Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-12
TERESITA DE PADILLA.

V.-Ths Insurgents of To.
ledO and their Heroic
Young Leader.
1t was on a beautiful May day in
the year 1921, that the Spanish city
of Toledo, which at that time was
one Of the largest cities in the old
world, and which then contained
a population of upward of two
hundred thousand inhabitants, was
thrown into an intense state of
commotion by the appearance of a
royal herald, bearing aloft large
white flag, and demanding an i'm
mediate interview with Senior Juan
de Padilla, the insurgent comman-
der of the population of Toledo.
For just then Toledo. like many
other Spanish cities, had risen in
arms against the government.
Charles V, having, Immediately
upon his election as German en-
peror, revoked all the prerogatives
of the cities of CASTLE and formed
an alliance with the nobility, which
until then, had been decidedly hos
tile to the crown.
Charles had at first paid little at
tention to the insurrection, and had
left for Germany, after ordering
General Brock, a Belgian, to deal
with the insergents as severely as
possible.
BROCK WAS AsSASSINATED
in broad daylight, on the Plaza
Nueya of Seville, just as he was
riding to the execution OF one
hundred and seventeen insurgent
prisoners.
His successor was a Spanish gran
dee, Enrique, Duke dc Marano, who
set the prisoners free, in the hope
that that act of clemency would
restore order throughout the king
dom.
Such, however, was not the case.
The insurrection, which had as
sumed a democratic character, as
Sumed every day more formidable
proportions.
A democratic array, about twen-
ty thousand strong, took the field
under the leadership of Percival
Bernardo, who achieved several
victories over the united hosts of
the royal and noble forces.
Meanwhile Toledo, the principal
seat of the instruction, was placed
in a state of great strength. Thirty
thousand armed citizens, command
ed by Juan de Padilla, formed the
garrison.
Juan de Padilla was a young
nobleman imbued with democratic
and progressive sentiments. He
was beloved by the poor, to whom
he made munifcent donations. A
splendid orator, and educated sol.
der, and a man of intrepidity, he
seemed to have been destined by
nature for a popular leader. He
had
A BEAUTIFUL, SPIRITED WIFE,
Donna Teresita, who heartily sym
pathized with her husbands demo
cratic aspirations, and who ap-
peared daily among the citizen
soldiery in order to cheer and en-
courage them in their arduous
labors.
When the above mentioned royal
herald made his appearance in
front of the Tore Grande of To-
Iedo, with a flag of truce, the citi-
zens, manning the walls, received
him with loud exeoFatiops.
"Kill the dog of Don gaplosl" I"
they cried,
Stones were hurled at him, but
he seemed fearless, and exclaimed,
in a raging tone Of voice;
"The insurgents have been rout.
ed at TorrelabOn. Perciyal Ber-
nardo fell in that battle. His
majesty's troops have taken 10000
prisoners. Don Enrique Duke de
Marano wishes to sec Senor Juan
dc Padilla at San Fernando, in or
der to grant your demands. He
pledges his sword as a Spanish
grandee than Senior de Padilla shall
be treated with due honors, and
that not hair of his head shall be
harmed at San Fernando"
This offer created a profound
sensation among the people of To-
ledo. Some were inclined to be-
lieye that the herald's story was
A TISSUE OF FALsEHoODs,
but most of them thought it waa
true, but all coucurred in advising
- n.l.Il. - - ol,o,, =.