The Bessemer indicator., 1894-04-14

rived in thls port recently had dis
tinguishcd party aboard. 1t was
made up OF Don Luis de Ojeda, a
young Spanish gentleman, who
passed through this city some years
ago, and his bt ide. who was Senorita
Soledad Barillas, the elder daughter
OF ex-President Barillas OF Guatemala,
with their retinue of servants. says
the San Francisco Chronicle.
There is IL charming romance in
the latter period of Senior Luis de
Ojeda's life, in connection with his
marriage that may be told and read
with Interest.
His affairs called him into Central
America, where interests In his
coffee plantations demanded his ut
tention near San Salvador. 1t was
in 1890, when one OF the periodical
disturbances between Salvador and
Guatemala had brought these two
opposing countries to arms. The
Guatemalan forces were marching
toward the frontier when General
Ezeta, the provisional president Of
San Salvador, met them with his
troops His headquarters were at
Santa Ana, some fifteen miles from
the line, and the reports he received
every hour from the front led him
to believe that he would need rein
forcements. He had his chief officer,
General Rivas. ready to march at a
moments notice, and he sent a
courier to san Salvador to order him
and his men to. the front
General Rivas was in charge OF
8, 900 Indios, which was more than
sufficient to put down any army sent
to the line by the enemy. Rivas be-
gan his march In obedience to orders,
but realizing the unprotected situa-
tion of San Salvador, the capital
city, after his departure and the
naturally disturbed condition OF the
entire country, he decided suddenly
to turn traitor to tho city tho very
next day with view to taking pos
session OF the government buildings
and declaring himself president.
Coups d'etat OF this nature had
not been infrequent in Salvador,
and. with President Ezeta on the
frontier fighting tho Guatemalans,
Rivas believed it would be an easy
affair to Danish him and take his
place as ruler.
He was partly successful. The
town and government officers sur
rendered to him and his 5000 SOL
diers-
Rivas' next move was more in tho
nature of u protective one. He
wanted to secure hostages that would
insure himself and his main follow
ers from harm IN the event of posi-
BILE disaster at some future time. He
directed some OF his soldiers to cap
ture the household of President
Ezeta. There was Mrs. Ezeta, her
children and servants. who barri-
caded themselves in their home and
fought as best they could.
The drunken soldiers hesitated at
nothing. They tore everything be-
fore them. knocking down doors and
shooting right and left, terrorizing
everybody. A number OF servants
fell wounded and few were killed
outright fighting for their mistress.
who had finally sought her last
refuge in the back room Of the
house. In few moments more
they would have been captured, but.
while the shooting and turmoil was
in progress, the women had an I'M
known friend who was working to
their rescue.
Senior Luis de Ojeda lived next
door. Like all the houses in those
countries, the walls are built only OF
laths. we'll plasterel with mud or
adobe. Ojeda realized what the
frenzied Indios were bent upon do
ing. SO he gathered his servants and
armed them with every available
weapon. Some OF them he put to
work tearing hole through the
wall into the Ezeta home. This was
done none too early and the fright
ened women and children made their
way into the Oieda house.
Rivas' fiendish soldiers attempted
to follow them and were met by a
fusillade that laid some OF them
low. But there was no time to lose.
The fugltives did not dare leave the
Oleda house by the natural exits
Soldiers were everywhere anxious to
capture them. The gallant young
Spaniard's home, however, could not
long protect them He had neither
authority nor force enough to repel
the pursuers.
II he could only house them in the
British consulate. five houses down
the street. he knew they would be
safe there, and being unable to do it
otherwise Ojeda began tunneling a
way through the walls from house to
house.
1t was u severe struggle. Rivas'
men were reinforced and drove the
Ojeda faction from house to house.
The battle lasted nearly two hours,
but the haven was finally reached
and Mrs. Ezeta and her children were
placed by their friend under tho pro-
lection of the British flag.
In the meantime President Ezeta
was notified by courier of what was
taking place in the capital. His
force on the frontier had repelled the
Guatemalans and he ordered his
brother. General Antonio Ezeta, to
march on San Salvador.
Rivas' Indios had virtually de-
serted him for the plunder and pill
lage. AS consequence the traitor
general was easily captured and
summarily shot down on the public
square
The war being over some weeks
later, the ministers Of both Guate-
mala and Salvador were to mcet In
the formers capital and make settle
ments. As tho minister OF Salvador
and Sonor Luis de Ojeda were very
friendly. they proceeded to the con-
ference together
1t was at social reunions that fol-
lowed in Guatcmala that Don Luis
met Senorita Soledad Barillas. wooed
and won her. She is a petite bru-
LII il e., .