Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-21
Translated from the German OF Fritz Irager
in Gartenlaube, for the Sunday GLOBE
THE SICILIAN VESPER.
A Jubilee "

After Conradin's, the last
Hohenstaufen's, defeat and execution
100 October, 1868, murder would be the
more correct xpression-Naples and
Sicily were subdued by Charles of Anjou
with but little difficulty, but the AFRO
gsnce with which the French treated
their subjects, the unmerciful exactisn OF
nonsensical taxes, the forbldding of all
persons whatever to carry arms, and the
prosecutions, to which they subjected
large number as the supposed adher-
ents of the Hohenstaufen family, drove
the people more and more to de-
spair. An enterprising man,
John of Procida--he was of dlstln-
guished family in Salerno, was the pos
SCISSOR of the island of Procida, ana
learned in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to put
an end to the uncomfortable oppression.
AS Ghibelline, that is an adherent of the
Staufish imperial family, he had, it is
true, not been able to rescue his property
from the robber hands of King Charles,
his life he had saved by flight to the
court of Aragon in Spain, where he
found a most friendly reception. Full of
hate against the French and of loyalty to
the Hohenstaufen house, he excited to
vengeance against Charles and to the
freeing of the king of Aragon, Peter the
Third, who was married to daughter OF
King Manfred, who fell conquered at
Benevent. As Peter alone did not feel
himself powerful enough for this enter
prise, John of Procida went everywhere
seeking allies. He went secretly to
Sicily, discovered himself there to the NAL
contents and found that he could reckon
most entirely upon this island. Disguised
Is barefoot monk, he travelled also to
C0nstantinople to the Greek emperor,
who, not unacquainted with Charles I'M
friendly designs against his throne, glad
L. saw HIM engaged in his own states.
emperor Palaeologus gave freely help IN
money and promised beside delivery of
arms to the Sicihan noblemen. And now
Peter of Aragon took courage; he began
70 fit out feet, and as he gave out that
he intended to cruiZe against unbellevers
IN Africa, he received money from King
Philip the Third of France, and, as was
said from Charles of Aragon himself. In
there to wait the turn of events In Sicily;
but before he appeared on the African
coast with his ships, the conspiracy of
John of Procida by accident, and sooner
than was intended, had discovered itself.
The circumstances of the case are as fol-
lows: The Easter festival of the year
1882 was at hand, but for Palermo it was
no feast Of Joy; it was the time IN which
ic1o FIJI nf
should reach its highest point and the
much abused patience of misused peo-
ple its end. The mentioned city espe-
ciaIly-the former capital of the kingdom
was hated by the French, first, because
she was the most powerful in the whole
island, and, further, because they could
expect in certain events the worst from
her, as she had experienced the heaviest
injuries.
Herbert of Orleans, the royal
governor, had his seat in Messina, and
the royal Judge of the district of Mazzara,
Giovanni di San Remigio, a worthy ser
want of his master, was governor of Pa
Iermo His subalterns In office had just
united themselves for new deeds of yio
lence and robberies, but the people
as yet suffered in silence. While the
Inhabitants of Palermo on the day of
Christ's sufferings, sought comfort for
their earthly sorrows in prayer in the
churches, the royal tax collector spied
among the praying multitude for those
who were delinquent, took them forcibly
from the house of God, threw them in
chains into prison, and insulted the pas
sing people with cries: "Pay, you here
tics, pay your debts!" 1t was the last
despotic act of autocratic rule. The
measure was full, and few days later, on
Easter Tuesday, the 31st of March, the
people of Palermo, and in the further
spreading of the instruction, all Sicily,
took bloody vengeance on the foreign OPP
preSsors.
About thousand PAGES south of the
city there stands upon the hill of Oret0
church dedicated to the Holy Ghost.
Round about it at that time stretched
pleasant fields, which the spring had al
ready decked with fresh flowers, and
through which, on this already mentioned
Easter Tuesday, the people of Palermo
and the country around, according to old
custom, went peacefully toward evening
to hear vespers in that church. Even
during the service, little companies gath
cred in the open fields, tables were placed,
they lay about upon the grass, and gay
dancing began. For moment the peO-
pie breathed freely and forgot their woes.
Suddenly officers of the royal court of
justice appeared, and shudder ran
through the assembly. The foreigners
came as customary to maintain order, SO
they said. They mingled with the COM
pany, took part in the dancing, made
themselves free with the young girls, and
soon the hearts of the hot blooded Sici-
iians began to beat faster.
At this moment there came to the
church, young and beautiful girl of
noble and modest bearing in company
with her bethrothed and her relations.
A Frenchman named Drouet-
according to other readings
the bravo was called Drouchet-
approached her, and pretending that he
wished to see whether she, contrary to
the royal order, carried concealed wea-
pons, he laid his hands on her in q
shameless manner. This was a signal for
the outbreak of long repressed anger.
The girl fell senseless into the arms of
her betrothed, who wild with rage,
shouted; "Down, down with the Frenchl"
and at that instant youth rushed out of
the crowd upon the Frenchman and
STABBED him. Energetic examples infame
the courage more than spoken reasons;
tho lOnr enslavad woke at one hlau ont