The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-24
oATAlINA. TAE soLOIgR NuN
Spanish Woman who Fought Equally Wen
on Battle and DuelIng Field.

spansh Woman Who Fought Equally Wei
on Battle and DuelIng Field.
A famous heroine in her day wa.
Catalina dc Eraus0, still remembered
vaguely as the Spanish soldier nun. d
She left memoirs which have been
translated or summarized or s'rO-
manciiecn in most European ton
CUES. The truth Of them has been
disputed, but the London STANDARD
points out that, upon the other hand,
pOpes aud kings, mobiles and sayants
accepted every word, while evidence
remained 70 support or question the
statements Catalina We are told,
ran away from a nunnery in San Sc
Oastian at the age of IS, transformed
her conventional habiliments into
dOublet and hose and found employ
ment as a page in the household Of a
noble at Nallad0lid- Driven from
this refuge BY the appearance Of her
father-whO had no suspicion, never
theless-she joined an expedition
sailing TO Peru under charge Of Ferdi-
nand de Cord0ya. Her ship was
wrecked eff Paita and she alone re-
fused to desert the captain, who
stood by his vessel Catalina then
built little raft broke open the
treasure chest took as much gold as
she could carry and set of for the
shore, but the captain was drowned
embarking. She reached the town
and accepted an engagement as man
ager TO the tailor who made her new
clothes. Complications OF business
and passion--for a great lady fell in
love at sight-led to a first duel in
which she killed her man promptly
The great lady smuggied her out OF
prison, but Catalina found it neces-
sary to repay this service by pushing
the dame downstairs. probably break
ing her neck. Then she jumped into
boat, put to sea and was picked up
by Spanish vessel bound for Con-
cepcion.
At this place her brother was sec
retary to the governor, and he, all
unconscious Of the relationship got
her commission in the army Very
soon afuerward she distinguished her
self in an engagement. and for twelve
years ranked as one OF the most brill
liant officers Of the Spanish service
living mostly with her brother but
keeping the secret This happy time
came to an end in a midnight duel,
when she killed man unknown, who
proved TO be this same brother Fly
ing for life once more, Catalina
crossed the Andes All her com
panions perished, but she reached |
Tucuman after terrible adventures.
Another love affair. all on one side, /
and another fatal duel brought her /
literally to the gallows, but with the 4
rope around her neck she escaped. /
on TO Cuzco she joined an
Alcalde with a pretty wife aud a gen /
tleman, his friend. In a very few /
days Catalina perceived that these /
Two had an understanding. The AL
calde perceived it also and took an /
to murder his faithlcss I
friend. lie would have murdered /
his wife, but Catalina snatched her
10 the saddle and rode furiouslY for
Gu CO. The Alcalde pursuing, she
ran him through, but received des-
perate wound. The fugitives got
safely to the bishops palace Cata-
ina knew, however, that her secret I
must be discovered now She had
ust strength enough to reveal it TO
.he bishop before fainting. The
worthy man reported the whole story
70 the King, who sent orders that
Catalina should be dispatched by the
lext ship All Spain declared for
he heroine. At her arrival Count
)liyarez himself, the Prime Minister
net her: the King kissed her; the
Pope sent for and forgave her, and
-eIas1neZ nninfed her nnrfraif