had done
| much for the cause in the. shape Of re-
| crniting resistance to tho predatory bands Of
| Imperialists. AZ yet, however, he had taken up
! no arms, and had paid his proportion to tho
! taxes levied upon him by Jeanningros.
| Dupin was at dinner when his scouts brought
Ibarra into camp. In front of the tent was n
large tree in full leaf, whose spreading branches
! Under this the Frenchman had q camp-stool
| placed for the comfort Of the Mexican.
BE seated" he said to him in voice no
harsher than the wind among the leaves over
head. g." And, waiter, 10y another plate for my
| friend"
The meal was q delightful one. Dupin talked
| as a aubject who had prince for his guest, and
| as lover who had q woman for q listener. In
| the intervals OF conversation ne served the
wine. Ibarra WIS delighted. His suspicious
Spanish heart relaxed the tension Of its grim d.
fence, and he even stroked the tigers velvet
skin, who closed his sleepy eyes and purred
under the caresB.
When the wine was at it's full, cigars were
handed. Behind the white cloud of smoke,
Dupin's face darkened. Suddenly he spoke to
| Ibarra, pointing up to the tree:
"What fne shade it makes, Senior : Do
such trees ever bear fruit 2"
Never, Colonel. What question ?"
:" Never AL things are possible with God,
why not with Frenchman ?
+" Because Frenchman believes 50 little in
God, perhaps"
The face grew darker and darker.
" Are your affairs prosperous, Senior ?"
" As much 30 as these times will permit"
Very good. You have just five minutes in
which to make them better. At the end Of that
! time will hang you on that tree 30 sure you are
o Mexican: What, ho Captain Jacan, turn out
the guard!'
Ibarra's deep olive face grew ghastly white
and be fel upon his knees. No prayers, no ago,
nizing entreaty, no despairing suppicatior
wrung from strong man il his agony ayailei
him anght. At the appointed time his rigii
| t1+ +ta ofn vrl,o