The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-05
Flying Pwaycrs.

New York, Jan. 3.-An officer of the
Forty-seventh New York Regiment sta
toned at San Juan. writing to his mother
in Brooklyn, furnishes some news from
that part of Uncle Sans new territories
of much interest. He says:
"Sergt. Robertson of ours SHARED a
very pretty bird in the woods before San
Juan on Thursday last. He had been ask-
ed by a relative Of his in Cincinnati to
send him as many specimens of Porto Ri
can birds as he could get, and 1t was
while pursuing his friendly duty that he
captured something like an orlole but
much smaller and more snowy Of plumage
On taking the bird from the snare the
sergeant was surprised to find attached to
one of Its legs by string a bit OF paste
board about half the size of a small visit
ing card on which was written in Span
ism:
"of your charity pray for the soul Of
Julie Valdez"
"Thie httle episode excited a good deal
Of talk in the barracks, and Sergt. Rob
ortson, in order 10 satisfy public curiosity,
made inquiries as to the identity of Julie
Valdez in San Juan. Owing to his ig-
norancc of Spanish ne was not SUCCESS
full until he fell in with Senior Printos,
who speaks English fairly well and was
connected with she city's police depart
'nent under the Spanish regime.
II was well acquainted with Julie Vail
dez, said Senior Printos, and could tell
you many stories about her eccentricItles,
/ know all about that bird affair. Julie
died last year and closed a checkered ca
reer in, to her. a manner natural enough.
She was not a bad sort of woman by any
means, and certainly was very charitable
The sonora was the widow OF a Spanish
general who left her an annuity OF a
thousand pesetas. Half of this sum she
spent in wine, fourth in charity and the
other fraction In her domestic affairs.
'sSome time after the Easter term of
1897 Julie, feeling that she was growing
old and realizing that her end was near,
went down to the store of Senior Romerez
on st. Jago street. He deals In animal
and Julie being in funds-she has just re-
ceived her quarterly pension--bought all
the birds In his establishment, tied cards
like that you have In your hand round
their legs and gave them their liberty by
whlsking the poor things into the air or
course, half OF the poor things were de-
voured by cats and birds of prey-prayer
and all-withn twenty-four hours
"Such an idea is not at all original IN the
Spanish West Indies The way In which
she prepared for the repose Of her body,
however, Is original Ia the highest degree.
Soon. after Siberating the birds her health
failed rapidly, and hence she proceeded 10
make her grave. She dug a hole an hill
lock situated IN a little pleasaunce In
front of her house, which hole she lined
with fine wool, and over the wool she plac-
ed a screen made out OF her silk and satin
gowns She next lowered a coffin into
the grave. also lined with silk, and Of the
coffin she made her bed for the rest of her
days. She died in 1t, and by an arrange
ment she had ingenlously contrived a lid
covered with grass and flowers was laid
over The grave within forty-eight hours. /
understand the authorities intend exhum-
ing the poor old souls remains and burying
them elsewhere. / dent know why"