The Portland daily press., 1893-12-16
"THE SPANISH SOLDIER NUM-
Remarkable Career of Woman who Dis
guised Herself as q Man.

Remarkable Career of a Woman Who Dis
guised Herself as a Man.
A famous heroine in her day was Cata-
lima de Erauso, still remem bered vaguely
as 1.-THE Spanish soldier nun" She left
memoirs, which have been translated or
summarized or sromancified'' in most Eu-
ropean tongues. Catalina, we are told,
ran away from a nunnery in San Sebas-
tian at the age of Is, transformed her con-
ventional habiliments into doublet and
hose and found employment as a page in
the household of noble at Valladolid.
Driven from this refuge by the appearance
OF her father, who had no suspicion, new
ertheless, she joined an expedition sailing
to Peru under charge of Ferdinand de
Cordova. Her ship was wrecked off Pa
eta, 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 then set off for
the shore, but the captain was drowned
embarking. She reached the town and &C.
cepted an engagement as manager to the
tailor who made her new clothes. Com
plications of business and passion-for q
great lady fell in love with her at first sight
led to a first duel, in which she killed
her man promptly. The great lady SNUG
gled her out of prison. but Catalina found
it necessary to repay this service by push
ing the dame down stairs, probably break
ing her neck. Then she jumped into a
boat, put to the sea and was picked up by
a Spanish vessel bound for Copenhagen.
At this place her brother was secretary
to the governor, and he, all unconscious
of the relationship, got her commission
in the army. Very soon afterward she dis
tinguished herself in an engagement, and
for 10 years ranked as one Of the most bril-
liant officers of the Spanish service, living
mostly with her brother, but keeping the
secret. This happy time came to an end
in midnight duel, when she Filled man
unknown, who proved to be this same
brother. Flying for life once more, Cata-
lima crossed the Andes.
All her companions persisted, but she
reached Tucuman after terrible adven-
lures. Another love affair, all on one side,
and another fatal duel brought her liter
ally to the gallows, but with the rope
around her neck she escaped. Travelling
on to Cuzco, she joined an alcalde with a
pretty wife and gentleman, his friend.
In very few days Catalina perceived that
calde perceived it also and took an oppor-
tunity to murder his faithless friend He
would have murdered his wife, but Cata-
lima snatched her to the saddle and rode
furiously for Cuzco. The alcalde pursu-
ing, she ran him through, but received a
desperate wound. The fugitives got safe
ly to the bishops palace. Catalina knew,
however, that her secret must be discov-
cred 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 fcrgave her, and
Velasquez painted her portrait. London
Standard,