The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-26
STOLEN TO BE Welded.
The Romantlc-Lfke Story Of Madame d.
Barrios-Keda.

lBarrios-Keda.
NEW YORK, April 25.-Probably no event
which has taken place of late years in the
fashionable world has attracted so much
attention as the marriage of Nine. Fran
cesca A. dc Barrios, widow Of the late
President de Barrios, of Guatemala, to
Senior Martinez de Roda, of Spain, which
was celebrated Thursday night at the home
of the bride on Fifth avenue. Mime. de
Barrios' life has been one long romance,
which, if related in full, would read like a
fairy tale.
The first husband of Nine. de Barrios
was General Juan Bufino de Barrios, presi-
dent of Guatemala. They were married in
1874 under very romantic circumstances.
Nine. de Barrios' father was Senior Apracio,
a Spanish don, who, having lost his great
wealth in mercantile pursuits, emigFated to
Guatemala and settled down to end his
days on a coffee plantation. During one of
tho political upheavals peculiar to the
country General de Barrios, then a lieuten-
ant in the federal army, oamped one night
on Senior Apracio's plantation. The old Span.
lard sympathized with the revolutionists and
he resented the intrusion of Barrios by
opening fire on him and his soldiers. He
was assisted by his wife and daughters, who
kept him supplied with loaded rifles and
occasionally fl ed a few shots themselves.
Barrios waited until they had spent their
ammunition and then captured the house
hold without difficulty. The next day he
left, telling Senior Aprscio he could not
make prisoners of so brave a man and such
q beautiful girl as Senorita Capricio. He
turned in his saddle as he was leaving and
said:
of + were single I would wed the beauti-
full Senorits Capricio before the day is OUT
This was in 1871. Three years later, by a
strokes, Barrios became general of the
army and president Of the Gaatemalan re-
public. In the meantime his wife died,
leaving him a son three weeks Did. prssi-
ident Barrios, the day after his election,
went alone TO tho homs OF Senior Apracio
and announced his intention of marrying
Senor1ta Caprioio. In spite of the most
vigorous protests OF the part of Senior and
Sonora Apracio and the tears and en-
treaties Of the young girl herself, President
Barrlos took Senorita Caprioio in his arms,
and mounting his horse rode back to the
capital. where, at q public festival, they
were married amid the cheers of the popu-
lace. She Was then 10 years old,
Contrary to the general expectation the
union turned out to be unusually happy.
Nine. Barrios was allowed to bring her
mother and father to the executive man
sion. and there they lived until President
Barrios was killed by an assassin's bullet
On April S, 1885, and his government was
oyerthrown. Nine. Barrlos was given
twenty-four hours to leave the country.
She came to New York. where her husband
had shrewdly invested his money, and has
lived here over since, with the exception OF
occasional trips to Europe. The number
of her children and retainers attracted
much surprise when she first came to New
York. OF the former there are eight, and
of the latter nine.
Mime. Bsrrios was generally taken to bt
the Oldest sister of the children, go youth
full was she in appearance. Time has deal
gently with her, and she is to-day as beau
tiful as ever. hhc has entertained he
friends at her Fifth avenue house in al
easy, hospitabls Spanish fashion that ha
won her hosts Of friends. She cares moth
ing for show. but is luxurious for comfor
and from habit. Her chief source of happi
ness has been hsr brood OF children. Al
but two of these are now in school,.
1t goes without saying that when d pratt
widow ia reputsd to have more than SIS. 000,
OU she will not lack offers of marriage
Numerous reports of Nine. BarrioB' engage
ment have been circulated in the last tw
years. In many cases they have been 9
very absurd as to be unworthy Of contra