Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-05-14

hoped for great things from the meet
ing OF our leaders with duke Of Guise
and the queen mother, for King Charles
seemed kindly disposed toward us. But.
God of mercy! what scenes there were
In R0uen; everywhere was slaughter,
everywhere was murder. 1 found my
carriage overturned in the streets,
covering the dead and mutilated
bodies OF wife and daughter; the babe,
unhurt and unnoticed in the carriage,
had escaped. Throughout the city
were prowling bands wearing the white
cross in their caps, the white sash on
their arms, which designated the fol-
overs of Guise, and with cries or
Death to the Huguenots" and NO
quarter to the enemies of Holy
Church." they slew without mercy. l
had now no idea III to put my boy in
a place of safety, n with him before
me rode straight for the nearest gate.
L passed unmolested through the
streets, n by avoiding the public
places, drawing out of the way of muir
dering bands, thought to evade them
and each the river gate south of town.
My whole soul revolted at leaving the
bodies of wife and daughter in Rouen,
but the living child must be consid-
cred before the dead. At the u from
out the obscure Rue ST. CroiX into the
open uar at VieuX Marche l heard
a shout, Here he is, this way" and
saw a man at arms stationed In the
square reckoning to his comrades who
came Gathering down the Rue de
Crosne. This blocked the path along
which l intended to leave the town.
Riding at their hea l recognized my
old enemy, my half brother, Pedro Or
tez, a man Of whose prowess and cru
city terrible stories were told.
Right willingly would l have paused
to give him fight, but for the babe.
The fellow who had raised the cry now
threw himself full in my way with the
evident purpose of engaging me until
the others came up. l made straight
at him, but he stood his ground brave
ly, n encountered as l was with the
child, succeeded in wounding me twice
before l could pierce him through the
throat and drop him from his horse.
Verify, his courage was worthy a bet
ter quarrel.
This, in full sight of the onComing
band, liked their attention and rails
ing q shout of death to d'Artin," they
spurred their horses to a gallop. l had
barely disappeared down the deserted
Rue Corneille when they ~debouched
into the square, spreading out and cir
cling round as hounds hot upon a scent.
Here they were at fault. not knowing
whittier l had turned among SO many
narrow and irregular streets. Before
they found me again | was we'll upon
the high road to Cartillon. The super
Tor speed of my horse "a me easily
the lead.
l soon overlook CASTOR, drawn aside
In the bushes, wounded and bleeding,
waiting for me. AT first / upbraided
him fiercely, but a frightful cash across
his head, dabbling his gray hairs in
blood, stopped my wrath. On the ride
home he told me of the days disaster.
Pedro Ortez and his Cut-throats a set
upon them In the name Of the church.
He was soon cut down and left upon
the street, recovering consciousness on
ly to find his murdered mistress lying
dead beside him. He had then crawled
away to warn me, for the hole OBJ
ject Of Ortez seemed to be TO take my
life.
Continued Nayt Iyael