The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-26
SHE DIED LIKE DRAGA
English Woman and Her Husband
Killed by Army Ofacers.
New York Press

New York Press.
tragedy almost parallel in it's details TO
the slaughter in Belgrade took place or this
hemisphere few years ago. a King and
Queen being surprised in their palace by
conspirators and hacked 10 pieces with ma
chetes. The world paid little attention
to it at the time. for international politics
were not affected, and now the tragedy is
forgot except in the Andean republics Of
South America. where the story of the rise
and fall of King Jacques and Queen Icons
tine is told along with the other marvellous
tales which make up the romantic history Of
those lands since the days of the Incas.
The so-called republic of Acre." over
which Brazil and Peru are now squabbling.
was not the first attempt to establish an
independent nation in the wilderness which
hides the headwaters of the mighty ANA
zon. In that vast region, still only partially
explored, region inhab ited by savage tribes
and blessed by nature with remarkable fer
tility. the notorious LeOntine Cassilis, an
English girl, in spite of the French name
she adopted, established with her husband
a kingdom which ted for three years,
and only disappeared few years ago. when
the Queen and her husband were murdered.
Leontine Cassilis was born in that part OF
London known as Wrapping. and grew up az
girls in her surroundings in London are too
apt to. Her real name is a matter of
dispute. but ii was something as prosaic as
Mary Jane. Up TO the age of seventeen she
lived a life of squalor and misery, a girl OF
the slums. But she grew older she de-
veloped remarkable beauty and an intelli-
gence and ambition which made her disgust
ed with her surroundings. Adopting the
name of Leontine, she. went - Paris. where
she soon became notorious. She found pro-
tectors among the wealthy and the great.
and after a while she had fine house and
carriages and servants.
A wealthy Bolivian. General Belzu. be-
came infatuated with her on a trip TO Paris
and carried her back with him TO his native
country, where he proposed to make him.
self President and take Leontine for his
wife. His wife, indeed. she declared herself
to be, and possibly was. She urged the gen.
eral liz his schemes of ambition and soon
Bolivia was in the thToes of civil war.
The former "Arriet' of the London slums
was now political power and dreamed not
only of seiZing the supreme authority I'm
BOLIVIA through her putative husband, but
OF conquests beyond the borders of the re-
public. She aimed at great South Ameri-
in fact if not in name.
Mariana Melgarejo, afterward so cele-
brated as dictator of Bolivia, was the prin-
cipal opponent of Leontine and General
| Belzu. Melgarejo proclaimed himself Presi-
dent, but Belzu raised an army and drove
him from the capital. Leontine, for a brief
| period. was installed in the presidential
| palace, and had the guards turn out to
| salute when she passed. But Melgarejo
| gathered an army and on the slopes OF
| slver-bearing Potosi, gave battle 10 the
which inn IIo
| won, and marching on the capital. took IL.
| Breaking into the palace he shot Belzu with
| his own hand and established himself as
dictator. Leontine, I'm splendid fury, swore
revenge. Melgarejo laughed at her.
A French adventrrer one Jacques Cas-
Melgarejo to become dictator. Upon Jacques
Cassiis Leontine turned the power of her
witchery. She skilfully fomented strife be-
tween Linn and the dictator. Persuading
him that he had been treated with base in
gratitude. and finally she bound him body
and soul to her schemes for power and re-
venge. Jacques married the woman and
capped from La Paz, TIE Bolivian capital,
and went into the wilderness lying between
the headwaters of the river Madeira and
TO found a nation which should, In time.
be strong enough for them TO return with
an army and destroy Melgarejo.
Wild as the scheme was they came within
an ace of succeeding In 1t. The region
where the adventures went lies mostly in
Brazil. and to this day, on the most mod
printed the word "Unexplored." Leontine
and Jacques found their future kingdom
inhabited by fierce tribes, which were al
To further their own ends the adventures.
following the example OF Rtzarro and
Cortez, skillfully played of one tribe
S Warlwor 1i'' and weary se acknowiedsed
Jacques as their king and Leontine as their
queen.
Then the Adventures set about CONSOLE
dating their power. They built city and a
palace and established an army. Arms
were procured from the outside world and
Jacques turned his savage hordes into SOL
diers. The gathering of rubber and the
cultivation of tropical products were en-
couraged, and for three years Queen Leon
tine and King Jacques ruled over their
kingdom, forging thunderbolt with which
to destroy the dictator, MelgareJo. Noun
tains and dense tropical forests formed a
barrier between them and Bolivia, which
the dictator did not dare to try and pene-
trate with his army, and unexplored will
dernesses protected them from Brazil on
the other side. Jacques and Leontine were
crowned with barbaric splendor and estab-
lished a court with all the trappings OF
royalty. Adventures were welcomed and
given employment and the kingdom grew
| in prosperity and power. The girl Of the
| London slums, the 'Arriet of Wrapping. was
| a real Queen and planned a royal revenge
| for the murder of her first husband. King
| jacques sought the recognition OF foreign
governments and might have got IL. too,
| but one night band of conspirators. COM
| posed of officers of the army, broke into
the palace, killing all who opposed them,
| until they had penetrated to the royal
| apartments. Then was enacted a tragedy
| of which tina. of Belgrade was a replica.
| The bodies of Queen Leontine and King
jacques were hacked TO pieces with
machetes and thrown from the palace win
dows.
The plot had been Matched by agents OF
| Melgarejo, hut he did not live long 10 en-
| joy his triumph. There was an uprising OF
| the Indians who marched on La Paz, and,
| fighting the dictator in the streets OF the
| city killed him.
After the murder of Queen Leontine and
| King Jacques their kingdom relapsed into
/ savagery and remains TO this day a wilder
ness only partially explored.