Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-15
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE: FRIDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 15 1872

operation. Otherwise not. 1t distressed
him for victim to die beneath the knife.
!. you bunglers endanger my theory,
he would cry out to his surgeons. Why
can you cut without kiIling2| = y
The Tiger of the Tropics also had
his playful moods. He would stretch
himself in the sun, overpower one with
gentlepess aud attention, say soft things
in whispers, quote poetry on occasions,
make himself an elegant host, serve the
wine, laugh low and lightsomely, wake
up all Of sudden a demon. and-kill.
One instance of this is yet terrible
memory in Monterey An extremely
wealthy and influential Mexican, Don
Vincente Ibmra, was nj home upon his
hacienda one day about noon as Dnpln
marched by. Perhaps this man was a
Liberal certainly he sympsthized with
Juarez, and had done much for the cause
in the shape Of recruiting and resistance
to the predatory bands of imperiallsts.
As vet, however, he had taken up no.
arms and had paid his proportion of
the taxes levied upon him by Jeannin-
gros. Dupin was at dinner when bis
scouts brought lbarra into camp. In
front of the tent was a large tree in lpll
leaf, whose spreading branches made an
extensive, aud most agreeable shade.
Under this the Frenchman had camp
stool placed for the comfort of the Mex
lean. " Be seated, he said to him, in a
voice no harsher than the wind among
the leaves overhead. And, waiter, lay
another plate for my friend F" The meal
was a delightful one. Dupin talked as
a subject who had prince for his guest,
and as a lover who had a woman for his
listener. In the intervals of the conver.
sation he served the wine. lbarra was
delighted. His suspicious Spanish heart
relaxed the tension of its grim defense,
and he even stroked the tigers velvet
skin, who closed his sleepy eyes and
purred under the caress. When the
wine was atits full cigars we're handed.
Behind the white cloud of the smoke
Dupins face darkened, Suddenly be
spoke to Ibarra, pointing up to the tree
What fine shade it makes, Senior
Do such trees ever bear fruitH'
Never, Colonel. What question.
f" Never2' All things are possible
with God, why not with FrenchmanY
Because Frenchman believes so
little in God, perhaps"
The face grew darker and darker.
" Are your affairs prosperous, Senor?" |
" As much so as these times will per
nit s .iM5ti 8Ht4A HhN
Very good. You have just FIVE min
utes in which to make them better. AT
the end of that time will hang you on |
that tree so sure as you are Mexican. |
What hol Captain Jacau, turn out the
guard" na5saa
Ibarras deep olive face grew ghastlY |
white, and he fell upon his knees. No
prayer, no agonizing entreaty, no de-
spairing application wrung from a |
strong man in his agony availed him
aught. At the appointed time his rigid |
frame swung between heaven and earth,
another victim to the mood Of one who
never knew an hour OF penitence or
mercy. The tree had borne fruit. And
so this manner Of man-this white
haired Dupin--decorated known to two
continents as the Tiger Of the Trop
les, who kept four picked chasseurs to
stand guard about and over him night
and day, this old young soldier,
with voice like schoolgirl and a
heart like glacier, came to Monterey
and recruited a regiment Of eontre-
guerillas, a regiment that feared neither
God, man, the Mcxicans nor the devil.
Under him as captain was Charles Ney, |
the grandson Of that other Ney who cried
out to D'Erlon, at Waterloo, Come and
see how Marshal of France dies on the
field of battle In Captain Ney's COM
psny there were two squadrons, a French |
squadron and an American squadron,
the last having for its commander Capt |
Frank Moore, of Louisiana. Under
Moore we're one hundred splendid Con-
federate soldiers, who, refusing to sur
render, had sought exile, and had
stranded upon that inevitable lee shore,
called necessity. Between the Scylla of
short rations aud the Charybdi of empty
pockets, the only channel possible was
the open sea. So into that sailed John
C. Moore, Armistead, Williams and the
rest of that American squadron, which
was to become famous from Matamoras
to Matehuala.