Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-02-03

The occupation Of the Amazons Is
gone, and those tigers OF war; are
exclusively engaged In nursing the
wounds they received from the French
soldiers during that last fatal battle
in Dahomey. Many OF US will not ac-
knowledge it. perhaps but in our
hearts we have been rather sorry for
these women warriors who fought
like demons for their king, and who
have been such picturesque figures in
various tales OF travel But we were
not permitted to indulge long in these
sentimental reflections. The Amazons
have been ignominiously detected,
and now that they are down the his
torian OF the press arises to assure Us
that they never amounted to much
after all, and that they fought under
the influence, not OF loyalty, but OF
rum.
The Amazon ranks are recruited
from girls Of thirteen or fifteen years
OF age, who are trained in military ex-
ercises, but not allowed to bear arms
until they have attained more ma
ture age. Women who have commit
ted any great crime hnd = safe refuge
from punishment by enlisting In this
female body guard. The recruits arc
subjected to q very severe training.
which fortifies them to endurance OF
all kinds OF hardship and physical
pain. They are compelled to sleep
out OF doors In all kinds OF weather,
and TO suffer blows and kicks without
murmur, and are often kept starv-
ing for days Among the haidships
OF the drill Is the feature OF scaling
walls. For the purpose OF gaining
proficiency in this exercise these half
naked women are made 10 Chamber
up to the top OF q wall thickly Gov
cred with thorns from prickly pears
and caoti. In addition to this the
ground Is thickly strewn with broken
glass, and the ambitious recruits are
always terribly lacerated and covered
with blood, but after such drill a
complaint Is an unhsard-of offense.
Under these circumstances every
womanly sentiment Is suppressed aud
the Amazons become uussxed and un-
naturally ferocious.
In battle the Amazons fire rapidly
for a few minutes, and then throw
down their firearms. and, uttering ter
rife yells and screams charged the
enemy with their knives. With these
they do terrible execution, and even
when shot down and trampled under
foot they will aght to the last gasp,
stabbing blindly at their assailants
above, and biting and tearing the legs
OF those standing over them.
The French gained q vivid idea OF
their ferocity in battle during the war
OF 1889. when under deadly Gre from
the fortihcations the Amazons made
charge after charge on the works.
When at last put to flight the dying
furies seized several of the Frenchmen
by their legs and tried to stab them
with their swords. Before going into
battle the Amazon are given liberal
quantities OF rum, which gives them
the frenzIed hercenes aud daring
recklessness which always mark their
attacks.
The uniform OF the Arnszons 10 .
short, sleeveless tunic OF blue and
white goods OF light material. Their
skirts reach to their knees. and these,
with the short hair, Turkish trousers
and aD almost jauuty white cap or
bonuet, ornamented with horn tips,
make their appearance decidedly pic
turesque. Their officers are distin.
guished by lot OF silver amulsts and
bangles generally covering the entire
forearm. Their weapons are Win
chester repeating rifles. oId-fashioned
blunderbusses, bows and arrows.
They oil wear cartridge belts and
euriously wrought pouches, and carry
long knives, with which they mutt
late the wounded In o horrible man
uar