Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-09-20
4 TTRKIBLEORDEAL.


TERRIBLE ORDEAL.
nh, tbe Peninsulgr war was at its
va. Cen. Murat, who was in command
- sts rrenoh troops at Madrid, desired
'.r5 dispatch of the gravest impos-
~ Cen. Junot at Lisbon. The
,-,.rca was not great, but the country
...'a,b which the messenger would be-
go 10 travel was infested by n bend
s,s,rrIllas who carried on su irreg ular
20 ON his own account, much to the
uo-spce and detriment of the French
49, These laWless volunteers fought
~, .beir ambuscades in the forests and
~wrtaia passes With unparalleled teroc-
). freauently surprising detatchments
The regular army and capturing their
- and ammunition. The heroic deeds
Yen Castanos, the guerrilla command
in chief, were echoed throuS bout
T,,ope and it was wsli known that he
AVE NO NJ, quarter to French prisoners.
n.refore Gen Murat could find no sol
N, d4sirous to undertake an errand
! lrsught with danger.
IN his dilemma he sought the advice of
Anon S.rogauof, the Russian ambassa-
sf Who was friendly to the French
sB;e
The baron, being we'll aware of the
rsyity Of the situation, deliberated for
srsrsi minutes; the result was the fol-
aging suggestion: send one OF yonr
nos, reliable Polish lancers in Russian
inform be said, with verbal Id essage
so1r admiral, now in Lisbon harbor.
Be- in return, will communicate with
j5not Without arousing the slightest
u.picion on the part of the English. No
o1bt your courier will be arrested q
vfe Of times Gu route; but rs my coun
Tn las maintained neutral ground thus
.ttis not probable that the result will
h fatal. Castenos is too much of q dip
5nsi to risk the displeasure of Russia,
nd, by observing the proper caution, IL
plllot be difficult 80 deceive him"
Cen Murat was charmed with this ciev-
sPioposition, and at once ordered the
aptan Of the Warsaw laneers TO select
hon bio company brave, reliable fellow
y.5cluli be trusted to undertake the i'm
lGtant mission.
Early on the following day, Lieut. Lack-
ui!, young Pole, Is years of ege,
mytt audience of the French general,
'ao explained the nature OF the service
Ahsd required of the youth, without con-
asing the perils it would entail. Lack
IsLg nothing daunted, declared with a
0ltenptuous smile that he eagerly wait
opportunity to prove how little he
ssrd the guerrillas, and that he
prepared to sat out at once on his jour
lsy,
Pleased with the youngs Poles enthus-
Am, as well as with his evident desire to
distinguish himself, the general repeated
Nth precision the message to be carried
% Junot.
Baron Stfoganof's Russian dispatches
having been duly secured, the courier
'si'sa for tho coast, completely armed,
'ac disguised in the uniform of an Off
'eOl ins cars guard.
Nothing Important occurred until the
lidu00u OF the second day, when our
lEoenfe.5d detile IN the mountains
-a' IGiavers. He had not advanced
1Cs than a quarter of mile when he
10 net by half dozen guerrillas, who,
'a'olt waiting to parley, roughly drsgg
I him from his horse, seized his weap-
'l' and led him 10 chapel in n cave
'M by. where he found himself face to
we WITH the terrible Castanos.
Ahoare your asked the guerrilla
-s'' IN French, while he angrily scru-
MED the prisoner.
awe 10 the danger of his position,
-'Il1ssls heart failed him for mo
-'lH our quickly recovering his presence
n'nd, be fixed his eyes on his interlo-
Mons face with o meaningless stare.
'''eltiy He snswered in German: Il do
@ui r-taud."
O4sisno5 called one of his officers, and
t's''ea him to continue the converse
10 the prisoners tongue. Observing
Utmost caution, lest by an inadyer-
~, oppression he might betray lis
,-'S'sdge of Frenoh, the Pole Lep led to
'4e ellcer's questions in Russian or
o-l1E he examination the ehsrel had
'''2+ c'oSded with guerillas, attracted
y3 curiosity and desire for ex-
=. ,'IsAi Each hung upon the prison
~ N"T-7i eager TO detect the slightest
'' Silte7 of deception.
. --1-s AIy there vas az interruption
49, the appearance of Castanos,
,..ls 3y he arm pheasant, whom he
'''57l tore the Pole saying:
@ carefully at this man and tell
he be- Russian, German, or, as
suspect, cursed French spy"
an. -s pheasant replied, in loud decided
"a. a. -- 1i'guised Frenchman. few
! ~, ago. when took load OF nay 60
.a'= way the very officer who
--ai betrayed no sign Of fear and
y Ion OF his countenance did
90 he looked from one 10 the
~ as excited soldiers who sur
am. They would have toru
s.., .s1es had not their general dis.
~ W Che failure Of bis test in
s. .nsnds' be loudly exclaimed
yet proved against our
ana DE mas certainly pro sed be.
E. 9t ,hat be does not understand
b. als pheasant might easily
mistake, for il would b.
Euizs man whom be sas
enc then in a different mi.
s.a. the one he nov wears. This
Ike Rassian, his paper.
.a.a II aa.