The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-11-28
A HUMAN TIGER.
xEMINIscxNcEs OF SHELBY's EXPEDITION TO MEXICO
AFTER LEES SURRENDER.

Preceding Shelbys arrival in Monterey, there
had come also Col. Francois Achille Dupin, q
Frenchman, who was known rs 1.-The Tiger
Of tho Tropics" What he did would fill .
volume. Recorded here, no reader would be-
ieve it-no Christian would imagine such war
fare possible. He was past sixty, tall as Te-
cmmseh. straight % a rapier, with seat in the
saddle like an English guardsman, and o waist
like woman. For deeds Of desperate daring
he had received more decorations than could be
displayed upon the right breast Of his uniform.
His lnir and beard, snowy white, cOntrasted
strongly 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 Emperor's palace. where
in no defender escaped the bayonet, and no
woman the grasp ot the brutal soldiery. Sack
and piIlage, and murder and crimes without
name, all were there, and when the fierce earn
age was done. Dupin, staggering under the
weight Of rubies. and pearls, and diamonds,
was disgraccd man. The inexorable laws Of
French c"urt-martial closed down upon him,
and he was dismissed from the service.
Such man, however, had need of the army,
and the army had need of him. The Emperor
gave him back his rank, his decorations, and
gave hun, as well, his exile into Mexico.
Mnximilan refused him; Bazaine found work
for his sword. Dupin was ordered to recruit
u regi ment of Contre Guerilas-that is to say.
q regiment OF free c0mpanjons-whO were to
be superbly armed and mounted, and who were
to follow the Mexican guerillas through copse
and chaparral. sparing no man upon whom
hands were laid. Murder with Dupin was q
fine art Mistress or maid he had none.
That cold. brown face, classic little in it's
outlines. and retaining little Of its fierce
Southern beauty, never grew soft save when
the battle was wild aud the carnage ghastly
and thick 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 put his sickle ii and reap savagely .
fresh harvest of Me1icans lie had theory,
often pu, in practice. which was diabolical.
when you Kill Mexican he would say,
THAT is the end Of him. When you cut of an
arm, or leg that throws him upon the charity
Of his friends, and then two or three must sup
port him. Those who make corn cannot mako
soldiers. 1t is economy to amputate."
Hundreds thus passed under the hands Of bis
surgeons. His manned and inutiated were in
every town from Mier to Monterey. On occa-
sions when the march had been pleasant and
the wine generous, be would permit chloroform
for the operation; otherwise not. It distressed
him for a victim to die beneath the knife.
"You bungers endanger my theory" he
would cry out 10 his surgeons. "Why can't
you cut without killing!"
The Tiger Of the Tropics" also had his
playful moods. He would stretch himself in
th. sun, overpower one with gentleness and at.
tcnton, say soft things in whispers, quote poetry
on occasions. make Of himerT All elegant host,
serve the wine, laugh low and lightsomey,
wake up all Of a sudden q demon. and-kiu.
One instance Of this is yet terrible memo
~ in Monterey.
An extremely wealthy and influential Mexi-
can, Don Vicente lbarra, was at homo upon
his hacienda one day about noon as Dupin
marched by. Perhaps the man was Liberal;
certainly he sympathizcd with Juarez, and had
done much for the cause in the shape Of re-
cruiting and resistance to the predatory bands
of Imperialists. As yet. however. he had taken
up no arms, and had paid his proportion Of tbs
taxes levied upon him.
| Dupn was at dinner when his scouts brought
| 1barra into camp. In front Of the tent was .
large tree in full leaf, whose spreading branches
made an extensive and most agreeable shade.
Under this the Frenchman had . campstool
placed for the comfort Of the Mexican.
"Be seated" he said to him in q voice no
harsher than the wind in the leaves overhead.
And, waiter, lay another plate for my friend"
The meal was delightful one. Dupn talked
as subject who had prince for his guest, as
lover who had woman for listener. 1D the
intervals Of the conversation he served wine.
Ibarra was delighted. His suspicious Spanish
heart relaxed the tension Of its grim defence,
aud he even stroked the tigers velvet skin.
who closed his eyes and purred under the caress.
| When the wine was at its full, cigars were
handed Behind the white cloud Of smoke,
Dupin's face darkened. Suddenly he spoke to
Ibarra, pointiag up the tree:
"What fine shade it makes, Scn0r Do
such trees ever bear fruit"
Never. Colonel. What q question:"
"Neverq All things are possible with God;
why not with Frenchman'"
because Frenchman believes 90 little in
God, perhaps"
The face grew darker and darker.
"Are your affairs prosperous, Senor9"
As much % 40 these times will permit"
"Very good. You have just Eve minutes in
which to make them better. At the end Of
that time will hang you on that tree, 20 sure
ns you are a Mexican. What, no! Captain
Jacan turn out the guard"
Ibarrn's face grew ghaatly white, and he fell
upon his knees No prayers, no agonixine en-
treaty, no despairing duplication. wrung from
strong man in his agony, availed him augnt.
At the appointed time bic rigid frame swung
between heaven aud earth, another victim %
the mood of one who never knew an hour o.
penitence or mercy. The tree had bcrne iruit
And % this manner OF . nan-thls wnlto-
haired Dupin-decorated. known to two consa.
uSnts . the Tiger Of the Tropics" who Kept
faur picked Chasseurs 70 stand guard about and
over him uiaht and day; this old-young soldier.
with voice like school girl, and heart lke
L nA r