The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-08-14


One day we found the enemy near the
little town of Gironella Ever since morn
Ing we had been under sharp fire, and late
In the afternoon, when the victory was al
most ours, we We're surprised in the rear
by another large detachment of the enemy.
We were between two fires Our colonel,
seeing the day lost, ordered retreat,
and in moment almost all the soldiers
fled. l did not hear that retreat but
remained fighting at the head of my COM
pany, which occupied the extreme of the
right wing, and whose captain and lieu
tenants had been killed. l was sublieuten-
ant then. The Carlists advanced. My sol
diers began TO fall around me like grain
before the reaper. And did not command
the retreat. l was crazy. was seized by
epilepsy, that nfrmity which with me ac-
companies all violent emotions
But so hard pressed We're the unhappy
victims of my blind fury that they fled
finally without awaiting my order, lcav-
ing on the field the greater part of their
companions
Garcia imagined that had command
ed that flight, and outran the others, be-
lieving me at the head of my company.
II remained, then, alone, sword in
hand. In this manner advanced toward
the enemy, possessed by such insensate
fury that l soon fell to the ground, seized
by terrible CONFUSION The rebels, be-
lieving me dead continued their pursuit
of the fugtives.
Night came on before recovered my
senses.
The remainder of our troops were in
Gironella, awaiting re-enforcements in or
der to attack the rebels on the following
day. The latter, on their part, were en-
camped before the little town.
Garcia meanwhile had discovered my
absence and decided to return to the scene
of the combat, to recover my corpse If
had died or to aid me If were wounded
In order to do this he was Obliged to pass
the CHrlist encampment. Only lunatic
or mother would have conceived such a
fearful undertaking. He stole out Of the
town cautiously, and making circuit OF
three leagues he managed to pass the enc
my's line.
"Soon after he found me among the dead
bodies l still lived, though plunged in
that strange somnolence of epilepsy which
permits its victims to see and hear al
though they cannot speak or move.
Garcia OWNED instantly what had hap.
pened. His tears ceased to flow. Tenderly
wrapping his greatcoat about me, he laid
me across his shoulders and started to walk
toward the village Thus he approached
the rebel encampment, impassiVe, serene
resigned to his fate
rOnlv a miracle cOuld save uS
"He knew it-yes-but he knew also thai
If he did not employ the accustomed means
to resuscitate me, or if he should leave IN,
there to the 'nclemency of such a horribly
cold night, l should be dead in a few hours
"He continued his march. He deter
mined to pass the Carlist line in order t
avoid long detour. The obscurity of tn,
night was the only probability of salvation
that remained to us
But the moon, who does not concern
herself with what happens on earth, brOk
through her prison of clouds at that mo
ment, full, beautiful, Respondent illumi
mating completely that snowy country.
Garcia sighed, foreseeing our misfor
tune l also foresaw It'll, inert, mani
mate thrown over the shoulder of tina
martyrl
"What horrible nightmare Butch
miracle-Garcia passed within 20 PAGES O
II sentinel without heing discovered by him
Perhaps we would have been saved. Blu
fatality had disposed of our lots in anothe
manner My noble orderly had almos
reached the end of his pathway of pal
when the Carlists distinguished him in tn
, moonlight.
"'Who goesP' called voice in the dis
, lance
, "'Shoot him = came from another direC
ton.
Maria Santissmap murmured Garcia
T And pressing my wrists convulsively b
! started to run.
! "a ball whistled by; then second she
, was heard.
/ My orderly stopped. Then he wavere
> with his burden, gave II sob and fell fac
,, downward upon the ground. l fell on to
of him-the sacrifice was complete.
: "Dios mic, what night At first fe
, Garcia tremble and turn beneath tn
. weight of my body and between my incl
3 arms Then he remained quiet. Little b
little he grew cold. His limbs acquire
finally frightful rigidity.
i "He was dead. l knew 1t, and yet
could not move
4. IL spent the night embracing a corps,
the corpse of my inferior, of my slave {
my poor Garcia. That was the first en-
q brace which l ever gave him.
1.-THE freshness of the morning brOugl
7 me to my senses. rose and looked aroun(
:, / was alone-alone among the dead II
:, Carlists had raised their camp during Il
: night, carrying away all the wounded
= examined Garcia and saw that the ball ha
!. entered near one rib and passed out by al
other.
q "Now, in my turn, took him on N
= back, and tremulous weak, with wet ey'
!. and aching heart, l entered Gironell
n There poor Garcia was buried.
, To-day his name is for me an object
= worship and veneration How many tim
:. / have begged God to restore him to me,
% console him for my bitterness and violen
q and to repay his sacrifice with love! Ho
a many times l have inwardly asked his pa
, don, and how much better his death III
= made me Since then am gentle, affabl
n affectionate toward my interiors. Instei
i of wishing them to tremble before me al
a believe me a being superior to the humg
% race l only wish to be as father to the
10 all, because l have understood, too lat
"a that under the rough coat of u soldier the
a beats at times heart more generous ths
N that under the gilded uniform of genera
q When | have heard the bcnedictions of II
M men, when have thrown some cOnsOl