Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-24

'osh Fh'h LoLLA' looked ten years
younger than he was, had a slender but
vigorous figure Of medium height. hair
and beard originally chestnut but later
gray, and keen blue gray eyes.
He was born in the island Of Minorca,
and claimed to have Moorish rs well rs
Spanish blood in his veins. He took to
the sea early in life rs cabin boy for an
American master, John Conkling, of Bal
timore. He settled in New Orleans, and
was first employed as "bouncer" in a ball
room and cafe of old Creole days. Soon
after he took this position the cafe became
known as one of the most orderly in the
city. Next, "Pepe" became a patron and
then master of the fencing schools, and
may well be spoken of as the last of the
New Orleans fencing masters. Long be-
fore the war "Pepe" was known as the
most expert master Of arms in America.
With saber, broadsword, rapier or small
sword he was invulnerable, and with fire.
arms he had few equals With the pistol
he would shoot dollars from between the
fingers Of his friends and pipes from be-
tween their teeth.
His son, from whose head "Pepe" often
shot oranges in imitation of William Tell,
was a graduate of West Point, and his
picture hangs upon the walls of "Pepc's"
former residence in New Orleans, among
the many souvenirs of his adventurous,
but none the less financially prosperous,
life. His energetic nature led him into
many speculations and his fortune was
estimated ut several hundred thousand
dollars. Among his possessions was
Grands Terre, an island in Barataria
bay, upon which Fort Livingston is
situated.
Sl,., A,rn ,ha11
which "Pepe' received and half that
number Of actual duels which have fol-
lowed, only two men met death at his
hand, and Of the two fatal encounters one
was undertaken while acting in the ca
pacity of n second to friend, and may be
said to have been forced upon him. The
opposing second was u German fencing
master, who, on the field, declared his
principal In no condition to fight and Of
fered to take his place.
"Very well" said "Pepe," but in that
case you must deal with me, not with my
principal"
The German agreed, and a few mo-
ments later lay dead upon the ground
with ball through his arm and both his
lungs.
The other fatal occasion followed upon
the episode which made Pepe famous and
secured him his Spanish knighthood and
decoration. Indeed, the only personal
difficulties which Pepe has had since the
war were the result of his espousal of the
Spanish cause. He early became an
American citizen, and took that view Of
his citizenship which induced him to re-
main loyal to the Union during the war,
but he retained the warmest affection for
his native Spain, and even as early rs
1879 in in Nayu nrlan no
following the Lopez filibustering cxpedi-
tion, became, by his hrave defense of
Spanish residents, the object Of such
hatred by the Cubans rs subjected him to
many attempts at assassination. The
anti-Spanish excitement broke out again
in New Orleans in 1869, and during this
period he challenged Cuban who had
been guilty of petty outrage upon de-
fenseless Spaniard. The man declined
to fight, and Pepe posted him rs
a coward. His indignation being thor
oughly aroused he issued French, English
and Spanish posters and placed them con
spicuously all over the city, challenging
Cubans and filibusters everywhere to
mortal combat. Quite n number, both
in New Orleans and in the West Indies,
accepted at first, and many crossed the
Gulf TO face the defiant champion Of
Spanish loyalty, for the unparalleled bold
ness of the old man spread like wildfire
throughout the Spanish world. But one
after another of those who hastened to
respond weakened when they learned OF
"Pepe's" wonderful skill with arms and
dauntless courage. Some changed their
purpose of open fight to midnight assassi-
nation; others, to escape the dangerous
contest with semblance of honor, resorted
to those jockeying tactics with which
"Pepe" had already become familiar be-
fore the war, and which had so much to
do with bringing dueling into disrcpute
among southern gentlemen. At last one
truly brave man was found in the person
of an Austrian officer, a soldier of fortune
who had espoused the cause Of the Cuban
revolutionists. Like "Pepe" he was an
accomplished swordsman, but pistols
were chosen to most nearly equalize the
antagonists.
The conditions were, distance thirty
PAGES, fire and advance. When the word
was given "Pepe" remained motionless,
with his face turned away from the
Austrian who, reserving his fire, ad
vanced with steady determination. He
raised his arm to fire when he had reached
a point near enough, rs he thought, t6
ensure his aim. Upon the instant Pepe
wheeled about, and firing quick as thought
his ball transported the Austrian. II
was some months before the wounded
man died, but his fate effectually de
TERED Others from facing Pepe in the
cause Of Cuba He was long the object
of attempts at assassination.