The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-03-02
CHAPTER l.

Inc PRESIDENT Message
There is no fairer spot in MI vene-
Guela than the valley of Coroni. and
there is no brighter luxuriance in the
valley of the Coroni than that OF the
great plantation Of General Jose Sal
Tarez, which lies on the left bank OF
the Coront about twenty miles from
che point OF confluence of that river
with the great Oriuoco. Here are raised
coffee. second to none. not even the
famous product of Maracaibo: sugar
cane. bananas cotton. indigo. cocoa
nuts. corn and wheat.
Along the river was 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 this magriti-
cent and wealth producing territory.
General Salvarez was the commanding
general of all the troops of the Repub-
lie Of Venezuela south of the Orinoco.
There were. in all, not more than a
thousand, and were scattered over
miles OF territory: but under the i'm
mediate command of General Salverez,
quartered in the comfortable fortress
which formed part Of Castle Salvarez.
was regiment consisting Of two hum
dred men. with battery amounting
to six guns; and at the city of Bolivar,
above the Cor0ni, on the Orinoco, was
a small company in the tumbledown
barracks that formed poor shelter
even when they needed shelter least
Some of these soldiers of the Republic
we're of Spanish blood without mixture;
some were negroes. and some were In
dams: but the majority were half
breeds. the descendants of whites and
negroes or whites and Indians. There
was another type of half-breeds, too
utterly worthless for use as soldiers,
and thoroughly Enthusiastically, the re-
suit OF mixture of negro and Indian
blood. There were many Of these in
the Co9oni 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 we'll paid. These were the
Eam5os, the distinctive name of their
tyne.
The forces of General Salvarez were
fairly we'll armed and disciplined
brave. and thoroughly devoted to the
Republic. They adored their brave
commander, and were ever ready to
follow him, ever faithful, unfiinching,
accomplishing.
General Salvarez was a very wealthy
man. In fact. it had been said that he
could not count his wealth. Taking
this to mean that the value of his crops
depended on favoring weather and the
worth of his great herds OF cattle out
on the llanos. OF plains, rose and fell
Increased or diminished by favoring or
Gntoward circumstances, then the say
ing was true. Be that as it may. Don
Jose Salvarez was wealthy man. a
general Of the Republic and a personal
friend of President Crespo.
But of all the valuable possessions
Of Don Jose Salvarez, none compared,
IN his estimation, with his lovely wife.
Dona Maria, or his daughter, Senor-
tia Jacinta.
Senorita Jacinta was the brightest
Jewel of the Coroni valley. and no one
knew this or appreciated it better than
Senorita Jacinta. She was the toast and
often the sweetheart of the officers of
the garrison, and with whom she would
frequently promenade under the frown-
ing guns, with her mantilla thrown
loosely about her well-rounded form,
and her black eyes swapping with the
passions of her southern blood.
Senorita Jacinta, at the time our
story opens. was about 10 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 g or "a.
have spoken of Jacinta as some
times being the sweetheart of an officer
tr her fathers garrison.
But it was not only the officers of the
garrison that loved Jacinta. Pedro
Francisco. the wealthiest land and cat
tie owner south Of the Orinoco save
General Salvarez. had wooei her
persistently; but Jacinta was a repub-
lican, and Francisco leaned toward
Spain, and she would have none of
him.
Though Jacinta had had many low
ers at her feet, her own heart had
never yet been touched. Yet so
quick was her nature, so warm
her blood. that it needed but a
spark to kindle the fame. Love at first
sight is more than a possibility with
girls of Jacinta'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 Orinoco 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 a time when
this repose was to be rudely Interrupt
ted: whom the soul of Jacinta was to be
torn by grief and anxiety; when for a
moment she was to know the consum-