Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-02
CATALINA, THE SOLDIER NUN.
Her Very Interesting And Romantic
History.

London Standard: A famous heroine
in her day was Catalina de Erauso,
still remembered vaguely as the Span
ish soldier nun" She left memoirs
which have been translated or sum-
married or ''rOmancilied'' in most Euro
pean tongues. The truth of them has
been disputed, but the writer points
out that, upon the other hand, popes
and kings, mobiles and savants accepted
every word while evidence remained
to support or question the statements.
Catalina, we are told, ran away from
a nunnery in San Sebastian at the age
of 10, transformed her conventional
habiliments into doublet and hose and
found employment as page in the
household of Il noble at ValladOlid.
Driven from this refuge by the appear
ance of her father-who had no sus-
piciOn, neverthelesS-She Joined an ex-
petition sailing to Peru under charge
of Ferdinand de CordOva. Her ship
was wrecked off Paita, and she alone
refused to desert the captain, who
stood by his vessel
Catalina 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
embarking. 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 first
sighted to a first duel in which she
LII oil
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 boat, put to
sea and was picked up by a Spanish
vessel bound for Conception.
At this place her brother was sec
rotary to the governor, and he, all I'M
conscious of the relationship, got her
commission in the army. Very soon
afterwrd she distinguished herself in
an engagement, and for twelve years
ranked as one of the most brilliant
officers of the Spanish service-lvinS
mostly with her brother, but keeping
the secret. This happy time came to-
an end in midnight duel, when she
killed a man unknown, who proved
| to be this same brother. Flying for
| life once more, Catalina crossed the
| Andes.
/ All her companions persisted, but
she rea ched Tucuman after terrible 1d~
ventures Another love affair. all on
one side. and another fatal duel brought
her literally to the galIOws, but with
the rope around her neck she escaped
Travelling on to CuscO. she joined an
alcalde with a pretty wife and a gen
/ tleman, his friend. In very few days
! Catalina perceived that these two had
an understanding. The alcade per
ceived it also, and took an opportunity
to murder his faithlesS friend. He
would have murdered his wife, but Ca
talina snatched her to the saddle an1
rode furiously for CuzcO. The alcade
pursuing, she ran him through, but
received a desperate wound. The flu
| gitives got safely to the bishops palace
I Catalina knew, however, that her secret
must be discovered now. She had just
strength enough to reveal it to the
bishop before fainting. The 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 heroine
At her arrival Count Olivarez himself,
the prime minister met her; the king
kissed her, the pope sent for and for
gave her and Velasquez painted her
portrait.