New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-25

STORY OF THE FORT DES vINGT-QUATRE
IIEURES.

uEUkEo.
From The Iopdon Spectator.
The other .Ay, as was listening to some 9 9nr
familiar woisis which have been sounding now ior
eighteen hundred years. and more, my mind tray
elied back to fort in Algers, the Fort des yingt-
quatc Heures, made of huge blocks, when IoI
three hundred years remained immovable ana
silent. But in 1858 martyrdom which some
people looked upon as an idle tale, o!he l 40 ga
the very stones themselves, with undenianie WI,
maryr Geronimo Just S45 years o agS snan dse
soldiers, and brought to Oran TO nc on Cnnar ~
for sale as q slave. The good Vlcar-1enera.,
house to educate him, and he baptized him under undo!
the name of Geronimo. When the chlia was easn l
years old few Arab slaves made eneIr the how
from Oran, and believing they were DOING uhe Ivy
kindness they took him with them 81 iol so,n
years he lived with his people as l eS,
But the holy faith which Juan Caro- had pianteu
In the chid;s heart had taken such firm root that
his relations could not tear IL out ne renlalheu
with them till he was twenty-five, anu . s nc
ana bich II he shond be rccapturcd, would lead
him with certainty TO suffering or deatn ne neH
from his home and returned 10 ttie siSt he sid
simnlv: TIT is because l wish 10 live henceforh
in the faith of the divine Saviour, l., o;,oa
Juan Caro- was so delighted that ne receiver
the vonnr Arab like lost child, and Geronimo,
on his side could not show his oeneiactor love
and gratitude enough he soon ba reformed such
brave deeds that he attained very high military
bonors hut the height of his joy and AMBITION
was gained when he heard tha' the he
gave his consent and approval TO marriage Ne,
ttvoen him and a Young Arab girl (also convert
with whom he had fallen in love: For ten years
nothing hut happiness shone on his llfc-he Won
the respect and confidence of all around him, he
was Juan Caro's right hand, and his vic was as
daughter to his adopted father; no Sn aaewed
SEEMED 10 cross tnelr P"'h' no u'u'iO" w.
drawing near them
But one bright May day in 1860 news came 10
Oran that small Arab encampment had neen o nO,
IL hi
of importance handful of Spaniards could easily
manage the Arabs; at least so Geronimo i i
have imagined for he only took mae so du the
and manned little boat, intending TO lana on tle
cnu ''' Where the Arabs had assembled. They
rowed out of the safe haIbor with the sun snln n,
the the co coraiGsSery of Mersei-Kcblr reyer dream
ing of danger, when suddenly two Moorish prigSll.
tines, which had been lying secretly IN w'' T TUa
nine soldiers escaped, but Geronimo. who was 700
marked q man, was seized upon az once, anu c S
r OF to Eud All The Gss snnr the Arabs
throughout Algeria that the apostate was cap,
tured: that he, the traitor, who had aoah9oheu
his own people, denied his G tSe l1 Re
M6ors. who knew his history, made, solemn
VOW that they would restore him to his ola re-
D CnTsIt 50 him one With T Arguments and fair prome
But they returned dlscom6tod to Euld! All thedr
fine words had availed nothing the apoSV''e IT,
NAMED immovable
fresh treatment was next tried; he was loaded
with chains, and treated with the utmost cruelty,
and when he WIS faint from torture anu scaT 1S
able 10 sneak the Marabouts stood around HIM,
Offering him liberty, power, honor, riches. But
no offer made him deny his faith, no longing Ior
freedom made him foreswear for one single mo.
ent his tb religion o rseed his poor suerna
head, and with voice SO weak it could
scarcely be heard, he said They th hnt
that they shall never do even if they XVI me-
For four months Euldj Ali gloated over the daily
fortunes he was inflicting on Geronimo 9ut o q.
last the very sameness of his cruelty pallcd upon
him. and he was determined TO invent new ana
more hideous revenge for the "apostates oosll-
macy" One morning the idea came to hlm :. ne ne
Bab-el-Oued, when saw block of beton standing
by the great stones This block was mohld ~
hardened. the wall was to be built with H.
Here was the height Of torture Here w I,i the
The dog of q slave should be laid in similar
mould; the liquid plaster should be poured oyer
renegade should be turned into very stonel But
as Arabs never act hastily. the Pacha deiiberated
most carefully whether this really could be the
most brutal death he could conceive; and then,
believing there was no more efIectual means of
barbarity he called to a Navatrese mason, VINO
was also Christian S aSe =, Mohe f he Saa
ent leave it; have mind to make beton OF tn9t
dog of Oran who refuses TO come back to the faith
of Islamp Poor Matre Michel had to obey, but
Le finished his days work with sad heart. AS
soon as he entered the Bagno" flor he also was
prisoner he found out Geronimo and told him
mand in perfect silence, and then very cal mly he
answered. Gods holy will be done. Let not
out of the faith of Christ by the idea of this cruel
death May my blessed Saviour only pardon me
my sins, and preserve me M, soul"
The whole of that night this brave young Arab
spent in prayer and preparation for the death
fortunes which he knew were awaiting him. Must
not the memories of his high military honor and
70 tho ind Of Cnpn fho 1.-Two nf
fair young wife, have flashed through his over
strung. mind like some beautiful; gltteripps
Nothing but death death 50 CHASTITY in its fearful
Savagery that the very life beyond seemed hidden
away? All it was not too late, even now. The
6Sn he Sad 2GT a wss earthly
tyrs face stood before his pl0ster-cast. told
us what his cry must have been then; told MS 81
Ess%se@ ana t'' s$e %.x II noIaIns
chains, before q. great multitude Of Turks and
Arabs il, all their gorgeous magnincence; Then
and beating him. to the gate BaS-cioaed, where
he again stood before the Pacho In the midst Of
his pCmpous retipue,, Epldj All then ADDRESSED
tail of the fearful death he showed him the block
Of beton and every torture Of such death was
carefully explained He then ended his speech
with; Dog You refuse to return to the faith
will die" was the. noble Arabs answer. AS
you will" replied the Pacha Then here "
pointing to the beton. shall you be buried alive
1Do your will. Death shall not make me
abandon my faith" were Geronimo's Lost words.
TIE Pacha raised his hand, some soldiers stepped
forward they removed the chain from the pris-
oner's leg, they bound his hands behind his back
they crossed bis legs and tied them then they
took him up and laid him with his face down
ward into the mould. The plaster was poured
over him, and Tamango, RENEGADE Spaniard
wanting TO show what \ fervent Mahometan he
was, jumped or Gcronimo's body and broke
his nbs. This act pleased Euldi Ali 80 much that
hours Geronimo lay bleeding, suffering dying, IN
that block OF beton the jccrs and oaths of his
enemies must have been ringing In his ears, the
African sun in its intense power must have poured
upon his aching head but brave, faithful and
.unmumuring, this noble Arab 10y there till the