Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-07-07
A SOUTH AMERICAN
HEROINE :: The Part Dona La
Poa Acted in Free
ing Colombia from SPANS Tyrannical Rule.
TT was in the year 1911 that the South

DloNlhSCo VI 4NC"
and Venezuela, weary of the exacting
domination of Spain, united under the
name of Colombia, proclaimed them
selves an independent republic, and I'M
der the leadership of Bolivar gained
their freedom, after long and bloody
conflict.
In 1914 the liberal army met with re-
verses, and it's brave commander was
forced to retire from the country. For
awhile he sought the protection of San
to Domingo; from which island, in 1917,
he returned to Venezuela, at the head
of large force he had collected about
him there; and from this period, till
the termination of the struggle, in 1921,
he remained at the head of a victorious
army and resigned his position when
his services were no longer required.
During the exile of Bolivar, in Santo
Domingo, he was continually informed
of the state of his native country, by
trusty messengers, dispatched by his
friends at home. Every important
movement of the Spanish troops, every
measure of the royalists, and all their
plans were known to him.
1t is well known that while the war
of independence was waging, much
blood was shed; and the progress of the
royalist army was marked with desola-
ton and massacre. Wherever the
: liberals and their sympathizers were
found, the hangman's rope and the gar
rote made short work with them; and
no mercy was shown to the unfortunate
individual on whom suspicious CHANGED
to fall.
Among the patriots who, at this peri
cd, incurred the suspicion of Samano,
the viceroy and commander of the Span
ish forces, was the unfortunate Senior
tia Apolinaria Salabarriata, better
known, in the history of those times, as
Dona La Pola.
This young lady, member of one of
the best families of Bogota, who was
distinguished for extraordinary beauty
of person, and many accomplishments
had early taken deep interest in the
cause of the liberals; and, like Nine.
Roland, the Girondist of the French
revolution, had made her house the Sc
cret meeting-place of the prominent
liberals in Bogota. She was also in di-
rect correspondence with Bolivar; and,
by means of faithful servant, kept the
commanding general posted in regard
to everything of interest in the army
of the enemy.
Her beauty, wit and musical talents
made her society courted by all parties;
and on certain evenings, her saloons
were opened for tertulias, or social gath
erings, at which the Spanish officers
were always welcomed. They listened
with pleasure to her brilliant converse
ton, and artistic performance upon the
harp, accompanied by her exquisite
voice; and, unsuspicious of her motives,
freely communicated to her all that
they knew with regard to the intention
of the leader of the royal troops.
AS if in the course of ordinary con-
versation, Dona Apolinaria would in
equire about their absent companions
in-arms and the destinat tons of the va
rious regiments and divisions of the
Spanish army, and in this way possessed
herself of much valuable information,
which she Immediately forwarded by
her messenger to the commander-in-
chief of the patriots, who, profiting by
the knowledge, was enabled to act sue
cessfully against these detached por-
tions of the royal forces.
At length, however, suspicion Of the
young lady's intentions were aroused,
and spies were placed about her person.
The information the Spanish general OBJ
tanned by these means led to the arrest
of the young man employed by her, and a
packet of papers was found upon him
which implicated her. In fact, the mes
senger, when threatened with the ter
rors of torture, confessed that he had
long been in the employ of Senorita
Salabarriata, and had frequently passed
between the capital and the camp of the
liberals.
OF course the young lady was imme-
-diately taken under arrest, and, after
hasty examination before military tri-
bunal, was pronounced guilty as a spy
and an enemy of the royal cause, and
condemned to suffer death at the gar
rote.
At this time Senorita Anolir ria wa n