The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-09
CHAPTER I.
THE STORY OF A CRIME.

wearisome place in the world to stay In
II we may believe what travellers saw.
and Don Luis vagaert, from the time
that he was appointed lieutenant gov
ernor, became one Of the most melan-
oholy officers In the whole Brazilian
army.
The garrison consisted Of not more
than 100 soldiers. Under the walls of
the citadel was poor village, which
gave shelter to about 100 negroes of
both sexes, and in addition there might
DO found among them, from. time to
time some Indians, just emerging from
state Of cannibalism, who came TO dis
pose Of the produce Of their hunting ex-
petitions.
The governor in chief lived in Bahia.
Accordingly Don Luis vagaert found
himself absolute master of the fort. Be-
sides the functions of lieutenant gov
ernor he discharged those of a magis-
trate and administered justice without
appeal.
In order to overcome his feeling of
ennui, Don Luis had ON his arrival Civ
EN- up all his time to field sports, but
when he had laid down in his bedroom
carpet made up of the skins of 90
1aguars which he had killed the lieu
tenant governor was obliged to own to
himself that jaguars, dead or alive,
gave him no further amusement. He
then set to work to attack the alligators,
but after time the alligators also fail
ed to interest him. Then he fancied that
possibly snake hunting might afford
him the diversion he SO much wished
for, and accordingly, arming himself
with a bottle of sal ammoniac, he start
ed In quest of rattlesnakes, whip SER
pents and all kinds Of venomous rep
tiles.
He ended by making a magnificent
collection of them. 1t was reported that
in his room might be seen q beautiful
flower stand, which had come from Par
Is, in which about 90 flowers of par
ticular sort afforded q home TO as many
living coral serpents.
Now, coral serpent is the most
charming reptile in the world. OF a
bright red color and about as long as a
penholder, 1t lives in the calyx Of a
flower, from which, on the slightest
provocation, it darts out upon any one
who ventures to disturb it, and its bite |
causes almost instantaneous death.
1t happened one day that Pedro Ba- |
c0s private soldier, and John, a SER
geant in the same regiment, conceived !
the idea of going secretly to see for
themselves whether what was said about
this wonderful collection was really |
true. They entered this famous room by
the window and looked about with |
much curiosity for the flower stand 1t
was placed against the wall opposite
the door. The two soldiers approached
1t, Pedro trembling, John swinging
carelessly light cane which he held
In his hand It was certainly q wonder
rul sight which met their eyes. In al
moot every flower coral serpent Law
coiled up and seemed to be drinking in
the perfume which exhaled from il.
-Four or five humming birds were fiut-
tering round the flower stand, and every
now and then one of the serpents, wea-
ned by the buzzing Of the wings, made
dart out OF the flower and sprang to-
ward the bird, which, however, it never
succeeded in catching.
All at once Johns face assumed a
angular expression. Choosing the mo-
ment when Pedro growing little bold.
Or, drew nearer to the flower stand to
get better view of these wonderful
'reatures, the sergeant, as a sort of prac.
'ical joke, switched his cane near the
stalks OF the plants where these terrible
'epules were sleeping, and by a quick
notion OF his hand caused q series of
vibrations among these homes of sud
len death.
Then quick as thought he saved him.
ell by leapiDg out through the window.
hundred sharp hissings sounded in
'edros ears, who in his turn endeavor. ,
d to save himself by flight, but scarce.
had he reached the courtyard when ,,
70 fell, fainting, to the ground His
rother, who was mounting guard at
ne door Of the lieutenant governor. .
brew down his musket and rushed TO :
Is assistance. It was too late. Five or !.
TX serpents had inflicted their bite on =.
ne poor soldier. He turned livid and :
xpired on the spot having scarcely had :
me to tell his brother what had hap =
ened.
Alfonso Bacas, the brother of the dead h
ian, threw himself ON the corpse, kissed a
s forehead; then returning to his post h
took mp his gun and loaded it, A re- a
ort was heard, and Sergeant John fell, b
Iortally wounded A few minutes later
10 lieutenant governor, returning TO =,
le fort, learned what had taken place, .,
I'VE the order for the arrest of Alfonso g
I'd announced that the next day court -
artial would sit to try the murderer. =,
no. "a hours afterward, was brought ~
fore Don Luis vagaert and found =,
lilty, and ar tho lieutenant governor 81 :;
10 himself that day more than usually
lt OF spirits he pronounced the SEN .o
nee OF death in an imperturbable tone =,
voice. The execution was appointed -, ~
take place the following day. Never ~
nee the fort and village OF Salem had -
en- in existence had n canita1 saptopca -'>