Hutchinson gazette., 1901-07-11
CHAPTER l,
The Presidents Message.

buolu lndn Lnt Nullty OF IOIOnl, anu
there Ia no brighter luxurance In tho
valley OF the COronl than that OF tho
great plantation OF General Jose Sal
varez, which lies on the left bank OF
tho Coronl about twenty miles from
the point of confluence OF that river
with the great orlnoco. Here are raised
coffee, second TO none, not oven tho
famous product OF Maracalbo; sugar
cane, bananas, cotton, indigo, cocoa
nuts, corn and wheat.
Along the river was u thick growth,
where, among many other things,
could be found caoutchouc, the tonka-
bean and gutta-percha,
Besides being the proud owner OF
twelve thousand acres OF thlS magnlA-
cent and wealth producing territory,
General Salyarez was the commanding
general OF all tho troops OF the Repub-
lie OF Venezuela south OF the 0rlnoCo.
There were, In ALL not moro than a
thousand, and wero scattered over
miles OF territory; but under tho Inn
mediate command of General Salverez,
quarterod In tho comfortable fortress
which formed part of Castle Salvarez,
was regiment consisting Of two hun
dred men, with battery amounting
to six guns and at tho city Of Bolivar,
above the Coronl, on the 0rlnoco, was
q small company In the tumbledown
barracks that formed poor shelter
even when thoy needed shelter least,
Some of these soldiers OF the Republic
were Of Spanish blood without mixture;
some were negroes, and some were In
lians; but the majority were half
breeds, the descendants OF whites and
negroes or whites and Indians. There
was another type Of halr-breeds, too
utterly worthless for us0 as soldiers,
and thoroughly untrustworthy, the re-
suit OF mixture OF negro and Indian
blood. There were many Of these in
tho Coroni valley and they frequently
made trouble. Their patriotism was
nothing. They were ready for any up
! rising or deeds of violence for which
they were well paid. These were the
zambos, the distinctive name OF their
type
The forces Of General SalyareS we're
fairly well armed and disciplined
brave, and thoroughly devoted to the
Republic. They adored their brave
commander, and were ever ready TO
follow him, ever faithful, unnnchlng,
uncomplalnng
General Salvarez was very wealthy
man, In fact, 1t had been said that he
could not count his wealth. Taking
this to mean that the value Of his crops
depended on favorlng weather and the
worth of his great herds Of cattle out
on the llanos, or plains, rose and fell
increased or diminished by favorlng or
untoward circumstances, then the say
Ing was true. Be that as II may, Don
Jose Salyarez was wealthy man,
general of the Republic and personal
friend of President Crespo.
But OF all the valuable possessions
of Don Jose Salvarez, mono compared
In his estimation, with his lovely wife,
Dona Maria, or his daughter Senor-
ita Jacinta.
Senorita Jacinta was the brightest
jewel OF the Coron valley, and no one
knew this or appreciated It better than
Senorita Jaclnta. She was the toast and
often tho sweetheart Of the officers Of
the garrison, and with whom she would
frequently promenade under the rrown-
ing guns, with her mantilla thrown
loosely about her well-rounded form,
and her black eyes swapping with the
passions OF her southern blood
Senorlta Jacinta, at the tlmo our
story opens, was about 1S years OF age;
but maturity comes early to the girls
Of the warm countries, and Jacinta's
physical Development compared well
with that OF an American young wom-
an OF % or "a.
have spoken Of Jacnta as sOme-
times being the sweetheart Of an officer
in her fathers garrison.
But 1t was not only the officers of the
garrison that loved Jacinta. Pedro
Francisco, tho wealthlest land and cat
tie owner south of the 0rlnoco save
General Salvare2, had wooei her
persistently; but Jacinta was rcpub-
llcan, and Francisco leaned toward
Spain, and she would have none of
him.
Though Jacinta had had many low
ers ut her feet, her own heart had
never yet been touched Yet so
quick was her nature, so warm
her blood that 1t needed but a
spark to kindle the fame. Love at first
sight is more than possibility with
girls OF Jaclnta's temperament. 1t Is
the rule. And when once that fathom-
less depth Of fire and passion should
spring into volcanic action, who can
tell the consequences OF herself--and |
Others
The castle OF General Salvarez was
like all other houses OF wealthy men
In the orlnoco valley, situated on high !
ground, to keep it up out Of the floods
that sometimes cover the land. It was
great square building, partly Of stone,
partly of iron, and partly OF cement,
But there was to come d time when |
this repose was to be rudely Interrupt
ted when the soul Of Jacinta was TO be
torn by grief and anxiety; when for q
moment she was to know the consum-
ing power OF love; when the voice so |