The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-07-30

DOunQieSS wealth., mountains VI Soiu
and silver, rivers and caverns flashing
with priceless gems-all of which were
supposed to be found for the search
ing, everywhere in America.
The Observation-Disclosures Pizarro
by name-had perhaps never in his
short life seen single gold piece or
eaten a hearty meal. The tales OF
riches made him suddenly discomfort
ed with his own humble routine. He
was ignorant. To his latest day he
could never manage to learn how to
read or write. But far wiser men than
himself had been taken in by these
stories of a lacS of wealth. The only
difference between such men and Pr
zarro was that he actually succeeded
in winning such riches.
Leaving his swine Pizarro sailed
with company of seedy adventures
to the West Indies. There was much
work and small reward at first. But
he kept on. Through trade and rob-
berry he had picked up enough money
by 1915 to settle near the new city OF
Panama as farmer. 1t was a laugh
able anti-cllmax to his visions of
wealth But Pizarro was not the sort
of man to be laughed at.
AS soon as he could scrape together
little capital he formed partner
ship with another adventurer, Anal
gro, and priest named Luque, and
went In search of fortune. The expe-
dition was failure But in the course
of 1t Pizarro heard of a southern
country-Peru-where gold was said
to be as cheap as iron. He raided the
Peruvian coasts, but gathered scanty
spoils.
Nevertheless, he believed he was at
last on the right track. He went to
Spain to get money and royal author
ity for further explorations. In Seville
he was thrown in prison for debt. His
career seemed to be at an end. But
he managed to interest the king OF
Spain In his schemes. The king re-
leased him and gave him royal COM
mission to conquer Peru. He set forth
and, in 1881, began his invasion OF the
gold land.
Using civil war in Peru to help on
his adventure, he at length found his
way to the palace of the Inca temper
orr. Entering the palace as a trusted
guest, Pizarro made the Inca a pris-
oner, and under threat OF death by
| torture forced the luckless prisoner to
pay for freedom by strange ransom.
This ransom was no less than a
huge roomful of gold. To gain this SUM
| it was necessary to strip the sacred
| Peruvian temples Of their golden orna.
ments. The full amount, when it was
| at last turned over to Pizarro, was
| worth more than s17,000,000. Having
secured this, he calmly murdered the
| Inca.
| The vile act set all Peru buzzing
about the Spaniard's ears like a nest.
full of enraged hornets. But Pizarro
| paid little heed to the danger.
Wealth-wrung by torture and
| treachery--fiewed fast into his cof-
fers. He had found no literal noun
tains OF gold and caverns of gems. But
he had discovered how just as great
riches could be annexed through
cruelty. His partner, Amalgro, shared
to some extent in the prosperity and
| new-found power. This did not suit
Pizarro. There were quarrels, and
| Amalgro was induced to lead an expe-
dition against Chilli. This was in
] July, 1885. The Indians took advantage
of Amalgro's absence to attack Pr
zarro, but were unable, in spite of their
| vast numbers, to overcome him.
When Amalgro came back new
quarrels broke out. And the two for.
mer comrades at last came to open
war. Amalgro was captured by Pr
zarro's troops and was put to death.
But his followers kept up the strife.
On Sunday morning, June 26, 1541,
band of these men burst into pizar.
res palace at Lima. Pizarro sprang
up from his breakfast table, half
armed, and flew at his assaiiants like
wild beast. He was of gigantic sta
ture, and despite his sixty.tive years
he was still dangerous foe "A fierce
battle waged. Three of the conspirators
were slain by Pizarro before be fell,
mortally wounded, under score of
sword thrusts.