Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-20
LorIs Lorrainei
A TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

When the Peninsnar war was at its
heig bit, Gen. Murat, who was IN command
of the French troops at Madrid, desired
to send dispatch of the gravest impoF-
lance to Gen. Junot at Lisbon. The
distance was not great, but the country
through which the messenger would be-
obliged to travel was infested by q band
of guerrillas who carried on an irregular
warfare on his own account, much to the
annoyance and detriment of the French
army. These laWless volunteers fought
from their ambuscades III the forests and
mountain passes with unparalleled teroc-
ity, frequently surprising detatchments
of the reg ular army and capturing their
stores aud ammunition. The heroic deeds
of Gen CastanOs, the guerrilla command
er IL chief, were echoed thrUuz houf
Europe, and it was well known that he
gave up n quarter to French prisoners.
Therefore Grn Murat could find no sol
der DESTROYS to undertake an errand
SO fraught with danger.
In his dilemma he sought the advice of
B 4ron S rogano IF, the Russian aub ASA
dor, who was friendly to the French
cause.
The baron, being we'll aware of the
gravity of the situation, deliberated for
several minutes; the result was the fol-
lowing suggestions: SIND one of yoar
most reliable Polish lancers in Russian
uniform" he SAID, "with a verbal 10 e.sage
to our admiral, now in Lisbon harbor
He, in return, will communicate with
Juuot without arousipg the slightest
suspicion on the part of the Eoglish. No
doubt your COURIER will be arrested a
nf n an Is. IN
try mas maintain cd neutral ground thus
far, it is not probable that the result will
be fatal. Castanos Is too much of a dip
lomat to risk the displeasure of Russia
and, by observing the proper caution, il
will not be fficult TO deceive him."
Gen. Murat was charmed with this clev
er proposition, and at once ordered the
captain of the Warsaw lancers to seI+c
from his company brave, reliable fellow
who could be trusted to undertake the i'm
pOrtant mission.
Early on the following day, Lieut. Lack
insky, young Pole, Is years of age
sought audience of the French general
who explained the nature OF the service
ne had required of the youth, without con
oealing the periIs it would entail. Lack
insky; nothing daunted, declared with
coutemptuous smile that he eagerly wait
ed en- opportunity to prove how little h,
feared the guerrlllas, and that ht
prepared TO set out at once on his jour
ney.
Pleased with the youngs Poles enthus-
iasm, as we'll as with his evident desire t,
distinguish himself, the general repeated
with precision the message to be carried
to Junot.
Baron Stroganoff's Russian dis patches
having been duly secured, the courier
started for the coast, completely armed
and disguised in the uniform of an Off
Ger of the czar's guard.
Nothing important occurred until the
afternoon of the second day, when oul
hero entered defile ia the mountain.
near Galavera. He had not advanced
more than q q1arter of mile when ht
was met by half a dozen guerrillas, who
without waiting TO parley, roughly dragg
ed him from his horse, seized his wea o.
ons, and led him to a chapel in cav,
near by, where he found himself face tC
face with the terrible Castanos.
"Who are your asked the guerrilla
chief in French, while he angrily scru
stiRized the prisoner.
Alive TO the danger of his position
LackIuskis heart failed him for a mo
ment, but quickly recovering his presence
of mind, he fixed his eyes ON his interlo-
cutor's face with meaningless stare
Presently he answered in German: II dc
not understand"
Castanos called one of his officers, anC
requested him TO continue the converse
tion in the prisoners tongue. Observing
the utmost caution, lest by an inadver
tant expression he might betray Lis
knowledge of French, the Pole Iep' led tC
all the officers questions In Russian OF
German.
During the examination the charel ha6
become croaded with guelnlas, attracted
there by curiosity and desire for ex
element. Each hung upon the prison
er's words, eager to detect the slightest
evidence of deception.
Suddenly there was an interruption
caused by the appearance of Castanos
leading by the arm pheasant, whom he
placed before the Pole saying:
Loo carefully at this man and tel
Us whether he be Russian, German, or, a.
l strongly suspect, 8 cursed French spy
The pheasant replied, in loud decided
tone:
''He is disguised Frenchman. A few
Madrid, this way the very officer who
signed the receipt
LackinsKi betrayed no sign of fear and
the expression of his countenance did
not vary as he looked from one 10 the
other Of the excited soldiers who sur
founded him. They would have torn
bin 10 pieces had not their general dis
couraged by the failure of his test in
terfered.
"My friends" ne loudly exclaimed,
nothing is yet proved against our
prisoner, and he has certainly prosed be-
yond donbt that he does not understand
French. This pheasant might easily
have made mistake, for it would be
difficult to reoGgpiZe man whom he saw
only once, and then In a different uni
form from the one he now wears. The
prisoner looks like Russian, his papers
are addressed to the czar's admiral, and |
think we had better allow him TO DEPART
mo, no." was the cry that arose from 8
hundred voices at once; I'VE are not yet
satisfied and he shall not go until we are.''
"But are we to take the risk of offend
ing the Russians by interfering with one
of their dispatch bearers!"
The guerrillas agreed that they did not
dare to act IN opposition to the czar, at
the same time they we've not yet convined
of the nationality of the man; they sus-
pected he might be French spy, in spite
of appearances. Accordingly he was con-
Quoted to vault benea b the chapel, and
locked in.
hard ride of many hours over rough
roads, added to the agony of mind which
he had endured during his examination,