St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-11-04
sPAlN's SOLDIER NUN.

Omcer and Fought Daels.
A very famous heroine in her day
was Catalina de Erauso, still remem'
bered vaguely as the spanish soldier
nun" She left memoirs. which have
been translated or summarized or ''rO.
mancified" in most European tongues.
The truth of them has been d:sputed,
but upon the other hand popcs and
kings mobiles and savants accepted
every word, while evidence remained
to support or question the statements.
Catalina, we are told. ran away from
. nunnery in San Sebastian at the ago
Of fifteen, transformed her conventual
habiliments into doublet and hose and
found employment rs page In the
household of = noble at Valladolid.
Driven from this refuge by the appear
ance of her father-who had no sus-
picion. neverthelcss-shej joined an ex.
pedition sailing to Peru under charge
OF Ferdinand de Cordova Her ship
was wrecked OF Paita and she clone
refused to desert the captain. who
stood by his vessel Catalina then
built little raft. broke open the treas
ure chest took rs much gold ~ she
could carry. and set of for the shore.
but the captain was drowned in en-
barking. She reached the town and
accepted an engagement a. manager to
the tailor who made her new clothes
Complications of business and passion
for a great lady fell in lave at sight
led TO . first duel. In which she killed
her man promptly. The great Lady
smuggled her out of prison, but Csta-
lima found it necessary 70 repay this
service by pushing the dame down
stairs, probably breaking her neck.
Then she jumped into . boat. put 70
sea and was picked up by . Spanish
vessel hound for Concepcion-
At this place her brother was secre.
tary to the governor. and he, all ur-
conscious of the relationship. got her 4
commission in the army. Very soon
afterward she distinguished herself in
an engagement. and for~ twenty years
ranked as one of the most brilliant Of
ficers of the Spanish service-living
mostly with her brother. but keeping
the secret This happy time came to
an end in a midnight duel, when she
killed q man unknown, who proved to
be this same brother. Flying for life
once more, Catalina crossed the Andes.
All her companions perished, but she
reached Tucuman after terrible adven'
lures.
Another love affair, all on one side,
and another fatal duel brought heS
literally to the gallows; but with the
rope around her neck she escaped.
Travelling on TO CuzcO she Joined IN
Alcalde with . pretty wife and gem
tleman, his friend. In very few days
Catalina perceived that these two had
an understanding. The Alcalde per-
ceived IL also, and took IN opportunity
to murder his faithlcss friend He
would have murdered his wife. but
Catalina snatebed her to the saddle and
rode furiously for Cuxco The Alcalds
pursuing, she ran him through. but re-
ceived . desperate wound. The fugi.
tives got safely TO the BISHOPS palace.
Catalina knew, however, that her Sc.
cret must be discovered now. She had
Just strength to reveal it 70 the bishop
before fainting. That worthy man re-
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 Olivarcz himself, the
prime minister, met her; the king
kissed her; the pope sent for and for
gave her; velasquez painted her por.
Standard.