The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-01-05

their remarks About 10 o'clock we
arrived at Corona, and after a good
breakfast we were packed into the
berlina or front compartment Of one
OF the three diligences going to Per
pignan-the second one. We ratified
away through the narrow streets of Ge-
roma, then across a bridge, and at last
into the open country. We saw walk
ing along the road, now and then, a
CatalOnian peasant with a red cap
which looked like a nightcap with a
fiat board hanging to the end of it.
Most OF these men were armed with
a repeating carbine, as every one in
that part of the country took his de-
tense in his own hands. The road was
along a level country with the Pyran-
ees in the distance ahead of us and
to the left We stopped after while
to change horses, and not long after
ward we saw just ahead Of us in the
road a large band Of men all armed
In one way or another. The diligence
ahead of us was stopped and SO we're
we. These fellows (for they we're
Carlists, 1ndeed) were arrayed in Gu
riOus costumes, there being but little
uniformity. Most Of them wore the
red Catalonian nightcap and little
jackets, with buckskin leggins around
the calves of their legs, and leathern
sandals strapped to their feet. They
were armed in curious manner;
some had carbines, some shotguns,
some blunderbusses, some swords,
some pistols. Many of them were very
young, mere boys, and they all looked
unwashed, unshaven and scraggy.
! though there were not many really bad
/ 70 Nrc, tJ
ed herself by counting them, and says
there were about seventy-five The
passengers in the diligence ahead of
us were required to alight, and we
saw the poor unfortunates taking off
their coats and even their boots which
were thoroughly examined by the out
laws. About twenty minutes elapsed,
during which time we could obtain no
information respecting our own prob
able fate, our driver and conductor
both refusing to speak to us probably
from fear of the Carlists. The other
passengers had secreted their treas
ures in different parts Of the coach,
and we had done the best we could
with our watches, etc. A fellow who
wore white nightcap seemed to COM
mand the band, and he approached
us taking off his hat like a genuine
caballero, and requesting the sonora
not to feel alarmed. She instantly re-
piled that she was not alarmed at ALL
that with gentlemen she was always
safe, whereupon the motley assembly
cheered. A fellow was sent on top to
look after the mails, but he soon de.
scended, and sure enough, after
short consultation we were directed to
proceed. which we did without fur
Their molestation. They drew up in
line on the side of the road, and pre-
sented arms as best they could while
we passed. 1t seems that this time
they We're after some government dis
patches, which they suspected were
to be sent by our diligences, and l do
not believe they took any money even
/ from the persons whom we saw them
examining. Even in searching for
dispatches they were unsuccessful. for
our conductor, fat little Frenc hman
told me he had got through several
bags of mail matter which they never
found. He seemed very friendly with
them. and We could not tell whether
he was actually in their interest or in
that of the government. However,
they did not harm us, and we soon
reached the Spanish town of Figueras.
near which the robbery was commit
ted the day before.
I'VE took light supper at this place
in the back room Of a dincy inn, and
started off with the same driver who