Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-26
GARIBALDI In NAPLES.
The Ride of the Liherator TO the Gates
of the Kings Palace.
The True Greatness of Garibaldi Again
Illustrated.

The unwilling of the statue OF Gen.
Garibaldi in Washington square, recalls
an incident OF the Italian liberals won
derfuI career. Il was told to a Graphic
man by an American who served with his
forces in the campaign against the king
of Naples. It was the movement that
finally resulted in the oroaning later on
OF Victor Emmanuel as king of Italy,
and Just fourteen years after the disas-
trous defeat of his father, Charles Albert.
by the Austrians in the battle of Navarro.
Garibaldi's forces in 1850 invested
Naples, the historic city, on the land side,
co the east and north. The camp was ell
evated, and overlooked the wonderful
panorama Naples presents, with It's state
ly city site, its bay Of surprising lowell
ness, and the grand spectacle of Vesu-
vius emitting fire and smoke. There was
no great amount of fighting on hand; it
was generally conceded that the red
shirts would win, and the impatience
to enter the city, especially on the
part of the British legion and other
foreign allies, was very great. One morn
ing Garibaldi rode unaccOm panied except
by his orderly, to an eninence from
which q view could be Obtained of the
time there on his horse, apparently in
one of the reveries to which his staff and
attendants were accustomed. Suddenly
ne raised the reins and urged his horse
TO q quick walk. The orderly had no
idea where they we're going as they start
ed. II few minutes, however, he saw
that they were headed to the city. Cara
baldi was about to enter it, and alone
a Nd IN
back by a passer-by to the chief of staff,
Col. William de Roban, an American, and
with many misgivings followed the gen
eEal down into the heart of the city. On
all sides the people were pouring toward
the bay front. Garibaldi was recognized.
There were no cheers, NO hostile demon
STATIONS, and no Bourbon soldiery.
Something was up, and the generals
quick eye and brain had seen the gather
ing and OWNED the cause. Down the
steep Corso and into the splendid plaza
before the kings palace and that of the
municipality rode Garibaldi and his
orderly, an English youth, who is now
an American citizen. The people were
perched on the tagged space. Silently
room was made for Garibaldi, who rode
straight to the municipal palace. The
king had fed, and the vessels on
which himself and suit were de-
parting could be seen in the bay.
Dismounting, Garibaldi went in,
up the stairs, and through the
dyndic's council chamber to a balcony
that overlooked the great square, the
water front, the blue waves and green is
lands of the bay, and the fiery smoked tip
cone of old Yesuvius' gray, black, and
lava Drowned sides. No shout, no crV
arose, as bareheaded, in historic red skirt,
with his tawny name flowing back from
his bold, high forehead, the liberatUr
stood alone in the midst OF the waiting
thousand. A moment he gazed, till sud
denly he raised his right arm, his hand
clenched, except the fore-tinger, which
stood erect. Then in his peculiar, reson-
ant, trumpet-like voice he shouted in
Italian, "Viva Italy, i'll union one!" The
gesture was the sign OF q secret society
and sjgnifed Italy one," and the words
were its rally cry. From every throat
went up the shout, and Naples was italian
forever. The scene was an heroic and
most dramatic one. It was rendered
more strikingly so by the sudden clatter
of cavalry, the shouts of soldiery and the
flash OF sabers in the hot sunlight. De
Rohan had swiftly followed his general
with the body guard and had charged
headlong down the deserted streets and
into the great plaza, fearful of what
might have happened. AS the shout went
up they drew their chargers to halt
and joined in it. scene for a great
painting? Yes! Bu5 GaribaIdi should
have been put IN marble in the attitude
here described.