The New York herald., 1874-12-20
CROSSING THE SPANISH lines y
How American Correspondents Got
Into Trouble.
A SUSPICIOUS SET OF SPANIARDS.
Crossing the Line from
France.
Prayers for the Herald Corre-
Spondent.
GERMAN INTEREST IN THE WAR.
The Sensitive Pride Of an
Alcalde.
GERMAN INTEREST IN THE WAR.
WORK OF A GANG OF THIEVES.


WORK OF A GANG OF THIEVES.
hENDAYE, Nov. %, 1874.
twas my own fault ought to have known
better To 90 into Irun booted and spurred, wear
ing CarlHt 0oin0 was simply q tempting OF the
devil ia the shape OF ignorant Chief OF Police,
arbitrary ana brutal as the police always are the
world over Imagine, II possible the bes0tted
ignorance OF man holding an important official
position who has never even heard OF the NEW
YORK HERALD or the Times and never reads any
paper out a small weekly sheet appearing in his
own little village, and who had seen me pass 10
and fro from France into the Carlist lines several
times, and you can form some idea of my impru.
dence in going into the beleaguered town OF Irun.
SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS TO DANGER.
The temptation was strong, however very
rapid and steady firing was heard just beyond
Irun, in the direction OF San Sebastian. The roar
of musketry came borne to us in steady roll
that grew louder at every moment ard the ap-
pearances were that the Carists. advancing from
Oyarsun, were attacking Irun from that stde I
knew the Carlists were there as had seen them
the day before not more than 500 yards from the
fort OF the telegraph, and 1t was very probable
they would try an attack, now that they were in
possession OF the road again. 1t would have
taken a day nearly to reach the Carl.
ist side, when, by going through the
several lines, could arrive at the scene Of action
in half an hour i determined, therefore, to try
the latter plan. Although not without some ap-
prehension as to the result ana although had
Deen IN Irun the day before without having been
moested, accordingly walked down to the ferry
just above the railway bridge and stepped into
the little boat which plies between France and
Spain.
CROSSING THE LINE.
Here met Mr.. Buckland, the correspondent OF
the New York Times, bent upon ike errand with
myself a meeting which proved an unfortunate
one for him, 1t the cause OF his passing two
very uncomfortable nights In prison. There never
was any charge against him at all, and he was
only punished for having, like poor Trip, been
caught in bad company.
Thres minutes brought us across, and we had
scarcely stepped ashore when we were told that
we were under arrest by an oflcer OF Carabineros,
or Custom House guards. We were naturally
somewhat anxious to know what was the cause
OF this proceeding; but the only answer we could
get out OF him was, "Wait little.n So we
waited little, and after few minutes ne asked
us to walk with him to the town, which was about
half a mile distant. now discovered for the nrst
time that, in addition to coming out with my Carl
list boinG. had, by some strange piece OF nl-luck,
taken my passport out Of my pocket just
before quitting the hotel and had left 1t lying on
the table, a thing mad not done Ior six months
before. I now proposed that, before going TO the
town. l should send across the river and get my
passport To this he would not hear, and to
tell the truth passports were not OF the
slightest use to MIN. He refused to look
at Mr.. Buckland's, and was too ignorant to under
stand 1t If he mad. He took us to the house OF the
Military Governor, VINO was up at the telegraph
tort overseeing the work OF its reconstruction He
lett us standing at the door, under the guard OF
soldier, and went In search Of the latter. In the
course oil half an hour he came back in company
with the Governor but did not seem to have said
word to him about us. They were all passing Us
without apparently observing our presence, when
the Custom House officer suddenly remem-
bered, called the Governor back and
directed his attention to u.s. indignant at
being treated in this way l stared at them both
without bowing Offering any observation at all.
The Governor scanned US a moment and then
quickly told the oficer to let us return to France
turned on his heel and walked on.
TIE OFFICIAL PUZZLE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
Our friend could do nothing for the moment but
let us 60 We therefore started back to the river,
supposing 1t was all over. In this we were wo-
fully mistaken. The Custom House otricer, as soon
as we had started went or in search OF the
police, and before we were half way back to the
river had overtaken egatn. In the meantime
had pleasant little meeting, which complicated
the situation somewhat. miguelete, or volun.
teer, stepped up to me and politely required to
know II was the man who had commanded the
Carltst butchery at san Marcial AS mad not the
honor OF this gentlemans acquaintance and had
never seen him before naturally looked upon the
question as somewhat a0rupt one, and replied
by quietly but firmly informing him that he was
pig, and that II he really thought ! was q
Carlist offlcer he would be afraid to address
me such question. Whereupon he waxed ex-
ceeding wroth and performed kind Of war dance
around me, keeping out OF my reach, however,
he fortunately did not have his gun with him :
bowling and trying to raise q mob.
CITIZEN CURIOSITY.
The people who saw the scene, however, would
not resolve themselves into mob. First, be-
cause it is not in the Spanish character TO do SO,
and, second because they were nearly all
Carlist sympathizers and took me for a
Carllst officer. A small crowd assem-
bled, but they kept at respectful
distance and looked on quietly. My assailant at
last rushed Oh, saying something about his gun,
and we continued on our way to the river. We
hsd not reached half way, when we were again
passed BY our friend OF the Custom House, accom-
panied by two policemen, who stopped us and told
us we would have to 60 back to the town. There
was nothing to do but comply and we were again
marched back. Just as we entered it we were met
by an elderly gentleman in civilian clothes, who
proved to be the Chief OF Police.
TO PRISON.
He ordered us to he taken to Fontarabia, with
out waiting to ask o single question. To this
objected, and q lively discussion ensued. told
HIM to, at least, look at Mr.. Buckand's passport.
He refused to touch 1t and said he knew very well
who We were without passport and that there
was nothing Tor 1t but to 90 to Fontarabia, and
from there to San Sebastian. "Usted 10 pavara, u
'you will pay It," were my last words to him upon
starting. And when afterward had occasion to
compare his arrogant manner with the favorina
way IN which he treated me when
no found the Governor or san Sebastian