The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-10-21
sPA'n'sS soLD'sR NUN.

Disguised Man Shc Made n Gala Mt
Officer and Fought Duel>.
A very famous heroine in her day
| was Catalina de Erauso, still remem-
bered vaguely as the ''Spanish soldier
num- She left memoirs. which have
been translated or summarized or ''ro-
nlancified'' in most European tongues.
The truth of them has been disputed,
but 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 ago
of fifteen, transformed her conventual
habiliments into doublct and hose and
found employment as IL page in the
household of d noble at Valladolid.
Driven from this refuge by the appear
ancc of her father-who had no sus-
piciOn, nevertheless--she joined an ex-
petition sailing to Peru under charge
of Ferdinand dc Cordova. Her ship
was wrecked off Pait;s and she alone
refused to desert the captain, who
stood by his vessel Catalina then
built a little raft, broke open the treas
ure chest took much gold she
could carry. and set off for the shore,
but the captain was drowned in en-
barking. She reached the town and
accepted an engagement manager to
the tailor who made her new clothes.
Complications of business and passion
for a great lady fell in love at sight
led to first duel, in which she killed
her man promptly. The great la'1y
Struggled her out Of prison, but Cata-
lima 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 q Spanish
vessel bound for Conception.
At this place her brother was sccre-
he ..11
conscious of the relationship, got her -
commission in the army. Very soon
afterward she distin s,uished herself in
an engagement. and for twenty years
ranked one of the most brilliant Of
ficers of the Spanish servicc-living
mostly with her brother, but keeping
the secret. This happy time came to
IN end in midnight dnel, when she
killed Il man unknown, who pr owed to
be this same brother. Flying for life
once more. Catalina crossed the Andes.
AL her compa mons persisted, but she
reached Tucuman after terrible advcn-
lures.
Another love affair, all one side.
and another fatal duel brought he's
literally to the gallows; but with tho
rope AROUND her neck she escaped.
Travelling on to CuZco she Joined All
Alcalde with a pretty wife and gen
tleman, his friend In a very few days
Catalina perceived that these two had
an understanding The Alc;,lde per-
ceived it Also and took an opportunity
to murder h,s faithless friend. He
would have murdered his wife. but
Catalina snatc],ed her to the saddle an6
rode furiously for COzco. This Alcalde
pursuing, she ran him through, but re-
ccivcd Il desperate wound. The fugi-
tives got safely to the BISHOPS palace.
Catalina knew, however. that her
cret must be discovered now. She had
just strength to reveal it to the bishop
before fainting. That worthy man
ported 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, tho
prime minister, met her: the king
kissed her; the pope sent for and for
gave her; Nelasquez painted her por-
trait.-London Standard.