Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-08-19
THE TALE THE LITTLE
SPANISH CANNON TOLD.
Sevile--The Massacre of Madrid--The Battles
of Riosecco and Baylen--The Charge of the
Polish Guard at Somosierra Pass.

7 eating Spain hurried more armies
across the Pyreness. Suspicion and
| discomfort began to seize the entire
| Spanish population.
I Junot after much pursuasion per-
mitted several detachments to return
TO Spain. After wearisome days of
| mountain passes, plains and swollen
rivers | arrived in Madrid, then in the
hands Of Murat, Napoleon's brother
ln-law. Myself ana four companions
were placed in old artillery house at
| the north of the city.
Then came the terrible ''2nd of May"
the most frightful and bloody epoch
in the history of Madrid.
Napoleon had forced the foolish old
| king Charles to abdieate, Ferdinand his
infamous son was virtually prisoenr
III the hanas OF the French. AS a con-
summation OF the absorption of Spain,
the French had arranged to send the
little Infanta, Franciso to Bayonne.
francisco was the youngest son of
Charles and last of the royal family
| left in Madrid.
A great mob surged in front of the
royal palace to witness the departure
The little fellow cried-the mob burst
! forth IN frenZy-cut the traces, demol-
lshed the carriage and set upon the
French guard and almost killed them
The great slumbering volcano OF
{ pent-up hatred and discomfort had
broken. The whole city arose in rev.
olution.
Then the mad butchery commenced.
Murat massed his artillery and swept
! down the streets with a rain of grape
shot. Hundreds persisted. The news
spread like wild fire. The excited peo-
pie rushed to the great square-the
Puerto del Sol-which forms a focus
Tor nine streets. The avenues leading
to this were soon filled With the French
| cavalry and artillery, sent from Mu-
rats headquarters, on the Heights of
ST. Vincent. The cannon belched forth
into the dense crowds congregated in
the Puerto del Sol. Then followed the
charge and fe-charge OF cavalry. But
/ the people fought 1uriou5ly with any
thing at hand. Furniture was thrown
from windows, and showers of tiles
and missiles from housetops rained up
OH the French soldiers.
Suddenly some one thought of the
old arsenal where my companion and
l were quartered and a charge was
made for the place. 1t was garrisoned
by seventy French soldiers, but they
promptly surrendered.
Don Luis Daoiz and Don Valarde
artillery captains assumed command.
Snail arms and ammunition We're dis
trjDUted and my companions ana my
self were wheeled out and placed IN
position in front of the arsenal safe.
Daos, Valarde and their companions
so!emnly swore never to desert us or
surrender"
THE French troops, under General
Lagrange, whirled in sightthe
mounted Mamelukes making the first
was a magnificent, yet bloody spec
tacle. Again and again they were re-
pulsed, then Murat hurried up rein
forcenents and the barracks We're at
tackled on all sides by over 1900 French
"Daoiz was wounded, all our other
artillerymen were killed and citizens
n AIMED the cannon.
Suddenly a white flag was flown in
TIE ranks of the French and as it ap-
preached us we noticed Gen. Lagrange,
Daoiz was about to fire when some one
shouted that the French general de-
sired to speak He met Lagrange q
few PAGES in front of mo and a parley
began. Peth were in an i'll humor.
They weiw much excited and gesticul-
ayed fercely. We heard the words.
''Menteur Coquin!" - liar, scoun-
drel-ring out and in a flash both
swords were drawn from their scab-
bards. Lagrange received fearful cut
across the face, and at that moment a
body of French grenadiers rushed for
ward and bayonetted poor Daoiz. With
all the fierce thrusts he received, he
staggered backward, shouting:
Fire! fire! Do not mind me, I am
killed, fire." His entrails were pro-
truding and he clutched them with his
hands. and staggered back and sank
between my wheels in kneeling pos