The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-17

resignation So desperate were the straits
to which Honorius was reduced that Jo-
vaus and another Of his officers named
Valens went over 60 the side OF MS rival.
He himself had made up his mind to fee
TO the eastern court But just al this
junccure body Of four thousand men
ural advantages OF the place. were SUM-
Client for while for its defense.
In the meantime Attalus had given
shameful proofs Of MS utter incapacsty,
and at last the erraged Alaric in sight
of the whole army stripped him OF the
sceptre and diaden. which ne sent 70
Honorius as a sign of reconciliation But
the infatuated Honorius had learned moth
Ing from experience. He felt himsek safe
for the moment. and he issued an insane
proclamation that under no circumstances
would ne consent 20 peace with the inso-
lent invader Of Italy.
AlaT1c saw that he could never hope to
be leader IN the Roman empire. But
he could be its conqueror. A third time
he directed his march toward the capital.
"a. D. 400 All MS former moderation
had given place TO stern resolve. The
senate and the people knew that they
could no longer expect mercy at his
hands. and they prepared themselves for
the worst. For a time the walls Of Au-
relian proved a sufficient defense. But
famine and pesdlence crept into the city.
At last some unknown hand threw open
the Salarian gate, and the Goths were ad-
rlitted That was at midnight on August
a. 40
When the barbaTians entered the great
er part of the citizens, unconscious of
treachery. were asleep in their beds. The
blare OF tIumpets and the shouts Of the
Vctors, the clash Of arms. the tramp of
horses feet upon the payements awoke
them to the horrid truth. Soon sheets
OF fame shot upward from all sides, and
clouds OF smoke rolled slowly to the skies.
The pillage had begun. For six days and
nights the mistress of the world was ex-
posed to the furious greed of the bar
barans.
Men. women and children were slain in
the houses and in the streets. Gold and
silver. Jewels. statues and precious fab
dcs of all kinds were piled up in Gothic
wagons and transported to the camp out
side. Alaric and his Cloths took all that
was worth taking.
Alario himself wished only to take the
Roman property. He was out for the
spoils. He told his soldiers that the plum
der of the city was theirs, but that no
man was to be killed who was not in
arms. Even OF the soldiers. all were 20
be spared who took refuge in the churches
Of the two great apostles. ST. Peter and
st. Paul. All the churches and their
property Were TO be held sacred.
But it was impossible TO restrain the
furious passions of such vast multitude
Of conquerors. The streets, We read
were hsaped with dead. Men, and women
too, were cruelty tortured to make them
disclose the places where thir wealth was
hidden, and many thousands of people
were sold into slavery.
A thrill OF horror went through Europe.
1t was the beginning of the end of the
ancient world with all its sins and splen-
doris.
Alaric found that 1t was useless to think
of peace with the empire. Nothing re-
manned but TO establish himself as alb
solute master OF Italy. To do this it wsJ
necessary that he should secure command
of the corn supplies which came from
the African ports. When he marched
from Rome 1t WIS with the design of con-
quering the African provinces.
me Gottls had reached the southern ex-
tremity of Italy and had made one at
tempt to cross over into Sicily. which was
by the destruction OF their feet
in storm, when their king was stricken
by fever and died, at the age of only
thirty-five years.
With bitter lamenta ton the Goths be-
walled the death of their young hero.
They knew that ne had left behind him
no successor who could carry out his
mighty plans, and that the dominion of
Italy should never be theirs. But. while /
they looked forward to forsaking the !
they resolved to make sure that /
the sepulchre of their beloved king should I
not be violated by the hands of their /
enemies.
How they buried him beneath the river |
Busento and how they carried their in /
-ention of keeping his resting place a /
secret-these things have already been |
told.