The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-11-19
4 BATTLE IN MID AIR.
by HAROLD BERNARD.

ing interest to those desiring tales of
adventure, the equal of which cannot
be found in fiction
The most remarkable and one OF
the most desperate battles of the con
quest was that of the storming of the
temple of the Aztecs in the City of
Mexico For an understanding of
the matter few words as TO the con
dition of affairs in MonteZuma's land
at that time.
Cortez had just returned to the City
of Mexico from his victory over Mar
vaeZ, who had been sent to supersede
him. While on the Atlantic coast
alarming reports had reached him as
to the condition of affairs at the CAPT
tal. The natives had revolted. Al
varado, who had been left in command
Of the Spaniards was cOOped up with
in a fortified building and was IN
danger of being destroyed. On learn
ing Of this Cortez had hurried to his
aid Overioyed at his remarkable
defeat Of Naryaez and with a much
larger number of men at bis command
this wonderful conquerOr was conf
dent of continued success. He had
been allowed to re enter the City Of
Mexico unopposed, and thought that
his return with such an increased
force had overawed the natives. His
mistake was soon discovered. He
had been allowed to step into trap
from which his enemies supposed
there was no chance for escape.
4 h.I n =
command 10000 Spaniards and 5000
TlaXcalans, native enemies to the
Mexican's. What feast for the
Godsr' thought the Aztecs. The
hearts of 1,20O Spaniardsr' Such an
offering to the idols Was worth more
than those Of 10000 natives. The
country would surely be prosperous
after such an offering.
Scarcely had COrtes' reinforcement
reached the stronghold in the center
of the city of Mexico, when hoarse,
rumbling noise was heard, growing
louder and louder. Soon the streets
were filled with approaching warriors.
At the same time. as if by magic, the
roofs and terraces of the houses and
the summit OF the great temple were
covered with cOmbatants. Instantly
there commenced a furious assault.
Cortes was hardly prepared for such
vigorous warfare. His past eXperi
ence of uninterrupted victory had led
him to undervalue the valor and per
sistency Of the Indians. He did not
realize that his easy progress and
conquest thus far had been due to the
fact that the natives looked upon hIm
and his followers as Gods against
whom they could not contend with
the hope and courage necessary to
success The Indians were beginning
to appreciate their mistake Gods
could not die and white men had died.
Gods of Quetzal wonld be more just
than the Spaniards had been.
The assault had continued several
days. The Spaniards were in great
danger and in their extremity com
PEELED the captive Montezuma TO ex
posulate wilh the people But. mad
dened with rage and a desire for ven
geance, they forgot his royalty and
divinity; their rage swept away the
barriers of ancient reverence. and he
was injured by missiles thrown from
the temple. Then, ,dismayed by the sac
religious act the Mexicans fled in all
directions. The unhappy monarch,
fOrsaken by his people, refused to al
low his wounds to be cared for, repeat
edly tore off the bandages and soon
died of his injuries
As last resort COrtes resolved to
assault the great temple, dethrone and
assert his superiority over the Aztec
Gods, and spread dismay throughout
the country. Besides, the Spaniards
We're more annoyed by the missiles
thrown from this temple than from
any other source. For to understand
fully the remarkable battle that en-
sued description of the great temple
is necessary.
Built In the midst of the city, this
vast edifice had the form of pyramid
with its pointed top cut off. 1t cover
ed, with the temples annexed, all the
space now occupied by the Cathedral
of Mexico, the great square and ad-
joining streets. The wall which sur
rounded it formed a square, according
to Cortes, large enough to contain a
village of 500 houses. The interior
court enclosed by this wall was paved
with stone so highly polished that the
horses of the Spaniards could not ven
ture into it without running the risk
of slipping
In the centre of this court rose the
vast pyramid. This structure was
built of earth and stones, covered with
brick and was composed of five ter
races of nearly equal height, but nOC
of equal length or width. for the high
er We're narrower than the lower The
first step measured about 500 feet on
the side and was fifteen feet high.
The second was smaller on the sides
than on the first by about ten feet. and
the others diminished IL the same
proportion In consequence of this
construction each step made ali open
space clear around the pyramid. on
: which three or four men could walk
abreast. The stairway of this edifce
, was built on the exterior. on the south
ern side, and was composed of 130
steps, each about one foot in height.
This stairway was not, however, con
: tinuous, as the first flight led to The
first terrace, and then in order to
; reach the next set of steps a complete
circuit of the pyramid, nearly 10000
, feet, had to be made, This brought
the climber to the second terrace and
then another tour of the pyramid was
necessary to reach the third stairway.
} and SO on to the top. Consequently
to reach the summit it required travel
. ing around the structure four times
, a distance of nearly mile On the
apex We're two towers, the sanctuaries
of the important Aztec Gods. Here
' were stationed between five and six
: hundred Mexican mobiles, whose duty
. it was to defend the Gods to the last
extremity. In the court below We're