The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-21
sPAlN's SOLDIER NUN.
Disguised as q Man. She Made a Gallant Of
ioer and Fought Duels.

Disguised as q Man. She Made n Gallant Of
foer and Fought Dueis.
A very famous heroine in her day was
Catalina de Erauso, still remembered
vaguely as the spanish soldier num-" She
left memoirs which have been translated or
or "romancified" in most Eu-
ropean tongues. The truth Of them has
been disputed but, upon the other hand,
popes and kings, mobiles and savants ac-
cepted every word while evidence remained
to support or question the statements.
Catalina, we are told, ran away from
lnunnery in San Sebastian at the age OF 10,
transformed her conventual habiiiments
into doublet and hose and found employ
ment as page In the household Of noble
OF Valladolid. Driven from this refuge by
the appearance Of her father, who had no
suspicion nevertheless, she joined an expe-
dition sailing to Peru under charge of Fer
dinand de Cordova. Her ship was wrecked
off Paita, and she alone refuscds 10 desert
the captain, who stood by his vessel. Cat
alma then built little raft, broke open
| the treasure chest, took as much gold as
she could carry and set off for the shore,
but the captain was drowned in embark
ing She reached the town and accepted
an engagement as manager to the tailor
who made her new clothes. Complications
of business and passion-for a great lady
fell in love at sighted to a first duel, in
which she killed her man promptly. The
great lady struggled her out of prison, but
Catalina found it necessary to repay this
service by pushing the dame down stairs,
probably breaking her neck. Then she
jumped into a boat, put to sea and was
\ picked up by a Spanish vessel bound for
4 Conception.
| At this place her brother was secretary
to the governor, and he, all unconscious Of
the relationship, got her a commission in
the army. Very soon afterward she dis
J, tinguished herself in an engagement, and
! for IL years ranked as one of the most bril-
liant officers of the Spanish service-livirg
mostly with her brother, but keeping the
! secret. This happy time came to an end in
a midnight duel, when she killed man
\ unknown, who proved to be tho same
brother. Flying for life once more, Gaia
lima crossed tho Andes. All her compan-
! ions persisted, but she reached Tucuman
after terrible adventures.
1 Another love affair, all on one side, and
l another fatal duel brought her literally to
the gallows, but with the rope around her
1 neck she escaped. Travelling on to Cuzco
) she Joined an alcalde with pretty wife
5 and a gentleman, his friend In a very few
days Catalina perceived that these two had
!. an understanding. The alcalde perceived
1t also and took an opportunity to murder
his faithless friend. lie would have muir
dered his wife, but Catalina snatched her
: to the saddle and rode furiously for Cuzco.
c The alcalde pursuing, she ran him through,
but received desperate wound. The iugi.
tives got safely to the bishops palace.
Catalina knew, however, that her secret
al. - "a
! strength enough to reveal it to the bishop
before faintinR, That worthy man reported
the whole story to the king, who sent orders
that Catalina should be dispatched by the
next ship. All Spain declared for the hero
inc. At her arrival Count Olivarez him
self, the prime minister, met her; the king
kissed her; the pope sent for and forgav'
her; Velasquez painted her portrait.-Lon
don Standard.