The San Francisco call., 1898-08-14

T0HE spirit of the Amezons does not
 survive only in the women war
 riors of Dahomey. The, Sun re-
 gently published a story about wo-
 men who enlisted and fought in the civil war; and other countries, also, have their women soldiers. The Cubans have had several women soldiers, who could ride and shoot and use ma chete; and the most romantic figure in the recent Brazilian rebellion was Ma ria Barbosa, who, with sword and cru cifx in hand, led the rebels against the Government troops. The story goes that this modern Joan of Arc fell asleep in a church one day and saw a vision which commanded her to lead her townsmen against the Government post of Bon Jardin She gathered a band of followers who believed in her revela- tion, captured Bon Jardin, where many of the citizens joined her forces, and went on to Soa Joao, where she took the town and killed hundreds of Republ- cans. Her beauty and ferocious cour- age made her the idol of her followers,
 Another woman warrior of to-day is Josephine RiZal, one of the leaders or the rebellion against Spain in the Phil ippines. She was married at 70, and when she had been bride for only one hour her husband was executed before her eyes by the Spanish. The deed aroused widespread excitement, and was one of the causes that led to the assassination of Canovas, the Spanish Prime Minister. The frenzied young widow swoFe that she would avenge her husbands murder, and that Span ish lives by the score should pay for his life. She went to Aguinaldo at rebel headquarters and requested permission to enter the ranks, which was granted, and from the first she fought with reckless dash and courage that made her conspicuous in every engagement. At last she fell into the hands of Gen eral Primo de Rivera, who, in recognd- ton of her bravery, released her. Later he repented his chivalrous generosity, and Spanish soldiers were sent to fol- low and capture her, but through the warning and assistance of friends she escaped to Hongkong.
 The Graeco Turkish war also had it's heroine, Greek woman who melted the natives of her province to revolt and led them in number of their skir- mishes.
 During the Tai Ping rebellion in Chi ma in 1850 an army of women was com- manded by woman officers.
 Earlier centuries furnish still more examples of the woman soldier, and the records of Europe cite striking ex- amples of womans heroism in battle. Rose Lacombe, the actress. and the beautiful /Theroigne de Mericouru were conspicuous figures in the battles of the French Revolution, and Renee Borde- reau, the heroine of the Vendee, fought in more than 200 battles. Forty-two members of her family were killed in the revolution and her father was cut down by her side. In one encounter at a bridge she resisted and defeated with her own hand twenty-one of her ene- mics Napoleon so feared the zeal and influence of La Bordereau that when he subdued the Vendee he refused to par don her and threw her into prison; but she was released after the fall of the Empire.
 Another French woman, Mary Sche- lienck, fought in the armies of Napo- leon, and so signally distinguished her self on the field of Austcrlitz that Ma poleon decorated her with the Cross of the Legion of Honor, and, later. grant ed her large pension.
 English soldier heroines are legion.