Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-05-19


was indeed a startling revelation. The
man whose brains | was on the point oil
blowing out was Johannes, my iayorits
servant, and the driver of my ARABIA. liz
had not heard the instruction which
had been given, and being too hot to
sleep, had crept out to smoke.
With trembling hand | raised the
lowered the trigger. Johannes had
humanity speaking-been saved by his
Enthusiastically aquiline nose.
will ask you to-day to join me out
side the besieged town of San Sebas-
tan, at the most advanced republican
post, during the Carlist rising of 1874;
at point known as Oriamendez, where
n fort of that name, materially assisted
by several batteries of artillery, was
dealing death in all directions. Two of
our batteries had to be strategically
removed to San Sebastian, some four
miles off, there to occupy less exposed
position, and it was during the retreat
of those batteries that ] experienced as
great and as long-sustained jeopardy
as ever I've endured.
1t must be understood that artillery
in retreat, having quite enough to do
to look TO their guns, are probably
more assailable than any other arp of
the service. As the mountain path down
which We were now flying heller
SHELTER was open all the way to hot
fusillade from the Carlists on a COR
responding ridge, it may be imagined
that the excitement was at fever heat
when the bullets, having already
plentifully despatched the rocks with
lead, began to take effect. One of the
battery horses being shot, brought us
to momentary standstill, as the traces
had to be cut before we could proceed;
and thankful we were that at the par
ticular spot where it happened the com
paratively level nature of the road rem
dered il easier to cope with what might
have been a fatal catastrophe. To the
rafting fire which those Carlists kept
up, our side found it utterly impossible
to respond, and another and most I'M
expected dilemma occurred. A Sudden
fork in the road left two routes open
TO us. both of which were commanded
by the whitening Ere of the enemy.
In the excitement of the retreat, the
guide, instead of turning to the right.
which seemed the safest road, kept
on, the artillery, with whom ]
was, following close on his heels. In
"a moment we discovered our mistake,
but it was too late. The impetus which
the steep descent gave us made it quite
to retrace our steps; so on
we rushed, hardly realizing H.
imminent danger we were in from e
irregular fire of the eAe':sS.
whose bullets simply poured in upca us
from the protecting cover of the neigh
boring rocks. We saw the roofs and
spires of San Sebastian in the distance,
which eventually we entered, covered
with blood. mud, and the foam of our
painting steeds. Now comes the most
remarkable part of that memorable
retreat.
We took. as l have mentioned, the
most precipitous and longest road.
Now, had we taken that other road TO
The right, what would the consequences
have been? A few days before there
had been a landslip a short distance
down this road, vast dislodgment Of
earth, which had completely blocked
descent that would, in all human prob
lbility, have been fatal to our whole
party.
| recall another hairbreath escape of |
mine when in the land of the Cid. II |
was a lovely autumn morning. | had |
crossed from Spanish Behobea to |
French Behobie by the little parti-col-
,red bridge (red and white), which.
spanning the frontier river (the Bid |
lasoa), separated France from Spain
Is well.
Being then in France, which was al
var with no man, | took mine case
II mine inn" After dinner | strolied |
nut of the town along the French bank
II that frontier river till arrived at
pot where, facing me-.he stream be-
ng about 40 yards across at this point
was an encampment of Carlists,
picturesque enough TO make Salvador
losa turn in his grave. They were dis
ussing their evening meal, copper and
vessels lying about in all
directions.
Being in peaceful country, | could
without interruption devote as much
ime as | thought proper TO what
ondly hoped might be an effectively
varlike front page TO my illustrated
.ondon paper. | opened my camp
tool, and proceeded to -lay in" my
fact, was becoming posi-
ively engrossed in it, when "Bangl
lang." and in a moment lay prone on
he river bank with one leg completely
battered; while the next instant had
nade, as best could, for the kindly
of neighboring tree. where,
idden from view. finished that
ketch. It is but fair | should add that
he shattered leg" was that OF the
amp-stool on which | was sitting. II
-as evident that the ordinary Cariist
as no respecter of frontiers.-st.
aul's.